scratch-off tickets for animal welfare programs

The text as introduced · 655 words

90R2265 PRL-D

By: Ordaz
H.B. No. 206

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of a lottery game to benefit animal welfare

programs.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 466, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 466.0275 to read as follows:

Sec. 466.0275. ANIMAL WELFARE GAME. (a) The department

shall operate an instant-ticket lottery game to benefit animal

welfare programs in this state.

(b) The department shall:

(1) determine for the lottery game operated under this

section the ticket price, payout amounts, and manner of conduct;

(2) continuously offer for sale to the extent

practicable the game tickets; and

(3) regularly change the game design or theme to

ensure it remains competitive with other instant-ticket lottery

games offered by the department.

(c) The department shall market and advertise the lottery

game operated under this section in a manner intended to inform the

public the game tickets are available for purchase and the game

proceeds fund animal welfare programs in this state. The game

tickets must clearly state the game proceeds are used to benefit

animal welfare programs in this state. The Department of State

Health Services may make recommendations to the department relating

to the marketing and advertising of the game.

(d) The department shall encourage each sales agent that

sells tickets to instant-ticket games or similar types of lottery

games to sell tickets to the game operated under this section.

SECTION 2. Section 466.355(b), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(b) Money in the state lottery account may be used only for

the following purposes and shall be distributed as follows:

(1) the payment of prizes to the holders of winning

tickets;

(2) the payment of costs incurred in the operation and

administration of the lottery, including any fees received by a

lottery operator, provided that the costs incurred in a fiscal

biennium may not exceed an amount equal to 12 percent of the gross

revenue accruing from the sale of tickets in that biennium;

(3) the establishment of a pooled bond fund, lottery

prize reserve fund, unclaimed prize fund, and prize payment

account; and

(4) the balance, after creation of a reserve

sufficient to pay the amounts needed or estimated to be needed under

Subdivisions (1) through (3), to be transferred on or before the

15th day of each month as follows:

(A) the portion of the balance attributable to

the lottery game operated under :

(i) Section 466.027 to the fund for

veterans' assistance established by Section 434.017; and

(ii) Section 466.0275 to the animal

friendly account established by Section 828.014, Health and Safety

Code; and

(B) the remainder to the foundation school fund.

SECTION 3. Section 828.014(a), Health and Safety Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) The animal friendly account is a separate account in the

general revenue fund. The account is composed of:

(1) money deposited to the credit of the account under

former Section 502.291, Transportation Code, and under Section

504.605, Transportation Code; [ and ]

(2) money transferred to the account from proceeds of

the lottery game operated under Section 466.0275, Government Code;

and

(3) gifts, grants, donations, and legislative

appropriations.

SECTION 4. (a) Section 466.355(b), Government Code, as

amended by this Act, applies only to a transfer from the state

lottery account made on or after the effective date of this Act.

(b) The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation shall

establish and begin selling tickets to the lottery game as required

by Section 466.0275, Government Code, as added by this Act, not

later than March 2, 2028.

SECTION 5. 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, 2027.