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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the operation and regulation of 24-number bingo games. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 2001.002, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by amending Subdivisions (5) and (8-a) and adding Subdivisions |
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(8-b) and (29) to read as follows: |
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(5) "Bingo equipment" means equipment used, made, or |
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sold for the purpose of use in bingo. The term: |
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(A) includes: |
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(i) a machine or other device from which |
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balls or other items are withdrawn to determine the letters and |
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numbers or other symbols to be called; |
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(ii) an electronic or mechanical |
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card-minding [cardminding] device; |
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(iii) a pull-tab dispenser; |
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(iv) a bingo card; |
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(v) a bingo ball; and |
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(vi) any other device commonly used in the |
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direct operation of a bingo game; and |
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(B) does not include: |
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(i) a bingo game set commonly manufactured |
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and sold as a child's game for a retail price of $20 or less unless |
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the set or a part of the set is used in bingo subject to regulation |
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under this chapter; or |
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(ii) a commonly available component part of |
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bingo equipment such as a light bulb or fuse. |
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(8-a) "Credit value" means the value of money or other |
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consideration accounted for by a card-minding device that: |
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(A) includes the prize money won and the initial |
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credits purchased from a point-of-sale station that is not the |
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card-minding device for deposit in a person's bingo account; and |
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(B) may be used by the person for the purchase of |
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bingo cards or pull-tab bingo tickets. |
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(8-b) "Crime of moral turpitude" means: |
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(A) a felony; |
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(B) a gambling offense; |
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(C) criminal fraud; |
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(D) forgery; |
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(E) theft; |
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(F) an offense that involves filing false |
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information with a governmental agency; or |
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(G) any offense that: |
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(i) is classified in this state as a Class A |
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misdemeanor; and |
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(ii) puts the honesty and integrity of the |
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individual who committed the offense in question. |
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(29) "24-number bingo" means a form of bingo in which |
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prizes are awarded when designated numbers or symbols conform to 24 |
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randomly preselected numbers or symbols. |
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SECTION 2. Section 2001.409, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (b) to read as follows: |
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(b) A person playing 24-number bingo may use a card-minding |
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device: |
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(1) to display the person's available credit value |
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associated with the person's bingo account; and |
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(2) to perform transactions using the credit value. |
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SECTION 3. Section 2001.419, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: |
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(f) A licensed authorized organization may conduct |
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24-number bingo at the same time that the organization conducts |
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other forms of bingo. |
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SECTION 4. Section 2001.420(b), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) A [For bingo games other than pull-tab bingo, a] person |
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may not offer or award on a single bingo occasion prizes with an |
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aggregate value of more than $2,500 for all bingo games other than: |
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(1) pull-tab bingo; or |
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(2) 24-number bingo games that award individual prizes |
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of $25 or less. |
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SECTION 5. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, but not later than December 1, 2011, the Texas Lottery |
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Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement the changes in |
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law made by this Act to Chapter 2001, Occupations Code. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |