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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the membership of the Texas Racing Commission. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 2.02(a), Texas Racing Act (Article 179e, |
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Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The commission consists of eight [seven] members |
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appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate |
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and [two ex officio members who shall have the right to vote. The ex
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officio members are:
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[(1)] the chairman of the Public Safety Commission or |
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a member of the Public Safety Commission designated by the chairman |
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of the Public Safety Commission, who shall serve as an ex officio |
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member with the right to vote [; and
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[(2)
the comptroller of public accounts or the
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comptroller's designee]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 2.05(a), Texas Racing Act (Article 179e, |
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Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Six [Five] of the appointed members of the commission |
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must be representatives of the general public and have general |
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knowledge of business or agribusiness. At least one of those |
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appointed members may be a veterinarian, and being licensed as a |
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veterinarian satisfies the requirement that the person have general |
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knowledge of business or agribusiness. One additional appointed |
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member must have special knowledge or experience related to |
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greyhound racing and one additional appointed member must have |
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special knowledge or experience related to horse racing. A person |
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is not eligible for appointment as a member of the commission if the |
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person or the person's spouse: |
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(1) is licensed by the commission, except as a |
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commissioner; |
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(2) is employed by the commission or participates in |
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the management of a business entity or other organization regulated |
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by the commission or receiving funds from or through the |
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commission; |
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(3) owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more |
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than a 10 percent interest in a business entity or other |
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organization regulated by the commission or receiving funds from or |
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through the commission; or |
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(4) uses or receives a substantial amount of tangible |
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goods, services, or funds from or through the commission, other |
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than compensation or reimbursement authorized by law for commission |
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membership, attendance, or expenses. |
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SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the governor shall appoint one additional member to the |
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Texas Racing Commission to comply with Section 2.02(a), Texas |
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Racing Act (Article 179e, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), as |
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amended by this Act. The additional member appointed in accordance |
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with Section 2.02(a) shall serve a term expiring February 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |