Bettencourt Lottery Bill Adds Two Seats, One For A Trade Group

The text as introduced · 701 words

89R16652 BEE-F

By: Bettencourt
S.B. No. 2153

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the membership of and qualifications for the Texas

Lottery Commission.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 467.021, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 467.021. MEMBERSHIP. (a) The commission is composed

of seven [ five ] members appointed by the governor with the advice

and consent of the senate as follows:

(1) five voting members appointed as provided by

Subsection (c); and

(2) two nonvoting members appointed as provided by

Subsection (d) .

(b) In making appointments to the commission, the governor

shall strive to achieve representation by all the population groups

of the state [ with regard to economic status, sex, race, and

ethnicity ].

(c) In appointing the five voting commission members, the

governor shall appoint:

(1) one member who is a peace officer or an individual

with law enforcement experience;

(2) one member who is an attorney licensed to practice

law in this state;

(3) one member who is a certified public accountant;

and

(4) one [ One ] member who has [ must have ] experience in

the bingo industry.

(d) In appointing the two nonvoting commission members, the

governor shall appoint:

(1) one member who represents the Texas Food and Fuel

Association from a list of persons suggested by the association;

and

(2) one member who is an individual with knowledge of

the gaming industry.

(e) Commission members serve at the pleasure of the

governor.

SECTION 2. Section 467.024, Government Code, is amended by

amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as

follows:

(a) An individual is not eligible to be [ an ] appointed or

serve as a voting 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.

(a-1) An individual is not eligible to be appointed or serve

as a nonvoting member of the commission if the individual:

(1) has been convicted of a felony or of any crime

involving moral turpitude; or

(2) is not a citizen of the United States.

SECTION 3. (a) The change in law made by this Act in the

qualifications of members of the Texas Lottery Commission does not

affect the entitlement of a member serving on the commission

immediately before the effective date of this Act to continue to

serve for the remainder of the member's term. As the terms of

commission members expire, the governor shall appoint or reappoint

a member who has the qualifications required for a member under

Section 467.021, Government Code, as amended by this Act.

(b) As soon as practicable after the effective date of this

Act, the governor shall appoint two nonvoting members to the Texas

Lottery Commission as required by Section 467.021(d), Government

Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.