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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment requiring the legislature to |
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establish a state gaming commission and to authorize and provide |
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for the regulation of gaming conducted at certain locations in this |
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state, authorizing federally recognized Indian tribes to conduct |
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gaming on certain Indian lands, and requiring the governor to call |
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the legislature into special session to consider gaming |
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legislation. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 47, Article III, Texas Constitution, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (f), (g), |
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and (g-1) 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), [and] (e), (f), and (g) of this section. |
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(f) The Legislature by general law shall establish a state |
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gaming commission to administer the laws regulating gaming |
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activities authorized under this subsection and may authorize and |
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provide for regulation of the conduct in this State of one or more |
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types of gaming, including casino gaming, at locations: |
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(1) on coastal barrier islands at least 25 miles in |
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length that are accessible by a public road on one or more bridges; |
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(2) on dredge spoil islands at least 18 miles in length |
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that are located in coastal counties; |
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(3) for which a license to conduct pari-mutuel |
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wagering on horse or greyhound races is in effect; and |
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(4) in municipalities with a population of at least |
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675,000. |
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(g) This section does not prohibit an Indian tribe or tribal |
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organization that was included on the December 30, 1998, list of |
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Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services from |
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the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs, published in the |
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Federal Register by the Secretary of the Interior as required by 25 |
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U.S.C. Section 479a-1, from conducting gaming on land in this State |
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that is held in trust for the tribe or organization or that is |
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recognized as the tribe's or organization's tribal land by the |
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United States in Polk County, Texas, or in El Paso County, Texas. |
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The prohibitions described by Subsection (a) of this section do not |
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apply to gaming by the tribe or organization on land described by |
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this subsection, and the tribe or organization may conduct gaming |
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on that land. |
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(g-1) Unless the Legislature enacts laws to implement |
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Subsection (f) of this section before that date, not later than June |
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1, 2016, the Governor shall call the Legislature into special |
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session for the sole purpose of considering and enacting laws to |
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implement Subsection (f) of this section. This subsection expires |
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January 1, 2017. |
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SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be |
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submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2015. |
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The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the |
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proposition: "The constitutional amendment requiring the |
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legislature to establish a state gaming commission and to authorize |
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and provide for the regulation of gaming conducted in this state on |
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certain coastal barrier islands, on certain dredge spoil islands in |
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coastal counties, at locations for which a license to conduct |
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pari-mutuel wagering on horse or greyhound races is in effect, and |
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in municipalities with a population of at least 675,000, |
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authorizing federally recognized Indian tribes to conduct gaming on |
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certain Indian lands, and requiring the governor to call the |
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legislature into special session to consider gaming legislation." |