By: Haggerty H.B. No. 2265

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the award of prizes in, and the conduct of, a progressive bingo game.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 2001.002, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subdivisions (8-a), (13-a), and (23-a) to read as follows:

(8-a) "Consolation prize" means a prize offered or awarded by a licensed authorized organization to a player in a progressive bingo game at a bingo occasion during which no player wins the jackpot prize for the progressive bingo game.

(13-a) "Jackpot prize" means a prize offered or awarded by a licensed authorized organization to the winner of a progressive bingo game.

(23-a) "Progressive bingo game" means a bingo game in which the prize amount may be increased over successive bingo occasions of the same licensed authorized organization until a player completes the winning pattern for the game specified by the organization.

SECTION 2. Section 2001.420, Occupations Code, is amended by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (d), (e), and (f) to read as follows:

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a [A] bingo prize may not have a value of more than $750 for a single game.

(b) For bingo games other than pull-tab bingo or progressive bingo games, a person may not offer or award on a single bingo occasion prizes with an aggregate value of more than $2,500. A jackpot prize or consolation prize offered or awarded in a progressive bingo game during a bingo occasion is not included in the aggregated value of prizes awarded at a single bingo occasion for purposes of this subsection.

(d) A jackpot prize or consolation prize may not have a value of more than $2,500 for a single progressive bingo game.

(e) A licensed authorized organization may offer only one progressive bingo game during each bingo occasion.

(f) A consolation prize in a progressive bingo game described by Subsection (b):

(1) may not exceed $250; and

(2) may be offered only once during each bingo occasion.

SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the Texas Lottery Commission shall adopt the rules necessary to implement the changes in law made by this Act to Chapter 2001, Occupations Code.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.