BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1995

By: King, Tracy O.

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised over the inability of the Texas Racing Commission to use funding from certain revenue sources for operational expenses. It has been suggested that this places an increasing burden on the commission's ability to regulate the racing industry. H.B. 1995 seeks to address these concerns by redirecting certain money deducted from simulcast pari-mutuel pools and simulcast cross-species pari-mutuel pools to the Texas Racing Commission.

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Racing Commission in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1995 amends the Occupations Code to specify that the required distribution of money by a racetrack association from deductions from each simulcast pari-mutuel pool and each simulcast cross-species pari-mutuel are to be made to the Texas Racing Commission for the administration of the Texas Racing Act. The bill requires the racing commission to revise existing rules or adopt new rules as necessary to comply with the bill's provisions.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.