BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 389

By: Bailes

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been reported that the growing number of game rooms operating in certain counties, such as Liberty County, has led to an increase in criminal activity and illegal gambling in these areas and that law enforcement faces difficulties in shutting down illegal operations. H.B. 389 seeks to address this issue by expanding the group of counties that may regulate game rooms in an effort to combat illegal gambling occurring in game rooms.

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

H.B. 389 amends the Local Government Code to include among the counties to which statutory provisions governing county regulation of game rooms apply a county that has a population of more than 75,000 and is adjacent to:

· a county that has a population of four million or more; and

· a county that is adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico and to a county that has a population of four million or more.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.