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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the operation of |
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casino gaming in certain state coastal areas to provide additional |
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money for property tax relief; providing for occupational licensing |
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and certification; authorizing fees; limiting certain taxes and |
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fees. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 47(a), Article III, Texas Constitution, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The Legislature shall pass laws prohibiting lotteries |
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and gift enterprises in this State other than those authorized by |
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Subsections (b), (d), (d-1), and (e) of this section and by Section |
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47a of this article. |
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SECTION 2. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by |
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adding Section 47a to read as follows: |
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Sec. 47a. (a) The legislature by general law in accordance |
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with this section shall authorize the operation of casino gaming in |
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this state in which individuals for consideration play games of |
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chance that award prizes and are operated by persons licensed or |
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otherwise authorized by this state to conduct casino gaming to |
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provide additional money for property tax relief. A general law |
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enacted in accordance with this section must: |
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(1) allow casino gaming operated by appropriately |
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licensed persons at locations in this state that are within 200 |
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miles of the Gulf of Mexico; |
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(2) provide: |
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(A) a comprehensive licensing and certification |
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program, including criminal history record information, any |
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necessary background investigations, and licensing and |
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certification fees, to govern a person that manages casino gaming |
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operations in this state, that acts as a gaming employee, or that |
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maintains, manufactures, distributes, sells, or leases casino |
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games for use or play in this state; |
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(B) procedures for the state agency responsible |
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for maintaining criminal history record information for this state |
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to grant access to the information to the state agency responsible |
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for licensing and certification under Paragraph (A) of this |
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subdivision; and |
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(C) procedures for monitoring and inspecting |
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casino gaming operations as necessary to protect the public health, |
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welfare, and safety, to preserve the integrity of this state and |
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gaming operations in the state, and to prevent financial loss to |
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this state; and |
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(3) prohibit and impose criminal penalties for the |
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possession and operation of all gaming devices other than devices |
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operated in connection with authorized casino gaming operations or |
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gaming devices otherwise authorized by state law. |
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(b) In the general law enacted in accordance with Subsection |
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(a) of this section, the legislature may designate the counties in |
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which a casino gaming operator's license may be issued. |
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(c) All shipments of casino gaming equipment or other gaming |
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devices into, out of, or within this state authorized under this |
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section or a law enacted under this section are legal shipments of |
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the devices and are exempt from the provisions of 15 U.S.C. Sections |
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1171-1178 prohibiting the transportation of gambling devices. |
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SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be |
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submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 2021. |
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The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the |
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proposition: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the |
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operation of casino gaming in certain state coastal areas to |
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provide additional money for property tax relief." |