BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1708

By: Miller

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that charitable bingo has declined in Texas over time due to competition from other gambling-related activities. C.S.H.B. 1708 seeks to allow charities to become more competitive by providing for carryover pull-tab bingo games as a form of pull-tab bingo.

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

C.S.H.B. 1708 amends the Occupations Code to exempt a jackpot prize awarded in a carryover pull‑tab bingo game from the prohibition against a bingo prize having a value of more than $750 for a single game and to cap the value of a jackpot prize awarded in a carryover pull-tab bingo game at $10,000. The bill defines "carryover pull-tab bingo" as a form of pull-tab bingo that is played in successive event pull-tab bingo deals of the same form number and in which a portion of the bingo prize awarded to the winner of the event prize for each deal is paid into a jackpot prize, the winner of the event prize for each deal has the opportunity to win the jackpot prize, and the play continues until the jackpot prize is awarded. The bill specifies that carryover
pull-tab bingo is included in the exemption for pull-tab bingo from the prohibition against a person offering or awarding on a single bingo occasion prizes with an aggregate value of more than $2,500.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 1708 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Section 2001.002, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subdivision (6-a) to read as follows: (6-a) "Carryover pull-tab bingo" means a form of pull-tab bingo played in successive rounds, in which a portion of the bingo prize awarded each round is paid into a jackpot prize, the winner of each round has the opportunity to win the jackpot prize, and the play continues until the jackpot prize is awarded.	SECTION 1.  Section 2001.002, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subdivision (6-a) to read as follows: (6-a) "Carryover pull-tab bingo" means a form of pull-tab bingo that is played in successive event pull-tab bingo deals of the same form number and in which a portion of the bingo prize awarded to the winner of the event prize for each deal is paid into a jackpot prize, the winner of the event prize for each deal has the opportunity to win the jackpot prize, and the play continues until the jackpot prize is awarded.
SECTION 2.  Section 2001.420, Occupations Code, is amended.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2017.	SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.