HBA-DMH H.B. 2629 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2629
By: Wohlgemuth
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
3/19/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Texas regulates the operation of bingo games through the Bingo Enabling
Act.  Currently, businesses operating bingo games as a community service
are technically committing a violation under the Act.  House Bill 2629
authorizes a business to operate a bingo game as a community service
without committing a violation if the game is limited to persons over 55
years of age and meets specified operating requirements. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2629 amends the Occupations Code to provide that a person is
exempt from an offense for conducting, promoting, or administering bingo if
it is on behalf of a business conducting the game as a community service.
The bill provides that bingo is considered to be on behalf of a community
service if: 

_the game is restricted to players 55 years of age or over; 

_participation in the game is open to the general public and is not limited
to customers of the business;  

_playing materials are furnished without charge to a person on request; 

_no player or other person furnishes anything of more than nominal value
for the opportunity to participate; and  

_the prizes awarded or to be awarded are nominal.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.