AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

In 2009, the veterans' assistance lottery game was created as one of the primary sources of revenue for the Texas Veterans Commission's (TVC) Fund for Veterans' Assistance (FVA).  According to TVC, 245 grants totaling $39 million have been awarded from this fund to date,  benefiting over 179,000 Texas veterans. Funds are used to provide direct services to Texas veterans and their families for a broad range of needs.  The veterans' assistance lottery game is the only lottery game in Texas that directly benefits veterans. 

 

As filed, S.B. 397 requires the Texas Lottery Commission to spend an equal or greater amount of its marketing and advertising budget for the promotion of this game as it does for any other instant-ticket lottery game that the commission operates.

 

As proposed, S.B. 397 amends current law relating to the marketing and advertising of the veterans' assistance lottery game.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 466.027(c), Government Code, by requiring the Texas Lottery Commission (commission) to spend on marketing and advertising to promote the lottery game operated under this section an amount equal to or greater than the amount the commission spends to promote any other instant-ticket lottery game operated by the commission under this chapter. 

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2015.