BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1476

By: Anderson, Charles "Doc"

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that the legislature previously enacted legislation granting regulatory authority to certain counties, such as Harris County, in an effort to combat illegal gambling occurring in game rooms. H.B. 1476 seeks to provide a county with a population of more than 200,000 and less than 250,000 the same regulatory authority.

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. 1476 amends the Local Government Code to raise from 220,000 to 250,000 the maximum population threshold of a county to which statutory provisions relating to the regulation of game rooms in certain counties apply.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.