86R2624 GCB-D
 
  By: Deshotel H.J.R. No. 36
 
 
 
A JOINT RESOLUTION
  proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the operation of
  casino gaming in certain coastal areas of this state by licensed
  persons to provide additional money for residual windstorm
  insurance coverage and catastrophic flooding assistance in the
  coastal areas; providing for certification or licensing of persons
  engaged in occupations related to casino gaming.
         BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 47(a), Article III, Texas Constitution,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The Legislature shall pass laws prohibiting lotteries
  and gift enterprises in this State other than those authorized by
  Subsections (b), (d), (d-1), and (e) of this section and by Section
  47a of this article.
         SECTION 2.  Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by
  adding Section 47a to read as follows:
         Sec. 47a.  (a)  The legislature by general law in accordance
  with this section shall authorize the operation of casino gaming in
  this state in which individuals for consideration play games of
  chance that award prizes and are operated by persons licensed or
  otherwise authorized by this state to conduct casino gaming to
  provide additional money for residual windstorm insurance coverage
  and catastrophic flooding assistance in this state's coastal areas.  
  The law must:
               (1)  limit casino gaming operations in this state to
  gaming operated by persons licensed in this state to operate casino
  gaming at not more than nine licensed locations in areas of this
  state that are within 200 miles of the Gulf of Mexico;
               (2)  provide:
                     (A)  a comprehensive certification or licensing
  program, including necessary background investigations, to govern
  a person that manages casino gaming operations in this state or that
  maintains, manufactures, distributes, sells, or leases casino
  games for use or play in this state;
                     (B)  procedures for the state agency responsible
  for conducting criminal background investigations for the state to
  provide criminal background information to the state agency
  responsible for certification or licensing under Paragraph (A) of
  this subdivision; and
                     (C)  procedures for the monitoring and inspection
  of casino gaming operations as necessary to protect the public
  health, welfare, and safety, to preserve the integrity of this
  state and gaming operations in the state, and to prevent financial
  loss to this state; and
               (3)  prohibit and impose criminal penalties for the
  possession and operation of all gaming devices other than devices
  operated in connection with authorized casino gaming operations or
  gaming devices otherwise authorized by state law.
         (b)  In the general law enacted in accordance with Subsection
  (a) of this section, the legislature may designate the counties in
  which a casino gaming operator's license may be issued.
         (c)  All shipments of casino gaming equipment or other gaming
  devices into, out of, or within this state authorized under this
  section or a law enacted under this section are legal shipments of
  the devices and are exempt from the provisions of 15 U.S.C. Sections
  1171-1178 prohibiting the transportation of gambling devices.
         SECTION 3.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
  submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 5, 2019.
  The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
  proposition: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the
  operation of casino gaming in certain coastal areas of this state by
  licensed persons to provide additional money for residual windstorm
  insurance coverage and catastrophic flooding assistance in the
  coastal areas."