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.