BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2953
85R18630 BEE-F	By: Geren (Hancock)
	Administration
	5/17/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Texas Live! is part of the $1.25 billion Texas Rangers Stadium and family-friendly mixed-use district featuring dining, entertainment, hotels, and convention facilities being developed in Arlington. The property is currently owned by the Arlington Convention Center Development Corporation and leased to the developer of Texas Live!, an affiliate of the Texas Rangers.

Currently, in the Alcoholic Beverage Code there is a provision in Section 108.755 to allow for the promotion, sponsorship, or advertising of an entertainment event or an alcoholic beverage brand or product at a facility owned by a municipality or county that is financed with tax exempt public securities.

In the case of Texas Live!, the property is owned not by the City of Arlington but by the Arlington Convention Center Development Corporation, and is funded not through bonds but in part by a grant from the City of Arlington.

This proposal would amend Section 108, Alcoholic Beverage Code, so it can also apply to a facility that is related infrastructure to a venue as defined by Chapter 334, Local Government Code, which would include the Texas Live! project.

H.B. 2953 amends current law relating to the definition of a public entertainment facility and the promotion, sponsorship, or advertising of an entertainment event or venue or alcoholic beverage at certain governmentally owned public entertainment facilities.

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 108.73(2), Alcoholic Beverage Code, to define "public entertainment facility" to include a facility that is part of an approved venue project, including the venue and related infrastructure, as those terms are defined by Section 334.001 (Definitions), Local Government Code.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 108.755(a), Alcoholic Beverage Code, as follows:

(a) Provides that Section 108.75 (Advertising and Promotion in Public Entertainment Facility) does not restrict or govern the promotion, sponsorship, or advertising of an entertainment event, or the promotion or advertising of an alcoholic beverage brand or product at a facility that is:

(1) creates this subdivision from existing text and makes no further changes to this subdivision; or

(2) part of an approved venue project, including the venue and related infrastructure, as those terms are defined by Section 334.001, Local Government Code.

SECTION 3. �Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.