BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.S.B. 1270

By: Watson

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The major events reimbursement program provides for the use of local and state tax revenue to help pay for costs incurred from hosting certain events in Texas, such as the Super Bowl and political conventions. It has been noted that the International World Exhibition & Festival Organization, which provides world-renowned touring exhibitions and festivals, would like to bring an exhibition chronicling the life of Nelson Mandela to Texas. C.S.S.B. 1270 seeks to make this exhibition eligible for program funding while revising provisions relating to the human trafficking prevention plan required to receive reimbursement under the program.

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

C.S.S.B. 1270 amends Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes to make a world‑renowned exhibition or festival chronicling the life of Nelson Mandela that is recognized by the International World Exhibition & Festival Organization eligible for funding through the major events reimbursement program. The bill designates the International World Exhibition & Festival Organization as a qualifying site selection organization for purposes of program funding. The bill gives the organization hosting an event eligible for funding through the program the option to submit the requisite human trafficking prevention plan as an alternative to the site selection organization submitting the plan and includes the human trafficking prevention ask force among the recipients of the plan. The bill authorizes an event that the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office has determined to be ineligible to receive funding through the program due solely to a failure to timely submit the plan to receive that funding if:

· the plan is submitted to the required entities not later than seven days before the event begins and is implemented during the event; and

· all other requirements for funding are satisfied not later than the 60th day after the last day of the fiscal year in which the event occurs, provided submission of the plan was not previously required for that event.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.

COMPARISON OF SENATE ENGROSSED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.S.B. 1270 may differ from the engrossed in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the engrossed and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute limits the world-renowned exhibitions and festivals made eligible for funding through the major events reimbursement program to such an exhibition or festival chronicling the life of Nelson Mandela.

The substitute includes provisions regarding the human trafficking prevention plan and the eligibility of an event for reimbursement under the program with respect to the timely submission of the plan.