Bill Text: TX HB854 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the abolishment of the state lottery.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-05 - Referred to Licensing & Administrative Procedures [HB854 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB854-Introduced.html

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84R4351 YDB-D
By: Sanford H.B. No. 854

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the abolishment of the state lottery.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
ARTICLE 1. ABOLISHMENT OF STATE LOTTERY
SECTION 1.01. Section 467.002, Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 467.002. APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT. The commission is
subject to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in
existence as provided by that chapter, the commission is abolished
and this chapter[, Chapter 466 of this code,] and Chapter 2001,
Occupations Code, expire September 1, 2025.
SECTION 1.02. Sections 467.024(a) and (c), Government Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(a) An individual is not eligible to be an appointed member
of the commission if the individual:
(1) is registered, certified, or licensed by a
regulatory agency in the field of bingo [or lottery];
(2) owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more
than a 10 percent interest in a business entity or other
organization regulated by the commission or receiving funds from
the commission;
(3) is employed by or participates in the management
of a business entity or other organization regulated by or
receiving funds from the commission;
(4) uses or receives a substantial amount of tangible
goods, services, or funds from the commission, other than
compensation or reimbursement authorized by law for commission
membership, attendance, or expenses;
(5) is an officer, employee, or paid consultant of a
Texas trade association in the field of bingo [or lottery];
(6) is required to register as a lobbyist under
Chapter 305 because of the person's activities for compensation on
behalf of a profession related to the operation of the commission;
(7) is married to an individual described by
Subdivisions (2)-(6);
(8) has been convicted of a felony or of any crime
involving moral turpitude; or
(9) is not a citizen of the United States.
(c) A person may not be a commission employee employed in a
"bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity,"
as that phrase is used for purposes of establishing an exemption to
the overtime provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of
1938 (29 U.S.C. Section 201 et seq.), if:
(1) the person is an officer, employee, or paid
consultant of a Texas trade association in the field of bingo [or
lottery]; or
(2) the person's spouse is an officer, manager, or paid
consultant of a Texas trade association in the field of bingo [or
lottery].
SECTION 1.03. Section 467.025(a), Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) A commission member may not:
(1) accept any employment or remuneration from [:
[(A) a person that has a significant financial
interest in the lottery; or
[(B)] a bingo commercial lessor, bingo
distributor, or bingo manufacturer;
(2) play any [lottery or] bingo game conducted in this
state;
(3) accept or be entitled to accept any part of the
winnings to be paid from a [lottery or] bingo game conducted in this
state;
(4) use the member's official authority to affect the
result of an election or nomination for public office; or
(5) directly or indirectly coerce, attempt to coerce,
command, or advise a person to pay, lend, or contribute anything of
value to another person for political purposes.
SECTION 1.04. Section 467.031, Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 467.031. BINGO DIVISION [DIVISIONS]. The commission
shall establish a separate division [divisions] to oversee bingo
[and the state lottery].
SECTION 1.05. Section 467.035(a), Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The commission may not employ or continue to employ a
person who owns a financial interest in [:
[(1)] a bingo commercial lessor, bingo distributor, or
bingo manufacturer[; or
[(2) a lottery sales agency or a lottery operator].
SECTION 1.06. Sections 467.101(a) and (c), Government Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(a) The commission has broad authority and shall exercise
strict control and close supervision over all activities authorized
and conducted in this state under[:
[(1)] Chapter 2001, Occupations Code[; and
[(2) Chapter 466 of this code].
(c) The commission also has the powers and duties granted
under[:
[(1)] Chapter 2001, Occupations Code[; and
[(2) Chapter 466 of this code].
SECTION 1.07. Section 467.108(a), Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) A former commission member, former executive director,
or former director may not[:
[(1) for compensation, represent a person that has
made or intends to make a bid to operate the lottery before the
commission before the second anniversary of the date that the
person's service in office or employment with the commission
ceases;
[(2)] represent any person or receive compensation for
services rendered on behalf of any person regarding a particular
matter in which the former officer or employee participated during
the period of service or employment with the commission, either
through personal involvement or because the matter was within the
scope of the officer's or employee's official responsibility[; or
[(3) for compensation communicate directly with a
member of the legislative branch to influence legislation on behalf
of a person that has a significant financial interest in the
lottery, before the second anniversary of the date that the
person's service in office or employment with the commission
ceases].
SECTION 1.08. Section 467.111(f), Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(f) The commission shall prepare a report on the trends and
issues identified under Subsection (e) and make the report
available to the public. The commission shall address the
identified trends and issues, including trends and issues related
to the regulation [of lottery operations under Chapter 466 and] of
bingo under Chapter 2001, Occupations Code.
SECTION 1.09. The following provisions of the Government
Code are repealed:
(1) Chapter 466;
(2) Section 467.001(9); and
(3) Sections 467.106 and 467.107.
SECTION 1.10. On January 1, 2016:
(1) the lottery division of the Texas Lottery
Commission is abolished and all powers and duties of the division
related to lottery prize payments, penalties, enforcement
provisions, and any necessary continued operations under Chapter
466, Government Code, as it existed immediately before the
effective date of this Act, and other law are transferred to the
Texas Lottery Commission;
(2) all obligations, rights, contracts, bonds,
appropriations, records, and property of the lottery division are
transferred to the commission;
(3) a rule, policy, procedure, or decision related to
lottery prize payments, penalties, enforcement provisions, and any
necessary continued operations of the lottery division continues in
effect until superseded by a later act of the commission; and
(4) a reference in law to the lottery division means
the commission.
SECTION 1.11. (a) Not later than October 1, 2015, the Texas
Lottery Commission shall adopt a comprehensive transition plan for
the transfer described by Section 1.10 of this article and identify
any essential lottery division personnel necessary for the
continued payment of lottery prizes and assessment and enforcement
of penalties.
(b) This section takes effect September 1, 2015.
SECTION 1.12. (a) Notwithstanding the repeal by this Act of
Chapter 466, Government Code, that chapter as it existed
immediately before the effective date of this Act continues in
effect for the payment of lottery prizes and the assessment and
enforcement of penalties until each lottery prize and installment
prize payment is made to the lottery prize winner entitled to the
payment and each penalty assessment is finally determined as
required by that chapter and rules adopted under that chapter as
they existed immediately before the effective date of this Act.
(b) On or after the effective date of this Act, a lottery
sales agent may not sell or offer to sell a lottery ticket for a
lottery game authorized under Chapter 466, Government Code, as
repealed by this Act.
SECTION 1.13. The changes in law made by this article apply
to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
An offense committed before that date is governed by the law as it
existed on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is
continued in effect for that purpose.
ARTICLE 2. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS
SECTION 2.01. Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended to read as follows:
Art. 2.12. WHO ARE PEACE OFFICERS. The following are peace
officers:
(1) sheriffs, their deputies, and those reserve
deputies who hold a permanent peace officer license issued under
Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;
(2) constables, deputy constables, and those reserve
deputy constables who hold a permanent peace officer license issued
under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;
(3) marshals or police officers of an incorporated
city, town, or village, and those reserve municipal police officers
who hold a permanent peace officer license issued under Chapter
1701, Occupations Code;
(4) rangers and officers commissioned by the Public
Safety Commission and the Director of the Department of Public
Safety;
(5) investigators of the district attorneys', criminal
district attorneys', and county attorneys' offices;
(6) law enforcement agents of the Texas Alcoholic
Beverage Commission;
(7) each member of an arson investigating unit
commissioned by a city, a county, or the state;
(8) officers commissioned under Section 37.081,
Education Code, or Subchapter E, Chapter 51, Education Code;
(9) officers commissioned by the General Services
Commission;
(10) law enforcement officers commissioned by the
Parks and Wildlife Commission;
(11) airport police officers commissioned by a city
with a population of more than 1.18 million located primarily in a
county with a population of 2 million or more that operates an
airport that serves commercial air carriers;
(12) airport security personnel commissioned as peace
officers by the governing body of any political subdivision of this
state, other than a city described by Subdivision (11), that
operates an airport that serves commercial air carriers;
(13) municipal park and recreational patrolmen and
security officers;
(14) security officers and investigators commissioned
as peace officers by the comptroller;
(15) officers commissioned by a water control and
improvement district under Section 49.216, Water Code;
(16) officers commissioned by a board of trustees
under Chapter 54, Transportation Code;
(17) investigators commissioned by the Texas Medical
Board;
(18) officers commissioned by:
(A) the board of managers of the Dallas County
Hospital District, the Tarrant County Hospital District, the Bexar
County Hospital District, or the El Paso County Hospital District
under Section 281.057, Health and Safety Code;
(B) the board of directors of the Ector County
Hospital District under Section 1024.117, Special District Local
Laws Code; and
(C) the board of directors of the Midland County
Hospital District of Midland County, Texas, under Section 1061.121,
Special District Local Laws Code;
(19) county park rangers commissioned under
Subchapter E, Chapter 351, Local Government Code;
(20) investigators employed by the Texas Racing
Commission;
(21) officers commissioned under Chapter 554,
Occupations Code;
(22) officers commissioned by the governing body of a
metropolitan rapid transit authority under Section 451.108,
Transportation Code, or by a regional transportation authority
under Section 452.110, Transportation Code;
(23) investigators commissioned by the attorney
general under Section 402.009, Government Code;
(24) [security officers and investigators
commissioned as peace officers under Chapter 466, Government Code;
[(25)] an officer employed by the Department of State
Health Services under Section 431.2471, Health and Safety Code;
(25) [(26)] officers appointed by an appellate court
under Subchapter F, Chapter 53, Government Code;
(26) [(27)] officers commissioned by the state fire
marshal under Chapter 417, Government Code;
(27) [(28)] an investigator commissioned by the
commissioner of insurance under Section 701.104, Insurance Code;
(28) [(29)] apprehension specialists and inspectors
general commissioned by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department as
officers under Sections 242.102 and 243.052, Human Resources Code;
(29) [(30)] officers appointed by the inspector
general of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice under Section
493.019, Government Code;
(30) [(31)] investigators commissioned by the Texas
Commission on Law Enforcement under Section 1701.160, Occupations
Code;
(31) [(32)] commission investigators commissioned by
the Texas Private Security Board under Section 1702.061(f),
Occupations Code;
(32) [(33)] the fire marshal and any officers,
inspectors, or investigators commissioned by an emergency services
district under Chapter 775, Health and Safety Code;
(33) [(34)] officers commissioned by the State Board
of Dental Examiners under Section 254.013, Occupations Code,
subject to the limitations imposed by that section;
(34) [(35)] investigators commissioned by the Texas
Juvenile Justice Department as officers under Section 221.011,
Human Resources Code; and
(35) [(36)] the fire marshal and any related officers,
inspectors, or investigators commissioned by a county under
Subchapter B, Chapter 352, Local Government Code.
SECTION 2.02. Sections 411.108(a), (a-1), and (b),
Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) [The Texas Lottery Commission is entitled to obtain from
the department criminal history record information maintained by
the department that relates to a person who, under Chapter 466, is:
[(1) a sales agent or an applicant for a sales agent
license;
[(2) a person required to be named in a license
application;
[(3) a lottery operator or prospective lottery
operator;
[(4) an employee of a lottery operator or prospective
lottery operator, if the employee is or will be directly involved in
lottery operations;
[(5) a person who manufactures or distributes lottery
equipment or supplies or a representative of a person who
manufactures or distributes lottery equipment or supplies offered
to the lottery;
[(6) a person who has submitted a written bid or
proposal to the commission in connection with the procurement of
goods or services by the commission, if the amount of the bid or
proposal exceeds $500;
[(7) an employee or other person who works for or will
work for a sales agent or an applicant for a sales agent license;
[(8) a person who proposes to enter into or who has a
contract with the commission to supply goods or services to the
commission;
[(9) if a person described in Subdivisions (1) through
(8) of this section is not an individual, an individual who:
[(A) is an officer or director of the person;
[(B) holds more than 10 percent of the stock in
the person;
[(C) holds an equitable interest greater than 10
percent in the person;
[(D) is a creditor of the person who holds more
than 10 percent of the person's outstanding debt;
[(E) is the owner or lessee of a business that the
person conducts or through which the person will conduct
lottery-related activities;
[(F) shares or will share in the profits, other
than stock dividends, of the person;
[(G) participates in managing the affairs of the
person; or
[(H) is an employee of the person who is or will
be involved in:
[(i) selling tickets; or
[(ii) handling money from the sale of
tickets;
[(10) the executive director or a prospective
executive director of the commission;
[(11) an employee or prospective employee of the
commission; or
[(12) a sales agent whose license is renewed under
Section 466.158.
[(a-1)] The Texas Lottery Commission is entitled to obtain
from the department criminal history record information maintained
by the department that relates to a person licensed under Chapter
2001, Occupations Code, or described by Section 2001.3025,
Occupations Code.
(b) Criminal history record information obtained by the
commission under Subsection (a) [or (a-1)] may not be released or
disclosed to any person except on court order or as provided by
Subsection (c).
SECTION 2.03. Section 434.017(a), Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The fund for veterans' assistance is a special fund in
the state treasury outside the general revenue fund. The fund is
composed of:
(1) money transferred to the fund at the direction of
the legislature;
(2) gifts and grants contributed to the fund;
(3) the earnings of the fund;
(4) [money transferred to the fund from proceeds of
the lottery game operated under Section 466.027 or transferred to
the fund under Section 466.408(b);
[(5)] money deposited to the credit of the fund under
Section 502.1746, Transportation Code; and
(5) [(6)] money deposited to the credit of the fund
under Section 521.008, Transportation Code.
SECTION 2.04. Section 572.003(b), Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) The term means:
(1) the Banking Commissioner of The Banking Department
of Texas;
(2) the administrative director of the Office of Court
Administration of the Texas Judicial System;
(3) the chief executive of the Office of Public
Utility Counsel;
(4) the executive director of the State Bar of Texas;
(5) [the director of the lottery division of the Texas
Lottery Commission;
[(6) the deputy in charge of the department of
security in the lottery division of the Texas Lottery Commission;
[(7)] the director of the bingo division of the Texas
Lottery Commission; or
(6) [(8)] the secretary of state.
SECTION 2.05. Section 2113.102(a), Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) A state agency may not use appropriated money to
contract with a person to audit the financial records or accounts of
the agency except as provided by:
(1) Subsections (b), (c), and (d); and
(2) [Chapter 466, pertaining to the state lottery;
[(3)] Chapter 2306, pertaining to the Texas Department
of Housing and Community Affairs[; and
[(4) Chapter 361, Transportation Code, pertaining to
the Texas Turnpike Authority division of the Texas Department of
Transportation].
SECTION 2.06. 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) [consisted entirely of participation in the state
lottery authorized by the State Lottery Act (Chapter 466,
Government Code);
[(4)] was permitted under the Texas Racing Act
(Article 179e, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes); or
(4) [(5)] 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 2.07. 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:
(1) [(A)] Chapter 2001, Occupations Code;
(2) [(B)] Chapter 2002, Occupations Code; or
(3) [(C)] 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 2.08. The following provisions are repealed:
(1) Section 9.406(k), Business & Commerce Code;
(2) Section 232.0021, Family Code;
(3) Section 467.030(b), Government Code;
(4) Section 2054.007, Government Code; and
(5) Section 2002.056(c), Occupations Code.
SECTION 2.09. The changes in law made by this article apply
to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
An offense committed before that date is governed by the law as it
existed on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is
continued in effect for that purpose.
ARTICLE 3. CONFLICT OF LAW; EFFECTIVE DATE
SECTION 3.01. To the extent of any conflict, this Act
prevails over another Act of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session,
2015, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in
enacted codes.
SECTION 3.02. Except as otherwise provided by this Act,
this Act takes effect January 1, 2016, but only if the
constitutional amendment proposed by the 84th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2015, abolishing the state lottery is approved by the
voters. If that amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act
has no effect.