Bill Text: TX HJR102 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: 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.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-15 - Referred to State Affairs [HJR102 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HJR102-Introduced.html
  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."
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