80R809 JPL-F
	By: Ellis	S.J.R. No. 8

	A JOINT RESOLUTION
	proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing casino gaming and
	requiring creation of a Texas Gaming Commission to regulate gaming
	and casino-based development projects in this state.
	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subsection (a), Section 47, 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 legislature by general law shall
	authorize and regulate casino gaming conducted by a person licensed
	by this state.
	(b)  The legislature by general law shall establish a Texas
	Gaming Commission to administer the laws regulating gaming
	activities authorized by this section or Section 47 of this
	article.
	(b-1)  The law enacted under Subsection (b) must abolish the
	Texas Racing Commission and the Texas Lottery Commission and merge
	the functions of those agencies into the Texas Gaming Commission
	not later than January 1, 2009.  This subsection expires January 1,
	2010.
	(c)  The Texas Gaming Commission established by the
	legislature under this section must consist of five members
	appointed as follows:
	(1)  one member appointed by the governor;
	(2)  one member appointed by the lieutenant governor;
	(3)  one member appointed by the speaker of the house of
	representatives;
	(4)  one member appointed by the attorney general; and
	(5)  one member appointed by the comptroller of public
	accounts.
	(c-1)  Not later than January 1, 2008, the initial members of
	the Texas Gaming Commission shall be appointed as provided by
	Subsection (c) of this section to terms as follows:
	(1)  the initial term of the member appointed under
	Subsection (c)(1) of this section expires January 1, 2010;
	(2)  the initial terms of the members appointed under
	Subsections (c)(2) and (4) of this section expire January 1, 2012;
	and
	(3)  the initial terms of the members appointed under
	Subsections (c)(3) and (5) of this section expire January 1, 2014.
	(c-2)  Subsection (c-1) of this section and this subsection
	expire January 1, 2015.
	(d)  Members of the Texas Gaming Commission shall serve
	staggered terms of six years, with the terms of one or two members
	expiring January 1 of each even-numbered year.
	(e)  A vacancy on the Texas Gaming Commission shall be filled
	for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original
	appointment.
	(f)  The general law enacted under Subsection (a) of this
	section must authorize the Texas Gaming Commission to license 12
	casino-anchored destination attraction development projects in
	this state as follows:
	(1)  seven projects in urban areas, allocated by
	population;
	(2)  two projects on islands in the Gulf of Mexico that
	are tourist destinations with at least 1,000 guest rooms available
	for visitors in hotels, motels, or condominiums existing on January
	1, 2007; and
	(3)  three additional projects, at locations:
	(A)  determined by the commission to achieve
	targeted economic development or permanent new job creation; or
	(B)  selected for other considerations determined
	appropriate by the commission.
	(g)  The commission may not award a license for a
	casino-anchored destination attraction development project unless
	the project meets the major economic development qualifications
	established by this subsection.  To qualify for a license,
	a project
	must include total land and development costs of at least:
	(1)  $400 million for an urban area project;
	(2)  $200 million for an island tourist destination
	project; and
	(3)  $150 million for an additional project.
	(h)  A local option election shall be held in the manner
	determined by the commission in each county in which a person
	applies for a license for a casino-anchored destination attraction
	development project. The commission may not award a license for a
	project in any county unless a majority of the voters of the county
	voting in the election favor selection of that county as the site
	for a project.  If a majority of the voters in a county voted for the
	proposition that added this section to this constitution, the
	county is considered to have approved the selection of that county
	as the site for a project by local option election as required by
	this subsection.
	(i)  The commission may not award a license for a
	casino-anchored destination attraction development project to a
	person unless at least 51 percent of the project will be owned by
	residents of this state who have maintained their principal
	residence in this state for not less than the two years preceding
	September 1, 2007.
	(i-1)  Not later than January 1, 2008, the governor shall
	call a special session of the legislature to establish the Texas
	Gaming Commission and enact the laws necessary to implement this
	section and regulate casino-anchored destination attraction
	development projects. This subsection expires January 1, 2009.
	(j)  The legislature shall provide the initial funding for
	the Texas Gaming Commission through an interest-free loan from the
	Texas Enterprise Fund in the amount of $2.5 million.  The commission
	shall repay the loan from the first money received by the commission
	from license fees received for casino-anchored destination
	attraction development projects.
	SECTION 3.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
	submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 6, 2007.
	The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the
	proposition: "The constitutional amendment authorizing limited
	casino gaming in Texas and providing for a Texas Gaming Commission
	to regulate gaming and casino-based development projects in this
	state."