BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1404

By: Dean

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that under current law, not all counties have the authority to regulate game rooms. It has been suggested that certain other counties, such as Upshur County, would benefit from having this regulatory authority to address local concerns with regard to the proliferation of game rooms near schools and churches. H.B. 1404 seeks to provide the authority to regulate game rooms to additional counties.

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. 1404 amends the Local Government Code to extend the authority to regulate game rooms to a county that has a population of less than 40,000 and that is adjacent to both a county that has a population of more than 200,000 and less than 220,000 and a county that is located on the Texas border with Louisiana, has a population of more than 65,000, and is within 50 miles of a municipality in Louisiana with a population of more than 150,000.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.