BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 601

By: Clardy

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties have expressed concerns regarding the consideration as a single facility, for purposes of the Alcoholic Beverage Code, of a county-owned civic center that is partially located in a certain municipality and that consists of adjacent buildings not all of which are located in that same municipality. The parties cite as an example of their concern the situation occurring with the Nacogdoches County Exposition and Civic Center when city of Nacogdoches voters approved the legal sale of all alcoholic beverages, including mixed beverages, in the city precincts in which the civic center facilities are located. The parties note that the county wants to have the facility considered as a single facility for the purpose of alcoholic beverage licensing so the county can operate under the same rules. H.B. 601 seeks to amend the applicable law to address this issue.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 601 amends the Alcoholic Beverage Code to authorize all buildings comprising a county-owned civic center that consists of adjacent buildings, not all of which are located in the same municipality, and that is partially located in a municipality that has a population of less than 40,000 and is in a county with a population of less than 70,000 to be designated as and considered the licensed premises for purposes of a mixed beverage permit covering the civic center.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.