Rep. Harvey Hilderbran HD53
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas New legislation seeks to combine the states beverage gaming and lottery commissions a move the bills author says would save taxpayers money by cutting redundancy.
My bill would cut unnecessary spending by combining similar divisions within these agencies such as the investigation units" said Rep. Harvey Hilderbran (R-Kerrville) the bills author. In the process were going to save taxpayer dollars help reduce the state deficit some and overall just create a more efficient economical way of running things.
Hilderbrans bill would transfer the powers and authority of the Texas Racing Commission and the Texas Lottery Commission to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission renaming the latter the Texas Alcoholic Beverage and Gaming Commission.
One administrator and three deputy administrators would oversee the newly-reorganized commission with one deputy in charge of alcohol one in charge of racing and one in charge of the states lottery.
By putting one deputy in charge of each division we ensure that we dont lose out on any institutional knowledge or practical leadership skills related to how the alcoholic beverage industry racing and our state lottery is run on the ground-level" Hilderbran said. Were just saving taxpayer dollars by making things more efficient."
House Bill 700 would also reduce the total number of commissioners in charge of alcohol gaming and the lottery. Currently three commissioners lead the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission seven lead the Texas Racing Commission and two lead the Texas Lottery Commission.
Hilderbrans new commission would be lead by five commissioners three of whom must have experience or specialized knowledge in the bingo industry greyhound racing and horse racing. However none of the commissioners may have any financial stake in racing bingo or the alcoholic beverage industry.
