BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 934

By: Lewis

Agriculture & Livestock

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Since a coliseum can be a significant economic driver for its home county and city and for the surrounding area, interested parties contend that it is important to take measures to support this type of venue. Such a coliseum is located in Ector County and is home to the West Texas Roughnecks indoor football team, the Odessa Jackalopes minor league hockey team, concerts, conventions, rodeos, and more. H.B. 934 seeks to increase support for the operation, maintenance, and improvement of such a coliseum in certain counties.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 934 amends the Tax Code to authorize the commissioners court of a county with a population of less than 200,000 in which a minor league hockey team is or has been located and in which a component institution of The University of Texas System is located to impose a hotel occupancy tax, with the rate capped at two percent of the price paid for a room in a hotel. The bill requires the revenue from that tax to be used only to operate, maintain, and improve a coliseum in the county; to advertise and conduct solicitations and promotional programs to attract visitors to the coliseum; and to maintain and improve infrastructure in the county to improve traffic flow to the coliseum.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.