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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the criminal offense for conducting, promoting, or |
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administering bingo without a license. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 2001.551(b), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) A person conducting, promoting, or administering bingo |
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commits an offense if the person conducts, promotes, or administers |
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bingo other than: |
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(1) under a license issued under this chapter; |
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(2) [within the confines of a home] for purposes of |
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amusement or recreation when: |
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(A) no player or other person furnishes anything |
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of [more than nominal] value as defined by rule [for the
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opportunity] to participate; |
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[(B)
participation in the game does not exceed 15
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players;] and |
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(B) [(C)] the prizes awarded or to be awarded are |
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nominal as defined by rule; |
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(3) on behalf of an organization of individuals 60 |
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years of age or over, a senior citizens' association, a senior |
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citizens' community center program operated or funded by a |
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governmental entity, the patients in a hospital or nursing home, |
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residents of a retirement home, or the patients in a Department of |
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Veterans Affairs [Veteran's Administration] medical center or a |
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military hospital, solely for the purpose of amusement and |
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recreation of its members, residents, or patients, when: |
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(A) no player or other person furnishes anything |
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of more than nominal value for the opportunity to participate; and |
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(B) the prizes awarded or to be awarded are |
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nominal; or |
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(4) on behalf of a business conducting the game for |
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promotional or advertising purposes if: |
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(A) the game is conducted by or through a |
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newspaper or a radio or television station; |
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(B) participation in the game is open to the |
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general public and is not limited to customers of the business; |
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(C) playing materials are furnished without |
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charge to a person on request; and |
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(D) no player is required to furnish anything of |
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value for the opportunity to participate. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies |
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only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this |
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Act. For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before |
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the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs |
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before that date. |
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(b) An offense committed before the effective date of this |
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Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |