Latest news with #TDLR
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill to end Texas Lottery Commission goes to Gov. Abbott
AUSTIN (Nexstar) – Legislation to abolish the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) is closer to becoming law. Friday night, Senators accepted House amendments to Senate Bill 3070, sending the bill to Gov. Greg Abbott for approval. SB 3070 would allow lottery games to continue, but would abolish the TLC and hand over control of the Texas Lottery and Charitable Bingo to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). The decision comes amidst a host of scandals for the commission, resulting in investigations from both the Texas Rangers and the Attorney General's Office. State Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, filed the legislation, after originally filing a bill to eliminate the lottery entirely. The final version of the legislation calls for the incoming Texas Lottery division of TDLR to undergo a sunset review to see how they're functioning under the new department. It sets a decision on whether to abolish the lottery completely in 2029.' 'Specifically, sunset will assess whether TDLR has sufficient tools to ensure the integrity of the game,' Hall said Friday on the Senate floor. Hall said TDLR will not pay out a lottery prize unless the winner submits forms required by the IRS, and that information is verified. The bill also calls for lottery mobile applications to end. If Abbott signs the bill into law, the lottery will have this summer to transition to TDLR before the TLC is abolished on Sept. 1. Because the TLC is up for sunset anyway, a Abbott veto would still mean the TLC is abolished on Sept. 1, but the Texas Lottery would go with it. After the vote earlier this month in the House, the commission issued a statement saying it will follow the direction of the legislature. 'The TLC is prepared to fully support the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation with ensuring that a smooth, seamless and successful transition occurs for both the administration of the lottery and the regulation of charitable bingo,' the commission's statement read. Hall has previously said that he would prefer that the state get out of the lottery business altogether. On Friday, he suggested more legislation could come in the future. 'Senate Bill 3070 represents a new chapter in our efforts to protect Texans from a vice that takes advantage of the poorest people in our state. But this is not the end of the story,' Hall said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Midland, Odessa massage parlors among 8 closed amid human trafficking investigation
AUSTIN (KMID/KPEJ)- The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has issued a six-month emergency closure order effective May 19, 2025, for eight massage establishments for suspected human trafficking in six cities. A TDLR investigation revealed a range of violations at the various locations, including employees living at some of the businesses, a lack of required client consultation documents, and illicit advertisements connected to the establishments that offered sexual services. Furthermore, several employees identified themselves with out of state identification, admitted to being at the establishment for temporary work, and admitted to providing massage services but did not have a massage therapist license to perform these services in Texas. TDLR Investigators determined that all eight massage establishments are owned by three people: Ruiying Lian, Hongcui Hao, and Tianli Wang, who are connected through business entities Tongfuxin LLC and Tongfu LLC. The three people and the business entities were ordered to halt operations at the establishments and are prohibited from operating different massage establishments at the locations. The establishments are: Sunny Massage, 2814 W. Wall St., Midland, Texas Julie's Massage, 1106 Spell Ave., Cleburne, Texas Tongfuxin LLC d/b/a A Pattaya Massage, 725 Hill Country Dr., Kerrville, Texas Pattaya Foot Reflexology, 1359 W. University Blvd., Ste. C, Odessa, Texas Thai Massage, 2803 Andrews Hwy., Odessa, Texas Family Reflexology, 5807 S.W. 45th Ave., Ste. 345, Amarillo, Texas Best Foot Spa, 7412 S. University Ave., Ste. 2, Lubbock, Texas Family Reflexology, 2605 Wolfin Ave, Amarillo, Texas TDLR said it found activities consistent with human trafficking at each of the eight establishments. In April 2025, during TDLR's joint inspection of Sunny Massage in Midland, with the Midland Police Department and Midland City Code Enforcement Division, a customer admitted to authorities that he paid for sexual services from an employee. Sunny Massage is in a building that also houses a daycare center and the daycare owner told authorities that an employee of Sunny Massage tried to enter the daycare through the ceiling crawl space while police searched the massage establishment. Police later found that the employee was not licensed as a massage therapist and she was arrested for prostitution. A review of police records revealed that another employee at Sunny Massage was arrested for prostitution in 2022. HB 3579, passed in the 88th Legislature Regular Session, went into effect Sept. 1, 2023. Under the legislation proposed by State Representative Benjamin Bumgarner and State Senator Phil King, TDLR's executive director can issue an emergency order halting the operation of any massage establishment if law enforcement or TDLR find evidence or indicators that human trafficking is occurring at the establishment. Anyone who suspects human trafficking is occurring can contact the National Hotline for Human Trafficking at 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733). If the situation is an emergency or you believe someone is in immediate danger, call 911 and alert the authorities. You can also file a complaint on a TDLR-regulated business that you suspect may be participating in human trafficking. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas House votes to abolish Texas Lottery Commission; save Texas lottery
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Sunset review couldn't have come at a worse time for the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC). While TLC was listed by USA Today as one of the best places to work in 2025, in September it's likely no one will be working there. Sunset review is a process most state departments go through every 12 years. During a review, the legislature has to actively renew the department or they cease to exist. However in this case, the legislature is proactively killing the TLC. Saturday night, the Texas House passed an amended version of Senate Bill 3070, which abolishes the TLC and hands over control of the Texas Lottery and Charitable Bingo to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). The decision comes amidst a host of scandals for the commission, resulting in investigations from both the Texas Rangers and the Attorney General's Office. While the Senate passed SB 3070 unanimously, House sponsor Charlie Geren, R-Lake Worth, re-wrote the bill based on conversations with TDLR. Each bill calls for the incoming Texas Lottery division of TDLR to undergo a sunset review to see how they're functioning under the new department. However, the Senate's version called for a full review in 2027, while the House calls for a review in 2029. Additionally, the scope of the House's proposed review is more narrowly-tailored to determine if TDLR is the best home for the lottery, and to determine if the lottery is following the guidelines set out by the legislature. Both versions call for lottery mobile applications to end, however the Texas House removed a provision from the Senate's version which required TDLR to post the minutes and guest list for all formal or informal meetings regarding contracting, procurement or policymaking of the lottery. The Senate added this language after a lawsuit alleged former TLC officials worked with courier services to brainstorm the best ways to implement lottery mobile applications. Geren's version also stripped a provision banning automatic renewals of contracts the TLC entered in before the transfer becomes official on Sept. 1. Most interestingly, the Texas House removed a provision allowing the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House or the Attorney General from acting as lottery investigators. The language was added to the Senate version after the retailer Winners Corner — affiliated with the mobile app Jackpocket — refused to let Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick inspect how many lottery terminals they had in their backroom. On Monday, the House will likely hear SB 3070 for a third reading. Should it pass there, it will be sent back to the Texas Senate where they can either agree to the changes or determine which disputed provisions should remain in the final bill. Either way, the elements both sides agree on will likely be sent to Gov. Greg Abbott to sign. If he signs, the lottery will have this summer to transition to TDLR before the TLC is abolished on Sept. 1. Because the TLC is up for sunset anyway, a Abbott veto would still mean the TLC is abolished on Sept. 1, but the Texas Lottery would go with it. 'Ensuring the integrity, security, honesty and fairness of the agency and its games is the top priority for the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC). The TLC respects the legislative process, serves as a resource to the Legislature, and will follow the direction of the Legislature,' a representative for the TLC said in a statement. 'The TLC is prepared to fully support the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation with ensuring that a smooth, seamless and successful transition occurs for both the administration of the lottery and the regulation of charitable bingo.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘The Botox party bill' moving forward in legislature
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Proposed legislation to enhance patient safety and tighten Texas laws over who can administer Botox injections — and similar treatments — passed the Senate Thursday morning and is moving forward in the legislative process. Senate Bill 378 from State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, who is also a medical doctor, was filed after a KXAN investigation uncovered that anyone can become certified to do injections, including Botox, and the need for more oversight for patient safety. RELATED: Texas pushes to tighten rules for Botox, similar treatments The Senate Business and Commerce Committee learned the details of Senate Bill 378 from Schwertner earlier this month before receiving a favorable vote from the committee on March 19 with '10 Ayes' and '0 Nays.' RELATED: 'The Botox party bill': Legislation introduced following KXAN's 'Backroom Botox' investigation 'There have been increased reports of these individuals administering unauthorized and unsafe injections to friends and families without proper supervision or training,' Schwertner said Thursday morning on the Senate floor. In May, KXAN's 'Backroom Botox,' highlighted a medical emergency under investigation by the police department in Dublin, a small city north of Austin after a Botox procedure in the backroom of a local shop led to a young woman fainting, vomiting and seizing for five-minutes, according to the EMS report. If passed, the bill would prohibit estheticians, cosmetologists and barbers from administering injections and using prescriptive medical devices unless they are legally licensed and authorized to perform these acts. 'By law, estheticians and cosmetologists and barbers may only perform injections under the authority of a physician,' Schwertner said. Additionally, the bill would give the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation the statutory authority to take disciplinary action against those administering unauthorized injections. According to Schwertner, there is a 'lack of clarity' between TDLR and the Texas Medical Board over who has authority to discipline estheticians and cosmetologists in Texas, which has led to an inability to pursue actions against those administering unauthorized injections. 'This bill creates this regulatory oversight by clarifying in statute that TDLR has disciplinary authority over estheticians or cosmetologists or barbers in violation of their license,' Schwertner said. The next phase for 'The Botox party bill' will be with the House committee for a public hearing before being sent to the full House for a vote. KXAN will have updates to this story once those hearings have been held. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Yahoo
2 Romanian citizens arrested in Texas credit card skimming operation
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR) said it helped prevent more than $5.2 million in potential losses to victims after an operation in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. According to TDLR, two Romanian citizens were arrested Saturday after law enforcement officers uncovered a fully operational credit card skimmer factory inside the suspect's residence after executing a search warrant. TDLR said the suspects, who were identified as Petruta Camelia Ciuperca, 34, and Alexandru Constantin, 34, were actively constructing and assembling skimming devices designed to attach to ATMs. 'Authorities seized hundreds of altered credit cards containing stolen victim information, approximately $16,000 in cash and tools and equipment used to manufacture skimming devices,' TDLR said. Both Ciuperca and Constantin were booked into the Dallas County jail Saturday. Jail records showed Ciuperca was charged with: Engaging In Organized Criminal Activity Fraud Poss/Use Credit Or Debit Card =>50 Poss Cs Pg 1/1-B <1g Unl Inter/Use/Disc Wire/Oral Elec Communicate Fraud-Inprsnate Obtn Cdt M According to jail records, Constantin was charged with: Engaging In Organized Criminal Activity Fraud Poss/Use Credit Or Debit Card =>50 Poss Cs Pg 1/1-B <1g Unl Inter/Use/Disc Wire/Oral Elec Communicate Ciuperca was held on a bond of $120,000, and Constantin was held on a bond of $76,500. According to jail records, the two were living in the U.S. illegally. TDLR said authorities were still seeking an unnamed third suspect. 'This case highlights the critical importance of collaboration among law enforcement agencies in combating financial crimes,' said Special Agent Jerry Alvarez of the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center. 'Our joint efforts have significantly disrupted an organization that posed a severe threat to individuals and businesses in Texas.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
