85R949 GCB-D
By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 1970
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to fantasy sports contests.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 13, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 2053 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 2053. FANTASY SPORTS CONTESTS
Sec. 2053.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "fantasy
sports contest" means a competition in which:
(1) a participant pays money or other consideration
for the opportunity to assemble a fictional team composed of
professional or amateur sports athletes selected by the participant
to compete against other fictional teams assembled by other
competition participants;
(2) the outcome of the competition is based on the
actual statistical performance of the selected athletes in sports
competitions, or in a season or series of sports competitions; and
(3) a prize is awarded to the competition winner.
Sec. 2053.002. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. (a) The legislature
finds that a participant in a fantasy sports contest is an actual
contestant in a bona fide contest for the determination of the skill
of the participant in assembling a fictional team of sports
athletes.
(b) A person who pays an entrance fee to compete in a fantasy
sports contest is not placing a bet for purposes of the application
of an offense under Chapter 47, Penal Code.
Sec. 2053.003. PARTICIPATION IN FANTASY SPORTS CONTEST. A
person may pay an entrance fee to participate in a fantasy sports
contest.
Sec. 2053.004. OPERATION OF FANTASY SPORTS CONTEST. (a) A
person may operate fantasy sports contests in this state in
accordance with this chapter and any applicable federal law and may
participate in the earnings of a business that offers fantasy
sports contests.
(b) A fantasy sports contest operator may award prizes to
contest participants only based on the relative knowledge and skill
of the contest participants and based predominantly on accumulated
statistical results of the performance of the athletes
participating in multiple professional or amateur sports
competitions or in a season or series of sports competitions.
(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a fantasy sports
contest operator may not award a prize based:
(1) on the score, the point spread, or any performance
of a single professional or amateur sports team or any combination
of professional or amateur sports teams;
(2) solely on any single performance of an individual
athlete in a single professional or amateur sports competition or
other event; or
(3) on live pari-mutuel racing under the Texas Racing
Act.
Sec. 2053.005. CONSUMER PROTECTION. A fantasy sports
contest operator shall implement procedures for fantasy sports
contests that:
(1) prevent an employee of the operator, and any
relative living in the same household as the employee, from
competing in a fantasy sports contest in which a cash prize is
awarded;
(2) prohibit the operator from being a participant in
a fantasy sports contest that the operator offers;
(3) prevent an employee or agent of the operator from
sharing with third parties confidential information that could
affect fantasy sports contest play until the information has been
made publicly available;
(4) verify that fantasy sports contest participants
are 18 years of age or older; and
(5) restrict an individual who is a player, a game
official, or another participant in a professional or amateur
sports competition from participating in a fantasy sports contest
that is determined, wholly or partly, on the performance of that
individual, the individual's professional or amateur team, or the
accumulated statistical results of the sport or competition in
which the individual is a player, game official, or other
participant.
Sec. 2053.006. INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. (a) The attorney
general may institute an action for injunctive relief to restrain a
violation by a person who appears to be in violation of or
threatening to violate this chapter.
(b) An action filed under this section by the attorney
general must be filed in a district court in Travis County or the
county in which the violation occurred.
(c) The attorney general may recover reasonable expenses
incurred in obtaining injunctive relief under this section,
including court costs, reasonable attorney's fees, investigative
costs, witness fees, and deposition expenses.
(d) In an injunction issued under this section, a court may
include reasonable requirements to prevent further violations of
this chapter.
SECTION 2. Section 47.02(c), Penal Code, is amended to read
as follows:
(c) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that
the actor reasonably believed that the conduct:
(1) was permitted under Chapter 2001, Occupations
Code;
(2) was permitted under Chapter 2002, Occupations
Code;
(3) was permitted under Chapter 2004, Occupations
Code;
(4) was permitted under Chapter 2053, Occupations
Code;
(5) consisted entirely of participation in the state
lottery authorized by the State Lottery Act (Chapter 466,
Government Code);
(6) [(5)] was permitted under the Texas Racing Act
(Article 179e, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes); or
(7) [(6)] consisted entirely of participation in a
drawing for the opportunity to participate in a hunting, fishing,
or other recreational event conducted by the Parks and Wildlife
Department.
SECTION 3. Section 47.09(a), Penal Code, is amended to read
as follows:
(a) It is a defense to prosecution under this chapter that
the conduct:
(1) was authorized under:
(A) Chapter 2001, Occupations Code;
(B) Chapter 2002, Occupations Code;
(C) Chapter 2004, Occupations Code; [or]
(D) Chapter 2053, Occupations Code; or
(E) the Texas Racing Act (Article 179e, Vernon's
Texas Civil Statutes);
(2) consisted entirely of participation in the state
lottery authorized by Chapter 466, Government Code; or
(3) was a necessary incident to the operation of the
state lottery and was directly or indirectly authorized by:
(A) Chapter 466, Government Code;
(B) the lottery division of the Texas Lottery
Commission;
(C) the Texas Lottery Commission; or
(D) the director of the lottery division of the
Texas Lottery Commission.
SECTION 4. 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, 2017.