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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment to foster economic |
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development and job growth and to provide tax relief and funding for |
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education and public safety by creating the Texas Gaming |
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Commission, authorizing and regulating casino gaming at a limited |
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number of destination resorts and facilities licensed by the |
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commission, authorizing sports wagering, requiring occupational |
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licenses to conduct casino gaming, and requiring the imposition of |
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a tax. |
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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 Section 47a |
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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) In this section, unless modified by general |
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law: |
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(1) "Casino" means a licensed facility at which casino |
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gaming is conducted. |
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(2) "Casino gaming" means any game of chance or |
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similar activity that involves the making of a bet for |
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consideration. The term includes wagering on any type of slot |
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machine or table game as defined by the legislature, using money, |
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casino credit, or any representation of value. The term does not |
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include bingo, charitable raffles, or the state lottery authorized |
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under Section 47 of this article. |
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(3) "Destination resort" means a mixed-use |
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development consisting of a combination of various tourism |
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amenities and facilities, including hotels, villas, restaurants, |
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limited gaming facilities, meeting facilities, attractions, |
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entertainment facilities, shopping centers, and casino gaming |
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facilities. |
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(4) "Education" means public education, public higher |
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education, and adult education related to responsible gaming. |
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(5) "Gaming position" means a designated position for |
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a person to engage in casino gaming at a table game or slot machine. |
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(6) "Limited casino gaming" means casino gaming in a |
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licensed facility that is limited to not more than 750 gaming |
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positions, of which not more than 25 percent may be at table games, |
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as defined by the legislature. |
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(7) "Metropolitan statistical area" means a |
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metropolitan statistical area designated by the United States |
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Office of Management and Budget. |
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(8) "Public safety programs" means programs for crime |
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prevention and law enforcement, including programs designed to |
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prevent and prosecute crimes involving human trafficking. |
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(b) Casino gaming at a limited number of locations is |
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authorized in this state in accordance with this section to foster |
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economic development and job growth and to provide tax relief and |
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funding for education and public safety programs. |
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(c) The legislature by general law shall establish the Texas |
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Gaming Commission with broad authority to adopt rules the |
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commission considers necessary or desirable for the strict |
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regulation of casino gaming as authorized by this section. |
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(d) The legislature by general law may authorize and |
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regulate the placing of wagers on sporting events, as defined by |
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general law. |
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(e) The legislature shall authorize the Texas Gaming |
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Commission to: |
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(1) issue not more than four Class I gaming licenses to |
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conduct casino gaming at destination resorts located in |
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metropolitan statistical areas of this state with an estimated |
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population of two million or more on July 1, 2021, provided that |
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only one Class I licensed destination resort is located within any |
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one metropolitan statistical area; |
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(2) issue not more than three Class II licenses to |
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conduct limited casino gaming to applicants who, on January 1, |
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2023, held and who continue to hold an active license to conduct |
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pari-mutuel wagering on horse races at a racetrack located within a |
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metropolitan statistical area with an estimated population of two |
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million or more on July 1, 2021, and who comply with the |
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