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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the membership of and qualifications for the Texas |
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Lottery Commission. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 467.021, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 467.021. MEMBERSHIP. (a) The commission is composed |
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of seven [five] members appointed by the governor with the advice |
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and consent of the senate as follows: |
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(1) five voting members appointed as provided by |
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Subsection (c); and |
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(2) two nonvoting members appointed as provided by |
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Subsection (d). |
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(b) In making appointments to the commission, the governor |
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shall strive to achieve representation by all the population groups |
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of the state [with regard to economic status, sex, race, and |
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ethnicity]. |
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(c) In appointing the five voting commission members, the |
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governor shall appoint: |
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(1) one member who is a peace officer or an individual |
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with law enforcement experience; |
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(2) one member who is an attorney licensed to practice |
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law in this state; |
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(3) one member who is a certified public accountant; |
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and |
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(4) one [One] member who has [must have] experience in |
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the bingo industry. |
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(d) In appointing the two nonvoting commission members, the |
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governor shall appoint: |
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(1) one member who represents the Texas Food and Fuel |
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Association from a list of persons suggested by the association; |
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and |
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(2) one member who is an individual with knowledge of |
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the gaming industry. |
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(e) Commission members serve at the pleasure of the |
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governor. |
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SECTION 2. Section 467.024, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) An individual is not eligible to be [an] appointed or |
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serve as a voting member of the commission if the individual: |
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(1) is registered, certified, or licensed by a |
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regulatory agency in the field of bingo or lottery; |
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(2) owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more |
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than a 10 percent interest in a business entity or other |
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organization regulated by the commission or receiving funds from |
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the commission; |
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(3) is employed by or participates in the management |
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of a business entity or other organization regulated by or |
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receiving funds from the commission; |
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(4) uses or receives a substantial amount of tangible |
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goods, services, or funds from the commission, other than |
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compensation or reimbursement authorized by law for commission |
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membership, attendance, or expenses; |
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(5) is an officer, employee, or paid consultant of a |
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Texas trade association in the field of bingo or lottery; |
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(6) is required to register as a lobbyist under |
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Chapter 305 because of the person's activities for compensation on |
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behalf of a profession related to the operation of the commission; |
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(7) is married to an individual described by |
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Subdivisions (2)-(6); |
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(8) has been convicted of a felony or of any crime |
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involving moral turpitude; or |
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(9) is not a citizen of the United States. |
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(a-1) An individual is not eligible to be appointed or serve |
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as a nonvoting member of the commission if the individual: |
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(1) has been convicted of a felony or of any crime |
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involving moral turpitude; or |
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(2) is not a citizen of the United States. |
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SECTION 3. (a) The change in law made by this Act in the |
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qualifications of members of the Texas Lottery Commission does not |
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affect the entitlement of a member serving on the commission |
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immediately before the effective date of this Act to continue to |
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serve for the remainder of the member's term. As the terms of |
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commission members expire, the governor shall appoint or reappoint |
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a member who has the qualifications required for a member under |
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Section 467.021, Government Code, as amended by this Act. |
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(b) As soon as practicable after the effective date of this |
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Act, the governor shall appoint two nonvoting members to the Texas |
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Lottery Commission as required by Section 467.021(d), Government |
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Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |