87R10361 ADM-D
By: Guerra H.J.R. No. 102
A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the operation of
casino gaming in certain state coastal areas to provide additional
money for property tax relief; providing for occupational licensing
and certification; authorizing fees; limiting certain taxes and
fees.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 47(a), Article III, Texas Constitution,
is amended to read as follows:
(a) The Legislature shall pass laws prohibiting lotteries
and gift enterprises in this State other than those authorized by
Subsections (b), (d), (d-1), and (e) of this section and by Section
47a of this article.
SECTION 2. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by
adding Section 47a to read as follows:
Sec. 47a. (a) The legislature by general law in accordance
with this section shall authorize the operation of casino gaming in
this state in which individuals for consideration play games of
chance that award prizes and are operated by persons licensed or
otherwise authorized by this state to conduct casino gaming to
provide additional money for property tax relief. A general law
enacted in accordance with this section must:
(1) allow casino gaming operated by appropriately
licensed persons at locations in this state that are within 200
miles of the Gulf of Mexico;
(2) provide:
(A) a comprehensive licensing and certification
program, including criminal history record information, any
necessary background investigations, and licensing and
certification fees, to govern a person that manages casino gaming
operations in this state, that acts as a gaming employee, or that
maintains, manufactures, distributes, sells, or leases casino
games for use or play in this state;
(B) procedures for the state agency responsible
for maintaining criminal history record information for this state
to grant access to the information to the state agency responsible
for licensing and certification under Paragraph (A) of this
subdivision; and
(C) procedures for monitoring and inspecting
casino gaming operations as necessary to protect the public health,
welfare, and safety, to preserve the integrity of this state and
gaming operations in the state, and to prevent financial loss to
this state; and
(3) prohibit and impose criminal penalties for the
possession and operation of all gaming devices other than devices
operated in connection with authorized casino gaming operations or
gaming devices otherwise authorized by state law.
(b) In the general law enacted in accordance with Subsection
(a) of this section, the legislature may designate the counties in
which a casino gaming operator's license may be issued.
(c) All shipments of casino gaming equipment or other gaming
devices into, out of, or within this state authorized under this
section or a law enacted under this section are legal shipments of
the devices and are exempt from the provisions of 15 U.S.C. Sections
1171-1178 prohibiting the transportation of gambling devices.
SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 2021.
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the
operation of casino gaming in certain state coastal areas to
provide additional money for property tax relief."