82R8917 GCB-F
By: Thompson H.B. No. 2728
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the operation and regulation of charitable bingo.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 2001.002, Occupations Code, is amended
by adding Subdivision (6-a) to read as follows:
(6-a) "Card-minding device player account value"
means the amount of money accounted for by a card-minding device
that is deposited to a player's account through a point-of-sale
transaction or otherwise credited to the player's account by the
card-minding device as a bingo prize for winning a game of bingo.
SECTION 2. Section 2001.103(e), Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(e) Notwithstanding Subsection (c), an authorized
organization that holds an annual license to conduct bingo may
receive not more than 36 [24] temporary licenses during the
12-month period following the issuance or renewal of the
license. The holder of a license that is effective for two years
may receive not more than 36 [24] temporary licenses for each
12-month period that ends on an anniversary of the date the license
was issued or renewed.
SECTION 3. Sections 2001.160(a), (b), (e), (f), and (g),
Occupations Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) On approval by the commission, a [A] licensed commercial
lessor may [not] transfer a commercial lessor license [except as
provided by this section.
[(b) A transfer of a commercial lessor license under this
section may be made only with the prior approval of the commission.
The commission shall approve the transfer under this section] if
the person to whom the license will be transferred otherwise meets
the requirements of this subchapter [section].
(e) Unless the commission revokes or suspends the license
under this chapter, or an injunction is issued under this section, a
licensed authorized organization that conducts bingo lawfully at
premises under a license to which Subsection (d) applies may
continue conducting bingo at the premises after the death or
incapacity of the commercial lessor license holder.
(f) On the showing by the commission of a cause that would be
sufficient for the commission to revoke or suspend [obtain] a
license under this chapter or an applicable commission rule
[suspension under Section 2001.355], a district court in the county
for which a commercial lessor license was issued or the
commissioner by rule may temporarily or permanently enjoin the
conduct of bingo at premises under a license to which Subsection (d)
applies.
(g) The estate or guardian of an individual to whom
Subsection (d) applies shall notify the commission not later than
the 90th day [one year] after the date the individual dies or is
determined to be incapacitated by a court of this state. The estate
or guardian and the heirs or other appropriate person shall
promptly take all necessary steps to complete a transfer of the
license to the heirs or other appropriate person.
SECTION 4. Section 2001.409, Occupations Code, is amended
by adding Subsections (b) and (c) to read as follows:
(b) A bingo player may use a card-minding device player
account value to purchase bingo cards, pull-tabs, or other bingo
merchandise.
(c) A licensed authorized organization that conducts bingo
may use a card-minding device to:
(1) calculate and display a card-minding device player
account value; and
(2) pay a bingo player a refund or bingo prize money.
SECTION 5. Section 2001.420(b), Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) A [For bingo games other than pull-tab bingo, a] person
may not offer or award on a single bingo occasion prizes with an
aggregate value of more than $2,500 for all bingo games other than:
(1) pull-tab bingo; or
(2) bingo games that award individual prizes of $50 or
less.
SECTION 6. The change in law made by this Act to Section
2001.160, Occupations Code, applies to a license to operate bingo
gaming issued under Chapter 2001, Occupations Code, regardless of
whether the license was issued before, on, or after the effective
date of this Act.
SECTION 7. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2011.