By: Geren H.J.R. No. 97
 
 
 
A JOINT RESOLUTION
  proposing a constitutional amendment to foster economic
  development and job growth, provide tax relief and funding for
  education and public safety programs, and reform and support the
  horse racing industry by authorizing casino gaming at destination
  resorts, creating the Texas Gaming Commission, authorizing sports
  wagering, requiring a license to conduct casino gaming, and
  requiring the imposition of a gaming and sports wagering tax and
  license application fees.
         BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds that:
               (1)  the qualified voters of this state should have the
  opportunity to decide whether to authorize casino gaming at
  destination resorts; and
               (2)  if authorized by those voters, casino gaming at
  destination resorts should:
                     (A)  serve the public interest by fostering
  economic development and job growth and providing tax relief and
  funding for education and public safety programs;
                     (B)  be strictly regulated by a newly created
  state agency empowered to adopt rules regulating who may obtain a
  casino license and the conduct of casino gaming in this state;
                     (C)  be limited to areas of this state in which
  pari-mutuel wagering has previously been approved;
                     (D)  be limited to areas of this state in which the
  greatest positive economic impact from destination resort
  development can be realized;
                     (E)  utilize some existing pari-mutuel racing
  licenses to allow more immediate development of destination resorts
  and to more quickly realize the related job growth and economic
  development;
                     (F)  encourage participation by and competition
  between multiple casino license holders; and
                     (G)  result in the reform and revitalization of
  the horse racing industry in this state and the industry's benefits
  to agricultural businesses in this state.
         SECTION 2.  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 Section 47a
  of this article.
         SECTION 3.  Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by
  adding Section 47a to read as follows:
         Sec. 47a.  (a)  In this section:
               (1)  "Casino" means licensed facilities located at a
  destination resort at which casino gaming is conducted.
               (2)  "Casino gaming" means any game of chance or
  similar activity that involves placing a bet for consideration.
  The term includes wagering on any type of slot machine or table
  game, as defined by the legislature, using money, casino credit, or
  any other representation of value. The term does not include:
                     (A)  bingo, a charitable raffle, or the state
  lottery authorized under Section 47 of this article; or
                     (B)  placing, receiving, or otherwise knowingly
  transmitting a bet or wager by a means that requires the use of the
  Internet, except for offering slot machines, table games, or other
  devices the Texas Gaming Commission approves that use the Internet
  or networking functionality but are played onsite at a casino.
               (3)  "Casino license" means a license to conduct
  casino gaming at a casino.
               (4)  "Destination resort" means a mixed-use
  development consisting of casino gaming facilities and a
  combination of various tourism amenities and facilities, including
  hotels, restaurants, meeting facilities, attractions,
  entertainment facilities, and shopping centers.
               (5)  "Education" means public education, public higher
  education, and adult education related to responsible gaming.
               (6)  "Metropolitan statistical area" means a
  metropolitan statistical area designated by the United States
  Office of Management and Budget as of July 1, 2021.
               (7)  "Person" includes an individual and any legal
  entity, such as a corporation, organization, partnership, or
  association.
               (8)  "Public safety program" means a program for crime
  prevention and law enforcement, including a program designed to
  prevent and prosecute crimes involving human trafficking and money
  laundering.
               (9)  "Racetrack association" means a person who holds
  a license to conduct racing in this state.
               (10)  "Racing" means a horse race meeting or greyhound
  race meeting with pari-mutuel wagering.
               (11)  "Sports wagering" means wagering on the outcome
  of a live sporting event, as defined by general law.
         (b)  To foster economic development and job growth, provide
  tax relief and funding for education and public safety programs,
  reform and support the horse racing industry, and provide for
  destination resorts in populous metropolitan statistical areas in
  which pari-mutuel wagering previously has been approved, casino
  gaming is authorized pursuant to casino licenses for casinos at
  destination resorts as follows:
               (1)  two destination resorts in the Dallas-Fort
  Worth-Arlington metropolitan statistical area;
               (2)  two destination resorts in the Houston-The
  Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan statistical area;
               (3)  one destination resort in the San Antonio-New
  Braunfels metropolitan statistical area;
               (4)  one destination resort in the Corpus Christi
  metropolitan statistical area; and
               (5)  one destination resort in the
  McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metropolitan statistical area.
         (c)  The legislature shall:
               (1)  authorize sports wagering only in a place and
  manner prescribed by general law;
               (2)  regulate by general law the conduct of sports
  wagering; and
               (3)  direct the Texas Gaming Commission to promulgate
  rules consistent with general law to regulate sports wagering in
  this state.
         (d)  The legislature by general law shall establish the Texas
  Gaming Commission as a state agency with broad authority to adopt
  and enforce the rules necessary to strictly regulate casino gaming
  and sports wagering in accordance with this section.
         (e)  The Texas Gaming Commission is composed of five members
  appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate
  to serve staggered terms of six years each, as established under
  general law. To be eligible for appointment and continued service,
  a member must satisfy the qualifications established by the
  legislature under that law.
         (f)  A racetrack association may designate a person to apply
  for and hold a casino license under Subsection (g) of this section
  by providing notice to the Texas Gaming Commission in the manner
  prescribed by general law or commission rule consistent with
  general law. A racetrack association may not change the person
  designated in the provided notice unless the person declines the
  designation. A racetrack association may not at any time designate
  more than one person under this subsection. A racetrack
  association is ineligible to hold a casino license if the racetrack
  association designates a person for a license under this subsection
  unless the designation is declined by the person. Nothing in this
  subsection affects duties or rights established by contract or
  other law.
         (g)  Subject to this section, the Texas Gaming Commission
  shall issue a casino license to each initial qualified applicant.
  An initial qualified applicant must:
               (1)  be of good moral character, be honest, and have
  integrity;
               (2)  demonstrate that issuance of the casino license to
  the applicant will not be detrimental to the public interest or the
  casino gaming industry;
               (3)  satisfy the qualifications and any other
  requirements established under general law;
               (4)  demonstrate the financial ability to complete the
  development of and operate the destination resort at which the
  person will conduct casino gaming;
               (5)  have adequate experience in resort development,
  resort management, and casino gaming operations;
               (6)  provide a detailed estimate of the applicant's
  total new development investment in the destination resort; and
               (7)  satisfy the applicable requirements provided in
  Subsection (h) of this section.
         (h)  An initial qualified applicant for a casino license must
  satisfy the following requirements for the metropolitan
  statistical area in which the destination resort will be located:
               (1)  for a casino license in the Dallas-Fort
  Worth-Arlington metropolitan statistical area, the initial
  qualified applicant must:
                     (A)  be a racetrack association that on January 1,
  2022, held a license to conduct racing anywhere in the Dallas-Fort
  Worth-Arlington metropolitan statistical area or the Laredo
  metropolitan statistical area or be the person designated by the
  racetrack association under Subsection (f) of this section; and
                     (B)  commit to investing for new development of
  the destination resort an amount equal to at least $2 billion,
  including land acquisition;
               (2)  for a casino license in the Houston-The
  Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan statistical area, the initial
  qualified applicant must:
                     (A)  be a racetrack association that on January 1,
  2022, held a license to conduct racing anywhere in the Houston-The
  Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan statistical area or the
  Brownsville-Harlingen metropolitan statistical area or be the
  person designated by the racetrack association under Subsection (f)
  of this section; and
                     (B)  commit to investing for new development of
  the destination resort an amount equal to at least $2 billion,
  including land acquisition;
               (3)  for a casino license in the San Antonio-New
  Braunfels metropolitan statistical area, the initial qualified
  applicant must:
                     (A)  be a racetrack association that on January 1,
  2022, held a license to conduct racing anywhere in the San
  Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan statistical area or be the
  person designated by the racetrack association under Subsection (f)
  of this section; and
                     (B)  commit to investing for new development of
  the destination resort an amount equal to at least $1 billion,
  including land acquisition;
               (4)  for a casino license in the Corpus Christi
  metropolitan statistical area, the initial qualified applicant
  must:
                     (A)  be a racetrack association that on January 1,
  2022, held a license to conduct racing anywhere in the Corpus
  Christi metropolitan statistical area or be the person designated
  by the racetrack association under Subsection (f) of this section;
  and
                     (B)  commit to investing for new development of
  the destination resort an amount equal to at least $250 million,
  including land acquisition; and
               (5)  for a casino license in the
  McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metropolitan statistical area, the
  initial qualified applicant must:
                     (A)  be a racetrack association that on January 1,
  2022, held a license to conduct racing anywhere in the
  McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metropolitan statistical area or be the
  person designated by the racetrack association under Subsection (f)
  of this section; and
                     (B)  commit to investing for new development of
  the destination resort an amount equal to at least $250 million,
  including land acquisition.
         (i)  A destination resort at which casino gaming is conducted
  under a casino license may be located anywhere within the
  metropolitan statistical area for which the license is issued.
         (j)  Consistent with this section, the legislature by
  general law:
               (1)  shall regulate casino gaming and sports wagering
  in this state by prescribing:
                     (A)  additional requirements governing the
  issuance and continued qualification for holding a casino license;
                     (B)  restrictions on the transfer of casino
  licenses;
                     (C)  definitions of terms necessary or useful to
  implement this section, such as the terms casino, casino gaming,
  casino license, destination resort, and sports wagering;
                     (D)  qualifications for the issuance of new casino
  licenses to persons that are not initial qualified applicants under
  Subsection (g) of this section, provided that the number of active
  casino licenses, as defined by the legislature, may not at any one
  time exceed the number of casino licenses for destination resorts
  authorized in Subsection (b) of this section; and
                     (E)  restrictions and penalties for the unlawful
  conduct of casino gaming and sports wagering; and
               (2)  may delegate to the Texas Gaming Commission the
  authority to prescribe rules regulating casino gaming and sports
  wagering in accordance with this section.
         (k)  State or local public money or facilities developed or
  built with state or local public assistance or tax incentives of any
  kind may not be used for the development or operation of a
  destination resort.  The legislature by general law shall prescribe
  procedures and enforcement measures to ensure that:
               (1)  a casino license applicant has the financial
  capability of satisfying the minimum investment specified in
  Subsection (h) of this section; and
               (2)  each casino license holder satisfies the
  investment required under Subsection (h) of this section.
         (l)  A person may not have an ownership interest in more than
  two casino license holders. The legislature by general law shall:
               (1)  define ownership interest for purposes of this
  subsection; and
               (2)  prescribe the consequences of violating this
  subsection.
         (m)  The legislature by general law shall direct the Texas
  Gaming Commission to adopt rules to ensure that a person who holds
  a casino license and a license to conduct horse racing at a class 1
  racetrack, as that term is defined by general law, maintains a
  number of live horse racing dates that is at least equivalent to the
  number of live horse racing dates held at the racetrack in 2022.
         (n)  The legislature by general law shall require a racetrack
  association that:
               (1)  holds a license to conduct greyhound racing to
  cease all racing operations and surrender that license as a
  condition of holding, or designating a person to hold, a casino
  license; and
               (2)  holds a license to conduct racing in the Laredo
  metropolitan statistical area to cease all racing operations and
  surrender that license as a condition of holding, or designating a
  person to hold, a casino license.
         (o)  The legislature by general law shall ensure the Texas
  Racing Commission or its successor regulates the racing operations
  of each racetrack association that holds a casino license and the
  Texas Gaming Commission regulates casino gaming and sports wagering
  operations of the racetrack association.
         (p)  The legislature by general law shall:
               (1)  impose a 15 percent tax on the gross casino gaming
  revenue, as defined by general law, of each casino license holder;
  and
               (2)  impose a tax on sports wagering revenue.
         (q)  The state or a state agency or political subdivision of
  this state may not impose a tax on the casino gaming revenue of a
  casino license holder or a tax or fee on the non-gaming revenue of
  casino license holder's operations at a destination resort, other
  than the tax authorized by this section or a tax or fee generally
  applicable to a business operating in this state.
         (r)  To fund and support the administration and management of
  the Texas Gaming Commission, the legislature by general law shall
  establish casino license application fees in the amount of:
               (1)  $2.5 million for an application to conduct casino
  gaming at a destination resort in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington
  or Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan statistical
  areas;
               (2)  $1.25 million for an application to conduct
  casino gaming at a destination resort in the San Antonio-New
  Braunfels metropolitan statistical area; and
               (3)  $500,000 for an application to conduct casino
  gaming at a destination resort in the Corpus Christi or
  McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metropolitan statistical areas.
         (s)  The legislature by law shall annually allocate a portion
  of the revenues received from taxes imposed on the gross casino
  gaming revenue of casino license holders to be used as horse racing
  purse money to promote the growth and sustainability of the horse
  racing industry in this state.
         SECTION 4.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
  submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 2023.
  The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
  proposition: "The constitutional amendment to foster economic
  development and job growth, provide tax relief and funding for
  education and public safety programs, and reform and support the
  horse racing industry by authorizing casino gaming at destination
  resorts, authorizing sports wagering, creating the Texas Gaming
  Commission to regulate casino gaming and sports wagering, requiring
  a license to conduct casino gaming, and requiring the imposition of
  a gaming tax, sports wagering tax, and license application fees."