HBA-DMH H.B. 2119 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2119
By: Haggerty
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
4/17/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Progressive bingo is a specific type of bingo game in which a player must
achieve a specific pattern by the time a certain number of bingo balls have
been selected.  If the player does not achieve the specific pattern within
the specified number of balls, the game continues until someone achieves a
winning pattern.  A consolation prize is awarded and the remainder of the
prize amount is carried over and added to the next progressive bingo game.
House Bill 2119 authorizes a licensed authorized organization to conduct a
progressive bingo game. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Lottery Commission in SECTION
2 (Section 2001.421, Occupations Code) and SECTION 3 of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2119 amends the Occupations Code to authorize a licensed
authorized organization to conduct a progressive bingo game and to provide
that only one progressive bingo game may be conducted during a bingo
occasion.  The bill prohibits a licensed authorized organization from
conducting a progressive bingo game before the Texas Lottery Commission
(commission) adopts rules to administer progressive bingo games. 

The bill prohibits the prize offered or awarded for a progressive bingo
game from exceeding $750 at the first bingo occasion during which the game
is played and prohibits the prize offered or awarded from being increased
by more than $500 at each successive bingo occasion at which the game is
played until the game is won.  If the prize for a progressive bingo game is
not awarded at a bingo occasion, the progressive bingo game must be
continued at a future bingo occasion of the same organization until a
winner is declared.  The bill authorizes a consolation prize of not more
than $250 for a progressive bingo game to be awarded at each bingo occasion
during which the game is played.  The bill provides that  prize awards
provisions established in the Bingo Enabling Act do not apply to a
progressive bingo game, but prize fee provisions do apply in a progressive
bingo game. 

The bill provides that a licensed authorized organization conducting a
progressive bingo game must post the rules for the progressive bingo game
as part of the organization's house rules before the start of the bingo
occasion. Except as otherwise required by rule of the commission, the
posted rules must remain in effect until a winner is declared for the
progressive bingo game.  If more than one licensed authorized organization
conducts bingo at the same location, the bill provides that each
organization is responsible for the organization's own progressive bingo
game. A licensed authorized organization conducting a progressive bingo
game must maintain adequate records relating to the game as required by
rule of the commission. The records must include the amount of the increase
in the prize at each bingo occasion at which the game is continued and
account for all gross receipts for each progressive bingo game.  The bill
requires the commission to adopt rules, not later than October 1, 2001, to
administer these provisions. The bill sets forth provisions regarding the
applicability of current law to prizes awarded in a progressive bingo game. 
 
EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.