Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4446 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	H.B. No. 4446
2	2
3	3
4	4	AN ACT
5	5	relating to certain licensing and permitting requirements for game
6	6	rooms; authorizing an occupational permit or license; authorizing a
7	7	fee.
8	8	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	9	SECTION 1. Section 234.134, Local Government Code, is
10	10	amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to
11	11	read as follows:
12	12	(a) A county may require that an owner or operator of a game
13	13	room obtain a license or permit or renew a license or permit on a
14	14	periodic basis to own or operate a game room in the county. An
15	15	application for a license or permit must be made in accordance with
16	16	Section 234.1341 and with regulations adopted by the county.
17	17	(a-1) A county may require that a person employed by a game
18	18	room, other than an owner or operator, obtain a license or permit or
19	19	renew a license or permit on a periodic basis to be employed by a
20	20	game room in the county. An application for a license or permit
21	21	must be made in accordance with Section 234.1342 and with
22	22	regulations adopted by the county.
23	23	SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 234, Local Government
24	24	Code, is amended by adding Sections 234.1341 and 234.1342 to read as
25	25	follows:
26	26	Sec. 234.1341. APPLICATION FOR OWNER OR OPERATOR LICENSE OR
27	27	PERMIT. (a) A county requiring a person to obtain a license or
28	28	permit to own or operate a game room in the county shall require the
29	29	person to submit a completed application as provided by this
30	30	section for issuance or renewal of the license or permit and an
31	31	application fee of $1,000 as required by the county.
32	32	(b) An application form developed by the county under this
33	33	section must require the applicant to provide the following
34	34	information:
35	35	(1) the name of the business, including a copy of the
36	36	assumed name certificate;
37	37	(2) the legal name, social security number, date of
38	38	birth, and other relevant information concerning each person who
39	39	owns at least five percent of the business or serves in a management
40	40	role for the business;
41	41	(3) the name and contact information of the owner of
42	42	the property where the game room is located;
43	43	(4) information concerning any other game room
44	44	previously or currently operated by the applicant;
45	45	(5) the applicant's fingerprints;
46	46	(6) a copy of the applicant's valid state-issued
47	47	driver's license or personal identification card and social
48	48	security card; and
49	49	(7) the applicant's consent for a criminal history
50	50	record information check of the applicant.
51	51	Sec. 234.1342. APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYEE LICENSE OR PERMIT.
52	52	(a) A county requiring a person to obtain a license or permit to be
53	53	employed by a game room in the county shall require the person to
54	54	submit a completed application as provided by this section for
55	55	issuance or renewal of the license or permit and an application fee
56	56	of $50 as required by the county.
57	57	(b) An application form developed by the county under this
58	58	section must require the applicant to provide the following
59	59	information:
60	60	(1) the person's legal name, social security number,
61	61	date of birth, and other relevant information;
62	62	(2) the person's criminal history;
63	63	(3) the applicant's fingerprints;
64	64	(4) a copy of the applicant's valid state-issued
65	65	driver's license or personal identification card and social
66	66	security card;
67	67	(5) a recent photograph of the applicant's face and a
68	68	recent photograph of the applicant's full body; and
69	69	(6) the applicant's consent for a criminal history
70	70	record information check of the applicant.
71	71	(c) A county may not issue or renew a license or permit for
72	72	an applicant who has been previously convicted of a Class B
73	73	misdemeanor or higher criminal offense.
74	74	(d) A county shall send a copy of fingerprints obtained
75	75	under this section to the Department of Public Safety to allow the
76	76	department to create a permanent record of the fingerprints in the
77	77	criminal justice information system.
78	78	SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply to a
79	79	license or permit issued or renewed on or after the effective date
80	80	of this Act.
81	81	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
82	82	______________________________ ______________________________
83	83	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
84	84	I certify that H.B. No. 4446 was passed by the House on May 5,
85	85	2023, by the following vote: Yeas 124, Nays 22, 1 present, not
86	86	voting.
87	87	______________________________
88	88	Chief Clerk of the House
89	89	I certify that H.B. No. 4446 was passed by the Senate on May
90	90	19, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 4.
91	91	______________________________
92	92	Secretary of the Senate
93	93	APPROVED: _____________________
94	94	Date
95	95	_____________________
96	96	Governor