HBA-EDN H.B. 3360 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3360 By: Goolsby Licensing & Administrative Procedures 4/26/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Texas ranks as one of the top states in the nation in terms of gross receipts and charitable distributions from bingo. Some of the states which are ranked ahead of Texas are much smaller but have better sales, possibly due to sales from pull-tab bingo. Such sales improve the opportunity for non-profit charities to raise funds. Although pull-tab bingo is currently allowed under Texas law, there are various restrictions limiting the times and locations at which bingo may be conducted. Eliminating some of these restrictions may increase the sales receipts and charitable distributions resulting from pull-tab bingo. House Bill 3360 provides that certain prohibitions on the times and locations at which bingo may be conducted do not apply to pull-tab bingo. 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 2001.406, Occupations Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS House Bill 3360 amends the Occupations Code to provide that certain prohibitions relating to bingo do not apply to pull-tab bingo, including prohibitions relating to multiple bingo premises existing under a common roof or over a common foundation, the rent charged a licensed organization exceeding $600 per bingo occasion conducted on the premises, and conducting a bingo occasion more than three days a week for more than four hours during a 24-hour period or for more than two occasions during a 24-hour period. H.B. 3360 authorizes the Texas Lottery Commission to adopt rules to establish the rent to be paid in connection with the conduct of pull-tab bingo. EFFECTIVE DATE October 1, 2001.