88R4641 BEE-F
 
  By: Guillen H.B. No. 2345
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to definitions for purposes of gambling criminal offenses.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 47.01, Penal Code, is amended by adding
  Subdivision (2-a) and amending Subdivision (8) to read as follows:
               (2-a)  "Economic benefit" means direct winnings from a
  game of skill or luck. The term does not include a benefit received
  before a game commences or after payment of the direct winnings from
  the game.
               (8)  "Private place" means a place to which the public
  does not have access without a valid membership, special
  invitation, or prior grant of permission[,] and excludes, among
  other places, streets, highways, restaurants, taverns, nightclubs,
  schools, hospitals, and the common areas of apartment houses,
  hotels, motels, office buildings, transportation facilities, and
  shops.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
  An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
  and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For
  purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
  effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
  before that date.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.