BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2127
87R2850 MCF-D	By: Turner, Chris et al. (Hancock)
	Administration
	5/4/2021
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

EpicCentral is a 172-acre park site located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex off President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT; State Highway 161) just north of Interstate 20. Reflecting innovation and community investment, EpicCentral is home to Grand Prairie's Public Safety Building, Epic Waters year-round indoor waterpark, the Summit Recreation Center for adults ages 50+, The Epic fitness, arts & entertainment center for all ages, and the PlayGrand Adventures 10-acre master planned playground for all ages and abilities. Amenities include five lakes, a grand lawn, and a connecting boardwalk.

Grand Prairie has a planned development of retail and restaurant sites, as well as two hotels with a convention center attached. Chicken N Pickle restaurant has broken ground and will open by year-end 2021, offering farm fresh chicken fare, yard games, and indoor/outdoor pickleball courts. Other anticipated restaurants include Vidorra, STIRR, Serious Eats food hall, and Loop 9 BBQ. Grand Prairie plans to complement this development with a water show attraction in the center of the park. The city's goal for this development is to attract locals and tourists to outdoor events and to create safe spaces for people to enjoy time together. Currently, visitors are prohibited from taking their beverage from dinner over to the grand lawn.

H.B. 2127 amends the Alcoholic Beverage Code to enable patrons to take their beverages from dinner over to the grand lawn. The grand lawn consists of water shows, trails surrounding the lakes, and musical/cultural events.

H.B. 2127 amends current law relating to consumption of alcoholic beverages in public entertainment facilities and zones.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 108.73, Alcoholic Beverage Code, by adding Subdivision (3-a) to define "public entertainment zone" for the purposes of Subchapter C (Industry Public Entertainment Facilities Act).

SECTION 2. Amends the heading to Section 108.82, Alcoholic Beverage Code, to read as follows:

Sec. 108.82. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONSUMPTION IN PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES AND ZONES.

SECTION 3. Amends Sections 108.82(a) and (b), Alcoholic Beverage Code, as follows:

�(a) Provides that this section applies only to:

(1) a public entertainment facility that is owned or leased by the Texas State Railroad Authority and used as a station for passenger rail services;

(2) a public entertainment facility that is a stadium, arena, or other permanent structure that is used for sporting events and relating to which an agreement approved by the administrator under Section 108.79 (Optional Preapproval Process) is in force, and for which all alcoholic beverage permits and licenses are held by a single holder; or

(3) a public entertainment zone.

(b) Authorizes the concessionaire for a public entertainment facility or a public entertainment zone described by Subsection (a), notwithstanding Section 28.10 (Consumption Restricted to Premises; Exceptions), to allow a patron who possesses an alcoholic beverage to enter or leave a licensed or permitted premises within the facility or zone if the alcoholic beverage:

(1) and (2) makes no changes to these subdivisions;

(3) except as provided by Section 48.01(b) (relating to authorizing consumption of an alcoholic beverage in an open container purchased by a consumer on a passenger train or on property that is part of a public entertainment facility owned or leased by the Texas State Railroad Authority), remains within the confines of the facility or zone, excluding a parking lot; and

(4) was purchased legally at a licensed or permitted premises within the facility or zone.

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2021.