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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain licensing and permitting requirements for game |
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rooms; authorizing an occupational permit or license; authorizing a |
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fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 234.134, Local Government Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) A county may require that an owner or operator of a game |
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room obtain a license or permit or renew a license or permit on a |
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periodic basis to own or operate a game room in the county. An |
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application for a license or permit must be made in accordance with |
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Section 234.1341 and with regulations adopted by the county. |
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(a-1) A county may require that a person employed by a game |
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room, other than an owner or operator, obtain a license or permit or |
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renew a license or permit on a periodic basis to be employed by a |
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game room in the county. An application for a license or permit |
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must be made in accordance with Section 234.1342 and with |
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regulations adopted by the county. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 234, Local Government |
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Code, is amended by adding Sections 234.1341 and 234.1342 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 234.1341. APPLICATION FOR OWNER OR OPERATOR LICENSE OR |
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PERMIT. (a) A county requiring a person to obtain a license or |
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permit to own or operate a game room in the county shall require the |
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person to submit a completed application as provided by this |
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section for issuance or renewal of the license or permit and an |
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application fee of $1,000 as required by the county. |
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(b) An application form developed by the county under this |
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section must require the applicant to provide the following |
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information: |
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(1) the name of the business, including a copy of the |
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assumed name certificate; |
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(2) the legal name, social security number, date of |
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birth, and other relevant information concerning each person who |
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owns at least five percent of the business or serves in a management |
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role for the business; |
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(3) the name and contact information of the owner of |
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the property where the game room is located; |
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(4) information concerning any other game room |
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previously or currently operated by the applicant; |
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(5) the applicant's fingerprints; |
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(6) a copy of the applicant's valid state-issued |
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driver's license or personal identification card and social |
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security card; and |
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(7) the applicant's consent for a criminal history |
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record information check of the applicant. |
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Sec. 234.1342. APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYEE LICENSE OR PERMIT. |
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(a) A county requiring a person to obtain a license or permit to be |
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employed by a game room in the county shall require the person to |
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submit a completed application as provided by this section for |
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issuance or renewal of the license or permit and an application fee |
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of $50 as required by the county. |
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(b) An application form developed by the county under this |
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section must require the applicant to provide the following |
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information: |
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(1) the person's legal name, social security number, |
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date of birth, and other relevant information; |
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(2) the person's criminal history; |
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(3) the applicant's fingerprints; |
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(4) a copy of the applicant's valid state-issued |
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driver's license or personal identification card and social |
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security card; |
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(5) a recent photograph of the applicant's face and a |
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recent photograph of the applicant's full body; and |
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(6) the applicant's consent for a criminal history |
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record information check of the applicant. |
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(c) A county may not issue or renew a license or permit for |
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an applicant who has been previously convicted of a Class B |
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misdemeanor or higher criminal offense. |
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(d) A county shall send a copy of fingerprints obtained |
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under this section to the Department of Public Safety to allow the |
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department to create a permanent record of the fingerprints in the |
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criminal justice information system. |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply to a |
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license or permit issued or renewed on or after the effective date |
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of this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |