BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 2394 81R3160 PMO-D By: Gallegos State Affairs 4/22/2009 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Law enforcement officials are tasked with enforcing Texas' existing gambling laws, but are hindered in doing so because offenses related to the illegal use and operation of eight liner machines require cumbersome investigations and costly storing of the machines, which are typically very large and heavy. Prosecutors and peace officers rely on local tax dollars to store and transport these machines. The bill adds clarifying language to the current definition of a gambling device so that law enforcement agencies and prosecutors need only retain the motherboard or other similar portions of the device for the purposes of prosecution, rather than the entire machine. As proposed, S.B. 2394 amends current law relating to criminal offenses applicable to gambling and gambling devices. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 47.01, Penal Code, by adding Subdivision (4-a) to define "device" and "contrivance." SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2009.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 2394
81R3160 PMO-D By: Gallegos
State Affairs
4/22/2009
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Law enforcement officials are tasked with enforcing Texas' existing gambling laws, but are hindered in doing so because offenses related to the illegal use and operation of eight liner machines require cumbersome investigations and costly storing of the machines, which are typically very large and heavy. Prosecutors and peace officers rely on local tax dollars to store and transport these machines.
The bill adds clarifying language to the current definition of a gambling device so that law enforcement agencies and prosecutors need only retain the motherboard or other similar portions of the device for the purposes of prosecution, rather than the entire machine.
As proposed, S.B. 2394 amends current law relating to criminal offenses applicable to gambling and gambling devices.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 47.01, Penal Code, by adding Subdivision (4-a) to define "device" and "contrivance."
SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2009.