Texas Senate Bill SB998

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Caption

Relating to the seizure of the circuit board of a gambling device or equipment, altered gambling equipment, or gambling paraphernalia.

Impact

The introduction of SB998 has significant implications for law enforcement procedures in addressing gambling-related offenses. By narrowing the focus of seizures to just the circuit board, the bill aims to streamline operations and decrease the burden on officers who may otherwise need to take entire devices into custody. This legislative change is intended to improve the efficiency of investigations and may promote a more selective approach in targeting illegal gambling setups, while still complying with legal directives for evidence collection.

Summary

Senate Bill 998 seeks to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure in Texas to provide specific guidelines regarding the seizure of components from gambling devices and equipment. The bill focuses on allowing law enforcement officers to seize only the programmable main circuit board of any gambling device, altered gambling equipment, or associated paraphernalia as a part of investigations or under search warrants. This approach simplifies the seizure process and reduces the physical footprint of evidence collected during operations against illegal gambling activities.

Contention

While the bill purports to simplify the legal process surrounding gambling device seizures, it may also introduce potential contention among stakeholders. Advocates for stricter gambling regulations may appreciate the focus on key components, believing it will aid in effectively combating illegal gambling. However, critics could argue that this approach may undermine broader regulatory efforts by sidelining comprehensive assessments of gambling operations, potentially allowing some illegal activities to persist without thorough investigation of the full extent of devices and setups involved.