Bill Text: TX HJR22 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas to conduct gaming by executing a gaming agreement with this state; providing for licensing of persons under the agreement; limiting certain taxes and fees.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-04-20 - Left pending in committee [HJR22 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HJR22-Introduced.html
| 84R7511 DDT-F | ||
| By: Nevárez | H.J.R. No. 22 | |
|
|
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| proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the Kickapoo | ||
| Traditional Tribe of Texas to conduct gaming by executing a gaming | ||
| agreement with this state; providing for licensing of persons under | ||
| the agreement; 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), and (e) of this section and 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 chairman of the federally recognized | ||
| Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas may execute a gaming agreement | ||
| containing the terms set forth in Subsection (c) of this section on | ||
| receipt of a duly enacted resolution of the governing body of the | ||
| tribe authorizing the chairman to execute the agreement and on | ||
| provision of a copy of the resolution to the governor. The governor | ||
| or this state is not required to take any further action before the | ||
| gaming agreement becomes effective. The executed gaming agreement | ||
| constitutes a gaming compact between this state and the Tribe for | ||
| purposes of the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (Pub. L. No. | ||
| 100-497). The Tribe is responsible for: | ||
| (1) providing a copy of the executed agreement to the | ||
| governor; and | ||
| (2) submitting a copy of the executed agreement to the | ||
| United States Secretary of the Interior for approval and | ||
| publication in the Federal Register. | ||
| (b) If, after January 1, 2015, video lottery terminals, slot | ||
| machines, or other forms of gaming are authorized under state law | ||
| within 200 nautical miles of the boundary of the Kickapoo | ||
| Traditional Tribe's reservation near Eagle Pass, Texas, the Tribe | ||
| is authorized to offer the same types of games or devices as | ||
| authorized under the other forms of gaming at a location designated | ||
| by the Tribe. The number of games or devices authorized at the | ||
| location is equal to the maximum number of games or devices | ||
| authorized under state law for other gaming locations. The | ||
| location must be on land owned or leased by the Tribe that is within | ||
| 300 nautical miles of the boundary of the Kickapoo Traditional | ||
| Tribe's reservation but may not be within 30 nautical miles of a | ||
| licensed horse or greyhound racetrack in operation on the effective | ||
| date of the agreement executed under Subsection (a) of this | ||
| section. The gaming authorized under this subsection shall be | ||
| regulated by the Tribe and the Secretary of State. A rule on gaming | ||
| conducted by the Tribe that is adopted by the Secretary of State may | ||
| not be more restrictive than a rule applicable to other comparable | ||
| gaming licensed by this state. A tax or fee may not be imposed on | ||
| the Tribe in an amount that exceeds the amount of a tax or fee | ||
| imposed on the operators of other gaming locations or facilities in | ||
| this state. | ||
| (c) A gaming agreement executed under Subsection (a) of this | ||
| section must be in the form and contain the provisions as follows: | ||
| GAMING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE KICKAPOO TRADITIONAL TRIBE OF TEXAS | ||
| AND THE STATE OF TEXAS | ||
| This Agreement is entered into between the Kickapoo | ||
| Traditional Tribe of Texas, a federally recognized Indian Tribe | ||
| ("Tribe"), and the State of Texas ("State"), with respect to the | ||
| operation of covered games (as defined herein) on the Tribe's | ||
| Indian lands as defined by Section 4(4), Indian Gaming Regulatory | ||
| Act (25 U.S.C. Section 2703(4)). | ||
| PART I. TITLE | ||
| This document shall be referred to as "The Kickapoo | ||
| Traditional Tribe of Texas and State of Texas Gaming Agreement." | ||
| PART II. RECITALS | ||
| 1. The Tribe is a federally recognized tribal government | ||
| with sovereign powers and rights of self-government. The Tribe is | ||
| the only tribe in the State with gaming rights under the federal | ||
| Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (Pub. L. No. 100-497). | ||
| 2. The State is a state of the United States possessing the | ||
| sovereign powers and rights of a state. | ||
| 3. The State and the Tribe maintain a | ||
| government-to-government relationship, and this agreement will | ||
| foster mutual respect and understanding between Indians and | ||
| non-Indians. | ||
| 4. The Tribe and the State jointly intend to protect the | ||
| integrity of gaming regulated under this agreement. | ||
| 5. The gaming under this agreement will further the purposes | ||
| of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (Pub. L. No. 100-497) to promote | ||
| tribal economic development, self-sufficiency, and strong tribal | ||
| government, and will assist the Tribe in funding tribal programs | ||
| that provide needed services to the Tribe's members. | ||
| PART III. DEFINITIONS | ||
| In this compact: | ||
| A. "Class III gaming" means the forms of Class III | ||
| gaming defined in Section 4(8), Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 | ||
| U.S.C. Section 2703(8)) and by the regulations of the National | ||
| Indian Gaming Commission. | ||
| B. "Commission" means the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe | ||
| of Texas Tribal Gaming Commission, which is the tribal governmental | ||
| agency that has the authority to carry out the Tribe's regulatory | ||
| and oversight responsibilities under this compact. | ||
| C. "Compact" means this gaming agreement between the | ||
| Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas and the State of Texas. | ||
| D. "Covered game" or "covered gaming activity" means | ||
| Class III gaming activities determined to be available to the Tribe | ||
| by the United States Department of the Interior, video lottery | ||
| terminals, and any game of chance authorized by State law for any | ||
| person after the effective date of this compact. | ||
| E. "Covered game employee" or "covered employee" means | ||
| an individual employed and licensed by the Tribe whose | ||
| responsibilities include providing services related to the | ||
| operation, maintenance, or management of covered games. The term | ||
| includes: | ||
| 1. managers and assistant managers; | ||
| 2. accounting personnel; | ||
| 3. commission officers; | ||
| 4. surveillance and security personnel; | ||
| 5. cashiers, supervisors, and floor personnel; | ||
| 6. cage personnel; and | ||
| 7. any other employee whose employment duties | ||
| require or authorize access to areas of a facility related to the | ||
| conduct of a covered game or the technical support or storage of a | ||
| covered game component. | ||
| "Covered game employee" or "covered employee" does not | ||
| include an elected official of the Tribe who is not directly | ||
| involved in the operation, maintenance, or management of a covered | ||
| game or covered game component. | ||
| F. "Document" means a book, a record, an electronic, | ||
| magnetic, or computer media document, or another writing or | ||
| material. The term includes a copy of any of those documents and | ||
| information contained in the document. | ||
| G. "Effective date" means the date on which the | ||
| compact becomes effective under Part XV.A. of this compact. | ||
| H. "Facility" or "facilities" means a building of the | ||
| Tribe in which a covered game authorized by this compact is | ||
| conducted on the Tribe's Indian lands as defined by the Indian | ||
| Gaming Regulatory Act (Pub. L. No. 100-497). Subject to the terms | ||
| of this compact, the Tribe has the ultimate responsibility for | ||
| ensuring that the operation of each facility conforms to the | ||
| requirements of this compact. | ||
| I. "IGRA" means the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (Pub. | ||
| L. No. 100-497). | ||
| J. "Net win" means the total receipts, not including | ||
| free or promotional credits issued by the Tribe, from the play of | ||
| all covered games less all prize payouts and participation fees. | ||
| K. "Participation fee" means a payment made by the | ||
| Tribe to a supplier on a periodic basis for the right to lease or | ||
| otherwise offer for play a gaming device that the Tribe does not own | ||
| for a covered gaming activity. A participation fee may be a royalty | ||
| payment or lease payment. The Tribe acknowledges that the Tribe did | ||
| not hold an interest in a company that supplies a gaming device on | ||
| the date this compact was executed. If the Tribe acquires an | ||
| interest in a company that supplies gaming devices, the Tribe may | ||
| not deduct from the net win a participation fee for the supplier in | ||
| which the Tribe has acquired an interest. | ||
| L. "Patron" means a person who is on the premises of a | ||
| facility or who is entering the Tribe's Indian lands for the purpose | ||
| of playing a covered game authorized by this compact. | ||
| M. "Rules" means rules adopted by the commission to | ||
| implement this compact. | ||
| N. "State" means the State of Texas. | ||
| O. "State compliance agency" ("SCA") means the office | ||
| of the Secretary of State or another agency authorized by the | ||
| legislature to carry out the State's oversight responsibilities | ||
| under this compact. | ||
| P. "Tribe" means the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of | ||
| Texas. | ||
| Q. "Video lottery terminal" means an electronic game | ||
| of chance connected to a centralized computer system operated by | ||
| the Tribe. | ||
| PART IV. AUTHORIZATION AND LOCATION OF COVERED GAMES | ||
| The Tribe and State agree that the Tribe is authorized to | ||
| operate covered games on the Tribe's Indian lands, as defined in the | ||
| IGRA, in accordance with the provisions of this compact. | ||
| PART V. RULES; MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS | ||
| A. During the term of this compact, the Tribe is responsible | ||
| for all duties assigned to the Tribe and the commission under this | ||
| compact. The Tribe shall adopt any rules necessary to implement | ||
| this compact. Nothing in this compact may be construed to affect | ||
| the Tribe's right to amend the Tribe's rules, provided the amendment | ||
| is in conformity with this compact. The SCA may propose to the | ||
| commission additional rules consistent with the implementation of | ||
| this compact, and the commission shall in good faith consider the | ||
| proposal and notify the SCA of the Tribe's response or action in | ||
| regard to the proposal. | ||
| B. All facilities must comply with and all covered games | ||
| must be operated in accordance with this compact. All facilities | ||
| must be operated in strict compliance with tribal internal control | ||
| standards that must provide a level of control that equals or | ||
| exceeds the standards in the National Indian Gaming Commission's | ||
| Minimum Internal Control Standards (25 C.F.R. Part 542), as the | ||
| standards existed on the effective date of this compact, regardless | ||
| of whether the standards are subsequently repealed or replaced. | ||
| C. The Tribe agrees to maintain the following safeguards | ||
| against problem gambling: | ||
| 1. The Tribe will provide a comprehensive training | ||
| program to all gaming employees. | ||
| 2. The Tribe will make available to patrons printed | ||
| materials that include contact information for organizations | ||
| dedicated to assisting problem gamblers. | ||
| 3. The commission shall establish a list of the | ||
| patrons voluntarily excluded from the Tribe's facilities under Part | ||
| V.C.5. of this compact. | ||
| 4. The Tribe shall employ its best efforts to exclude | ||
| patrons on the list maintained under Part V.C.3. of this compact. | ||
| This compact does not create a cause of action against the State, | ||
| the Tribe, the commission, or any other person, entity, or agency | ||
| for failing to exclude a patron on the list established under Part | ||
| V.C.3. of this compact. | ||
| 5. A patron who believes the patron may be playing a | ||
| covered game on a compulsive basis may request that the patron's | ||
| name be placed on the list of patrons voluntarily excluded from the | ||
| Tribe's facilities. | ||
| 6. All covered game employees shall receive training | ||
| to identify a patron who may have a problem with compulsive gambling | ||
| and instruct the patron to leave. Signs bearing a toll-free help | ||
| line number and educational and informational materials must be | ||
| made available at conspicuous locations and ATMs in each facility. | ||
| The signs must be designed in a manner that is aimed at preventing | ||
| problem gaming and that specifies where patrons may receive | ||
| counseling or assistance for gambling problems. Nothing in this | ||
| Part creates a cause of action or claim against the State, the | ||
| Tribe, the commission, or any other person, entity, or agency for | ||
| failing to identify a patron or person who is a compulsive gambler | ||
| or asking that person to leave. | ||
| 7. The Tribe shall make diligent efforts to prevent an | ||
| underage individual from loitering in the area of each facility | ||
| where a covered game is conducted. | ||
| 8. The Tribe shall assure that advertising and | ||
| marketing of the covered games at the facilities contain a | ||
| responsible gambling message and a toll-free help line number for | ||
| problem gamblers where practical and that the advertising and | ||
| marketing messages do not make any false or misleading claims. | ||
| D. The State may secure an annual independent financial | ||
| audit of the conduct of covered games subject to this compact. The | ||
| audit must examine revenues from the conduct of a covered game and | ||
| must verify the determination of net win and the basis of, and right | ||
| to, the payments made to the State pursuant to Part XI of this | ||
| compact and as defined by this compact. A copy of the audit report | ||
| for the conduct of a covered game must be submitted to the | ||
| commission not later than the 30th day after the date an audit is | ||
| completed. A representative of the SCA may, on request, meet with | ||
| the Tribe and the Tribe's auditors to discuss an audit or matter in | ||
| connection with the audit, provided the discussions are limited to | ||
| covered games information. The annual independent financial audit | ||
| must be performed by an independent accounting firm with experience | ||
| in auditing casino operations, selected by the State and subject to | ||
| the Tribe's consent, which may not be unreasonably withheld. The | ||
| Tribe shall pay the accounting firm for the costs of the annual | ||
| independent financial audit if the Tribe is found not to be in | ||
| compliance with this compact. | ||
| E. A summary of the rules for playing covered games must be | ||
| displayed in a facility. A complete set of rules must be available | ||
| at a facility and provided to a person on request. A copy of the | ||
| rules must be provided to the SCA not later than the 30th day after | ||
| the date the rules are issued or amended. | ||
| F. The Tribe shall provide the commission and SCA with a | ||
| chart of the supervisory authority of individuals directly | ||
| responsible for the conduct of covered games, and shall promptly | ||
| notify the commission and the SCA of any material change to the | ||
| supervisory authority. | ||
| G. The Tribe shall continue to maintain a proactive approach | ||
| to prevent improper alcohol sales, drunk driving, underage | ||
| drinking, and underage gambling that involves extensive staff | ||
| training and certification, patron education, and the use of | ||
| security personnel and surveillance equipment to enhance patrons' | ||
| enjoyment of the facilities and provide for patron safety. Staff | ||
| training must include specialized employee training in nonviolent | ||
| crisis intervention, driver's license verification, and the | ||
| detection of intoxication. Patron education may be accomplished by | ||
| printing a notice on a valet parking stub, posting a sign in the | ||
| facilities, and publishing brochures. The facilities must have | ||
| roving and fixed security officers, along with surveillance | ||
| cameras, to assist in the detection of intoxicated patrons, | ||
| investigate problems, and engage patrons to de-escalate volatile | ||
| situations. This Part does not create a cause of action or claim | ||
| against the State, the Tribe, the commission, or any other person, | ||
| entity, or agency for failing to fulfill a requirement of this Part. | ||
| H. A person under 21 years of age may not play a covered game | ||
| unless state law authorizes the play of the same or similar games by | ||
| persons under 21 years of age at locations under the state's | ||
| jurisdiction. | ||
| I. The Tribe and the commission shall make available a copy | ||
| of the following documents to any member of the public on request: | ||
| 1. the Tribal gaming ordinance; | ||
| 2. this compact; | ||
| 3. the rules of each covered game operated by the | ||
| Tribe; and | ||
| 4. the administrative procedures for addressing | ||
| patron tort claims under Part VI of this compact. | ||
| PART VI. PATRON DISPUTES, TORT CLAIMS; PRIZE CLAIMS; LIMITED | ||
| CONSENT TO SUIT | ||
| A. All patron disputes shall be resolved under the | ||
| procedures established by Section 113 of the Tribe's Gaming | ||
| Ordinance. | ||
| B. The Tribe shall ensure that a patron of a facility is | ||
| afforded due process in seeking and receiving just and reasonable | ||
| compensation for a tort claim for personal injury or property | ||
| damage against a facility arising out of an incident occurring at a | ||
| facility. During the term of this compact, the Tribe shall maintain | ||
| public liability insurance for the express purposes of providing | ||
| coverage for a tort claim. The insurance must have liability limits | ||
| of not less than $250,000 for any one person and $500,000 for any | ||
| one occurrence for personal injury, and $100,000 for any one | ||
| occurrence for property damage, or the corresponding limits under | ||
| Section 101.023(a), Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, | ||
| whichever is greater. A tort claim, including a claim for | ||
| compensatory and punitive damages, costs, prejudgment interest, | ||
| and attorney's fees arising out of any claim brought or asserted | ||
| against the Tribe, its subordinate governmental and economic units, | ||
| and any Tribal officials, employees, servants, or agents in their | ||
| official capacities, may not be paid in an amount that exceeds the | ||
| limits of liability of insurance. | ||
| C. The Tribe shall ensure that patrons of a facility are | ||
| afforded due process in seeking and receiving just and reasonable | ||
| compensation arising from a patron's dispute, in connection with | ||
| the patron's play of a covered game, the amount of a prize that has | ||
| been awarded, the failure to award a prize, or the right to receive | ||
| a refund. | ||
| PART VII. ENFORCEMENT OF COMPACT PROVISIONS | ||
| A. The Tribe and the commission are responsible for | ||
| regulating activities under this compact. The Tribe shall adopt or | ||
| issue standards designed to ensure that the facilities are | ||
| constructed, operated, and maintained to adequately protect the | ||
| environment and public health and safety. | ||
| B. A commission compliance officer shall be available to a | ||
| facility during operation on reasonable notice and shall have | ||
| immediate and complete access to a facility to ensure compliance | ||
| with this compact. The commission shall investigate a suspected or | ||
| reported violation of this part of this compact and shall timely | ||
| file an official written report of the investigation and action | ||
| taken on the violation, and shall send a copy of the investigative | ||
| report to the SCA not later than the 30th day after the date the | ||
| commission files the report. The scope of the report must be | ||
| determined by a memorandum of understanding between the commission | ||
| and the SCA as soon as practicable after the effective date of this | ||
| compact. A violation must be reported immediately to the | ||
| commission, and the commission shall immediately forward the | ||
| violation to the SCA. In addition, the commission shall promptly | ||
| report to the SCA a violation which the commission independently | ||
| discovers. | ||
| C. Representatives of the commission and the SCA shall meet | ||
| at least once each year to review past practices and examine methods | ||
| to improve the regulatory scheme created by this compact. The | ||
| meetings shall take place at a location agreed to by the commission | ||
| and the SCA. The SCA, before or during a meeting, shall disclose to | ||
| the commission any concerns, suspected activities, or pending | ||
| matters reasonably believed to constitute a violation of this | ||
| compact by any person, organization, or entity, if the disclosure | ||
| will not compromise the interest sought to be protected. | ||
| PART VIII. STATE MONITORING OF COMPACT | ||
| A. The SCA may, under this compact, monitor the conduct of a | ||
| covered game to ensure that a covered game is conducted in | ||
| compliance with this compact. In order to properly monitor the | ||
| conduct of a covered game, an agent of the SCA may have, without | ||
| prior notice, reasonable access to all public areas of a facility | ||
| where a covered game is conducted under this compact. An SCA agent | ||
| must report to a commission officer immediately on arrival at the | ||
| facility. An SCA agent may not enter a nonpublic area of a facility | ||
| without giving the commission notice of the agent's arrival 24 | ||
| hours before the hour of the agent's arrival and, on arrival, | ||
| providing proper photographic identification. A commission | ||
| officer shall accompany an SCA agent in a nonpublic area of a | ||
| facility. | ||
| B. Subject to this compact, an SCA agent has the right to | ||
| review and request a copy of a document of the facility related to | ||
| the conduct of a covered game. The review and copying of the | ||
| document must be during normal business hours unless otherwise | ||
| allowed by the Tribe at the Tribe's discretion. The Tribe may not | ||
| refuse an inspection or request to copy a document, provided that an | ||
| agent cannot require copies of documents in a volume that | ||
| unreasonably interferes with the normal functioning of the facility | ||
| or a covered game. | ||
| C. After an SCA inspection or investigation, the SCA shall | ||
| send to the commission a written report of the inspection or | ||
| investigation that contains all pertinent, nonconfidential, | ||
| nonproprietary information about a violation of an applicable law | ||
| or this compact discovered during an inspection or investigation | ||
| unless disclosure of the information would adversely affect an | ||
| investigation of suspected criminal activity. This compact does | ||
| not prevent the SCA from contacting a tribal or federal law | ||
| enforcement authority about suspected criminal wrongdoing | ||
| involving the commission. | ||
| D. This compact does not authorize the State to regulate the | ||
| Tribe's government or the commission or to interfere with the | ||
| Tribe's selection of the Tribe's governmental officers or members | ||
| of the commission. | ||
| PART IX. JURISDICTION | ||
| The obligations and rights of the State and the Tribe under | ||
| this compact are contractual in nature, and this compact does not | ||
| alter tribal, federal, or state civil or criminal jurisdiction. | ||
| PART X. LICENSING | ||
| The Tribe and the commission shall comply with the licensing | ||
| and hearing requirements in 25 C.F.R. Part 556 and Part 558 and | ||
| applicable licensing requirements in the Tribe's Gaming Ordinance. | ||
| PART XI. PAYMENTS TO THE STATE OF TEXAS | ||
| A. The parties acknowledge and recognize that this compact | ||
| provides the Tribe with substantial exclusivity and, consistent | ||
| with the goals of the IGRA, special opportunities for tribal | ||
| economic opportunity through covered gaming activity in the State. | ||
| In consideration of the substantial exclusivity, only while the | ||
| State does not, after January 1, 2015, authorize or allow the | ||
| operation of any additional form of gaming, including slot | ||
| machines, video lottery terminals, video pull-tab games, | ||
| electronic bingo, banked and banking card games, or another type of | ||
| table gaming game, within 200 nautical miles of the boundary of the | ||
| Tribe's reservation, the Tribe agrees to pay the State a percentage | ||
| of the revenue derived from covered game revenues in an amount equal | ||
| to three percent of the net win received by the Tribe in a calendar | ||
| year from the play of Class III covered games. The amount is due and | ||
| payable not later than the 20th day after the last date of the | ||
| preceding quarter for the revenue received by the Tribe in the | ||
| preceding quarter. | ||
| B. Payment of revenue due under Part XI.A of this compact | ||
| must be made to the comptroller of public accounts of the State. | ||
| Nothing in this compact allocates the revenue to a particular State | ||
| purpose, including regulatory responsibilities under this compact. | ||
| C. This compact does not authorize the State to impose any | ||
| tax, fee, charge, or assessment on the Tribe or an enterprise of the | ||
| Tribe. | ||
| PART XII. DISPUTE RESOLUTION | ||
| A dispute under this compact, including a dispute over | ||
| compliance with or the interpretation of the terms of this compact, | ||
| must be resolved amicably and voluntarily when possible. In | ||
| pursuit of this goal, the following procedures may be invoked: | ||
| A. A party asserting noncompliance or seeking an | ||
| interpretation of this compact first shall serve written notice on | ||
| the other party. The notice must identify the provision alleged to | ||
| have been violated or in dispute and must specify in detail the | ||
| factual basis for the claim. Representatives of the Tribe and State | ||
| shall meet in an effort to resolve the dispute not later than the | ||
| 30th day after the date of receipt of notice unless the parties | ||
| agree to extend the time. | ||
| B. A party asserting noncompliance or seeking an | ||
| interpretation of this compact is considered to have certified that | ||
| to the best of the party's knowledge, information, and belief, | ||
| formed after reasonable inquiry, the claim of noncompliance or the | ||
| request for interpretation of this compact is warranted and made in | ||
| good faith and not for any improper purpose, such as to harass or to | ||
| cause unnecessary delay or expense to resolve the dispute. | ||
| C. If the parties are unable to resolve a dispute | ||
| through the process specified in Part XII.A of this compact, either | ||
| party can call for mediation under the Commercial Mediation Rules | ||
| and Procedures of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) or any | ||
| such successor procedures, provided that the mediation does not | ||
| last more than 15 calendar days unless the parties agree to an | ||
| extension to this time limit. Mediation is only available for | ||
| resolving disputes over matters arising under this compact. | ||
| D. If the parties are unable to resolve a dispute | ||
| through the process under Parts XII.A and XII.C of this compact, | ||
| notwithstanding any other provision of law, the State or Tribe may | ||
| bring an action in federal district court ("federal court") | ||
| regarding any dispute arising under this compact in a district in | ||
| which the federal court has venue. If the federal court declines to | ||
| exercise jurisdiction, or federal precedent exists that rules that | ||
| the federal court does not have jurisdiction over the dispute, the | ||
| State or the Tribe may bring the action in state court. The State | ||
| and the Tribe are entitled to all rights of appeal permitted by law | ||
| in the court system in which the action is brought. | ||
| E. For purposes of an action based solely on a dispute | ||
| between the State and the Tribe that arises under this compact and | ||
| the enforcement of any judgment resulting from the action, the | ||
| State and the Tribe expressly waive the right to assert sovereign | ||
| immunity from suit and from enforcement of any judgment, and | ||
| consent to be sued in all levels of federal or state court, provided | ||
| that: | ||
| 1. the dispute is limited solely to issues | ||
| arising under this compact; | ||
| 2. the action does not include a claim for | ||
| monetary damages, other than payment of any money required by the | ||
| terms of this compact, and injunctive relief or specific | ||
| performance enforcing a provision of this compact requiring the | ||
| payment of money to the State may be sought; and | ||
| 3. nothing in this compact may be construed to | ||
| constitute a waiver of the sovereign immunity of the State or the | ||
| Tribe with respect to a third party that is made a party or | ||
| intervenes as a party in an action. | ||
| F. In the event that intervention, joinder, or other | ||
| participation by a third party in any action between the State and | ||
| the Tribe would result in the waiver of the State's or the Tribe's | ||
| sovereign immunity to the third party's claim, the waiver of the | ||
| State or the Tribe under this compact may be revoked. | ||
| G. The State may pursue any mediation or judicial | ||
| remedy against the Tribe if the State failed to exhaust Tribal | ||
| administrative remedies. | ||
| H. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this | ||
| part, the Tribe's failure to remit a payment under this compact | ||
| entitles the State to seek injunctive relief in federal or state | ||
| court, at the State's sole discretion, to compel the payments after | ||
| exhausting the dispute resolution process in Part XII of this | ||
| compact. | ||
| PART XIII. CONSTRUCTION OF COMPACT; SEVERANCE; FEDERAL APPROVAL | ||
| A. Each provision, section, and subsection of this compact | ||
| shall stand separate and independent of every other provision. If a | ||
| federal district court in Texas or other court of competent | ||
| jurisdiction finds a provision of this compact to be invalid, the | ||
| remaining provisions of this compact remain in full force and | ||
| effect, provided that severing the invalidated provision does not | ||
| undermine the overall intent of the parties in entering into this | ||
| compact. | ||
| B. This compact is intended to meet the requirements of the | ||
| IGRA on the effective date of this compact, and where reference is | ||
| made to the IGRA, or to an implementing regulation of the IGRA, the | ||
| reference is considered to be incorporated into this document as if | ||
| set in full. Changes to the IGRA after the effective date of this | ||
| compact that diminish the rights of the State or Tribe may not be | ||
| applied to alter the terms of this compact, except to the extent | ||
| that federal law mandates that retroactive application without the | ||
| respective consent of the State or Tribe. | ||
| C. The presence or absence of language in this compact that | ||
| is present in or absent from another compact between a state and | ||
| another Indian tribe may not be a factor in construing the terms of | ||
| this compact. | ||
| D. Each party shall defend the validity of this compact. | ||
| E. On execution of this compact, the Tribe shall submit the | ||
| compact to the United States Secretary of the Interior, and the | ||
| parties shall cooperate in seeking the Secretary's approval of this | ||
| compact. | ||
| F. Nothing in this compact may be construed to limit, | ||
| restrict, or regulate the Tribe's right to offer Class I and Class | ||
| II gaming as authorized under the IGRA. | ||
| PART XIV. NOTICES | ||
| A notice required under this compact must be given by | ||
| certified mail, return receipt requested, commercial overnight | ||
| courier service, or personal delivery, to: | ||
| Governor | ||
| State of Texas | ||
| State Insurance Building | ||
| 1100 San Jacinto | ||
| Austin, TX 78701 | ||
| Chairman - Tribal Council | ||
| Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas | ||
| HCR1 9700 | ||
| Eagle Pass, TX 78852 | ||
| With copies to the general counsel for each party. | ||
| PART XV. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM | ||
| A. This compact is effective on approval either by the | ||
| United States Secretary of the Interior as a tribal-state compact | ||
| under the IGRA or by operation of law and on publication of the | ||
| notice of approval in the Federal Register. | ||
| B. This compact has a term of 25 years beginning on the day | ||
| the compact becomes effective under Part XV.A of this compact. This | ||
| compact remains in full force and effect until the earlier of the | ||
| 25th anniversary of the day the compact becomes effective or until | ||
| terminated by agreement of the parties. If either the State or the | ||
| Tribe wishes to extend the term of this compact, the party shall | ||
| notify the other at least 18 months before the date that this | ||
| compact will expire. The parties shall begin negotiations at least | ||
| 12 months before the term expires. | ||
| PART XVI. AMENDMENT OF COMPACT | ||
| Amendment of this compact may only be made by written | ||
| agreement of the parties, subject to approval either by the United | ||
| States Secretary of the Interior or by operation of law and is | ||
| effective on publication of the notice of approval in the Federal | ||
| Register. | ||
| PART XVII. MISCELLANEOUS | ||
| A. Except to the extent expressly provided in this compact, | ||
| this compact does not create a right for a third party to bring an | ||
| action to enforce a term of this compact. | ||
| B. Nothing in this compact shall alter any existing | ||
| memoranda of understanding, contracts, or other agreements entered | ||
| into between the Tribe and any other federal, state, or local | ||
| governmental entity. | ||
| PART XVIII. EXECUTION | ||
| The chairman of the Tribal Council of the Kickapoo | ||
| Traditional Tribe of Texas affirms that the chairman is duly | ||
| authorized and has the authority to execute this compact on behalf | ||
| of the Tribe. The chairman also affirms that the chairman will take | ||
| all appropriate steps to effectuate the purposes and intent of this | ||
| compact. | ||
| (d) The Secretary of State may adopt rules necessary for | ||
| this state to carry out its responsibilities under this section | ||
| unless the Legislature enacts laws authorizing another state agency | ||
| to administer this section. The rules may not apply to the Tribe. | ||
| (e) All shipments of 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 3, 2015. | ||
| The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the | ||
| proposition: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the | ||
| Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas to conduct gaming by executing | ||
| a gaming agreement with this state." | ||
