BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1759

By: Bucy

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Local community leaders and stakeholders have noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic many charitable foundations saw a major loss in donations, in part because sports stadiums were operating at a limited capacity and some people were not attending large gatherings. The contributions of professional sports team charitable foundations can be seen in construction of youth ballparks and fields, renovations of community centers, food distributions, scholarship programs, and programs and services provided directly to nonprofit organizations and schools.

Information provided by several major professional sports team foundations indicates that since Texas voters approved 50/50 charitable raffles in 2015, major professional sports franchises in Texas have raised millions of dollars through their foundations for charities, as they are uniquely positioned to harness the energy of their fans to support these nonprofit organizations. H.B. 1759 seeks to help charitable foundations recuperate losses from diminished capacity and increase fundraising opportunities by authorizing a sports team charitable foundation to sell raffle tickets remotely through digital interactive media to individuals physically located in Texas.

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. 1759 amends the Occupations Code to give a qualified professional sports team charitable foundation the option to sell raffle tickets through digital interactive media, including an applicable website or mobile application, as an alternative to selling the tickets at the home venue of the team associated with the foundation conducting the raffle. Tickets sold through digital interactive media may be sold only to individuals physically located in Texas at the time of the sale.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.