HBA-EDN H.B. 2967 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2967 By: Yarbrough Criminal Jurisprudence 3/23/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, there are Indian tribes in Texas which conduct gaming operations on tribal lands. These gaming operations have been the subject of controversy because many think that the operations are actually illegal under current law. The Indian tribes think that they have a right to conduct these gaming operations since Texas does allow other forms of legalized gambling, such as bingo, pull tabs, horse racing, dog racing, and lottery scratch-off tickets. House Bill 2967 provides that all gaming operations allowed under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act are permitted in this state and prohibits tax dollars from being expended for enforcement action against these activities. 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 2967 amends the Penal Code to provide that all gaming activity permitted under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act is permitted in this state and does not violate any law of this state, including the Texas Constitution. The bill prohibits the attorney general, a prosecuting attorney, an agent of the attorney general or a prosecuting attorney, or a law enforcement officer from using any public funds to conduct an enforcement action against such gaming activity. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.