BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 882
86R4406 BEE-F	By: Bell, Cecil (Kolkhorst)
	State Affairs
	5/10/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

It has been noted that a licensed charitable bingo organization must complete all bingo-related activities, such as the sale of pull-tabs, bingo cards, and payment of winners, within the duration of the bingo occasion, which may not exceed four hours. It has been suggested that since this four-hour limit does not reflect the actual length of a bingo session, extending the limit of a bingo occasion to six hours will provide licensed charitable bingo organizations longer and more profitable bingo sessions. H.B. 882 seeks to provide for this extension.

H.B. 882 amends the Occupations Code to increase the maximum duration of a bingo occasion from four hours to six hours and to increase from four to six the number of hours a temporary license to conduct bingo is valid during any one day. H.B. 882 applies to a bingo occasion conducted under a license issued under the Bingo Enabling Act before, on, or after H.B. 882's effective date. H.B. 882 authorizes a holder of an unused temporary license issued before H.B. 882's effective date to submit to the Texas Lottery Commission (commission), in the manner required by commission, a license amendment or a notification that provides the specific date and time of the bingo occasion for which the temporary license will be used and authorizes the commission to adopt the rules and procedures necessary to accomplish that purpose.

H.B. 882 amends current law relating to the duration of a bingo occasion.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Lottery Commission in SECTION 3 of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 2001.103(b), Occupations Code, to provide that a temporary license is valid for six hours during any one day, rather than four hours during any one day.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 2001.419(b), Occupations Code, to prohibit a bingo occasion from exceeding six hours, rather than four hours.

SECTION 3. Provides that the changes in law made by this Act apply to a bingo occasion conducted under a license issued under Chapter 2001 (Bingo), Occupations Code, before, on, or after the effective date of this Act. Authorizes the holder of an unused temporary license issued before the effective date of this Act to submit to the Texas Lottery Commission (commission), in the manner required by the commission, a license amendment or a notification that provides the specific date and time of the bingo occasion for which the temporary license will be used, and authorizes the commission to adopt the rules and procedures necessary to accomplish that purpose.

SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.