82R7092 KYF-F
By: Guillen H.B. No. 3282
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the operation and regulation of 24-number bingo games.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 2001.002, Occupations Code, is amended
by amending Subdivisions (5) and (8-a) and adding Subdivisions
(8-b) and (29) to read as follows:
(5) "Bingo equipment" means equipment used, made, or
sold for the purpose of use in bingo. The term:
(A) includes:
(i) a machine or other device from which
balls or other items are withdrawn to determine the letters and
numbers or other symbols to be called;
(ii) an electronic or mechanical
card-minding [cardminding] device;
(iii) a pull-tab dispenser;
(iv) a bingo card;
(v) a bingo ball; and
(vi) any other device commonly used in the
direct operation of a bingo game; and
(B) does not include:
(i) a bingo game set commonly manufactured
and sold as a child's game for a retail price of $20 or less unless
the set or a part of the set is used in bingo subject to regulation
under this chapter; or
(ii) a commonly available component part of
bingo equipment such as a light bulb or fuse.
(8-a) "Credit value" means the value of money or other
consideration accounted for by a card-minding device that:
(A) includes the prize money won and the initial
credits purchased from a point-of-sale station that is not the
card-minding device for deposit in a person's bingo account; and
(B) may be used by the person for the purchase of
bingo cards or pull-tab bingo tickets.
(8-b) "Crime of moral turpitude" means:
(A) a felony;
(B) a gambling offense;
(C) criminal fraud;
(D) forgery;
(E) theft;
(F) an offense that involves filing false
information with a governmental agency; or
(G) any offense that:
(i) is classified in this state as a Class A
misdemeanor; and
(ii) puts the honesty and integrity of the
individual who committed the offense in question.
(29) "24-number bingo" means a form of bingo in which
prizes are awarded when designated numbers or symbols conform to 24
randomly preselected numbers or symbols.
SECTION 2. Section 2001.409, Occupations Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (b) to read as follows:
(b) A person playing 24-number bingo may use a card-minding
device:
(1) to display the person's available credit value
associated with the person's bingo account; and
(2) to perform transactions using the credit value.
SECTION 3. Section 2001.419, Occupations Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
(f) A licensed authorized organization may conduct
24-number bingo at the same time that the organization conducts
other forms of bingo.
SECTION 4. 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) 24-number bingo games that award individual prizes
of $25 or less.
SECTION 5. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, but not later than December 1, 2011, the Texas Lottery
Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement the changes in
law made by this Act to Chapter 2001, Occupations Code.
SECTION 6. 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.