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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 personally identifiable information of |
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certain lottery prize winners 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) Subject to Subsection (b), a natural person who is |
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a prize winner of a lottery prize in an amount equal to $1 million or |
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more, or who is an owner of a beneficial interest in a legal entity |
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that is a prize winner of a lottery prize in an amount equal to $1 |
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million or more, may on the date the winner claims the prize choose |
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to remain anonymous and prohibit all personally identifiable |
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information from being released to the public. |
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(b) The commission may release or disclose the personally |
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identifiable information of a natural person who is a lottery prize |
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winner if the person chooses to have the prize paid in periodic |
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installments. The commission may only disclose the information on |
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or after the 30th day after the date the person claims the lottery |
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prize if the person chooses to remain anonymous under Subsection |
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(a). |
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(c) 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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(d) This section does not prohibit release of a natural |
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person prize winner's city or county of residence or prevent the |
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commission from releasing the person's personally identifiable |
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information to the Health and Human Services Commission or as |
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necessary to comply with Section 466.407 or 466.4075. |
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SECTION 4. (a) Not later than December 1, 2017, 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, 2018. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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