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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain lottery prize winners' choice to remain |
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anonymous. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 466.015, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: |
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(b-1) The commission shall adopt rules governing |
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nondisclosure of the identity of certain lottery prize winners |
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under Section 466.411. |
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SECTION 2. Section 466.022(b), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) In addition to commission records excepted from |
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disclosure under Chapter 552, the following information is |
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confidential and is exempt from disclosure: |
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(1) security plans and procedures of the commission |
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designed to ensure the integrity and security of the operation of |
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the lottery; |
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(2) information of a nature that is designed to ensure |
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the integrity and security of the selection of winning tickets or |
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numbers in the lottery, other than information describing the |
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general procedures for selecting winning tickets or numbers; [and] |
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(3) the street address and telephone number of a prize |
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winner, if the prize winner has not consented to the release of the |
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information; and |
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(4) except as otherwise authorized by Section 466.411, |
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all personally identifiable information of a natural person who is: |
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(A) a lottery prize winner and who has chosen to |
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remain anonymous under Section 466.411; or |
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(B) an owner of a beneficial interest in a legal |
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entity that is a lottery prize winner and who has chosen to remain |
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anonymous under Section 466.411. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter I, Chapter 466, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 466.411 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 466.411. CHOICE BY CERTAIN PRIZE WINNERS TO REMAIN |
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ANONYMOUS. (a) A natural person who is a prize winner of a lottery |
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prize in an amount equal to $1 million or more or who is an owner of |
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a beneficial interest in a legal entity that is a prize winner of a |
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lottery prize in an amount equal to $1 million or more may choose to |
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remain anonymous and prohibit all personally identifiable |
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information from being released to the public. |
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(b) For purposes of this section, the amount of a lottery |
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prize is the total amount of prize money paid to a prize winner for a |
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single lottery prize claim, whether paid in one payment or in |
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periodic installments, before deducting any federal tax |
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withholdings or other deductions required by law. |
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(c) This section does not prohibit release of a prize |
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winner's city or county of residence or prevent the commission from |
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releasing personally identifiable information as required under |
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Sections 466.407 or 466.4075 or to the Health and Human Services |
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Commission. |
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SECTION 4. (a) Not later than December 1, 2015, the Texas |
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Lottery Commission shall adopt the rules and procedures necessary |
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to implement the changes in law made by this Act to Chapter 466, |
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Government Code. |
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(b) Section 466.411, Government Code, as added by this Act, |
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applies only to an initial claim for a lottery prize in an amount |
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equal to $1 million or more that is submitted to the Texas Lottery |
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Commission on or after January 1, 2016. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |