For the purposes of this article, the following definitions
shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different
meaning:
Accessory gaming.
A building, facility or other place that contains five (5) or less amusement redemption machines and is considered accessory to a business with an existing certificate of occupancy on record with the building codes department. Accessory gaming shall be in strict compliance with the regulations of article
6.10 unless otherwise specified.
Amusement redemption machines.
Any electronic, electromechanical, or mechanical contrivance
designed, made, and adopted for bonafide amusement purposes that rewards
the player exclusively with noncash merchandise, prizes, toys, or
novelties, or a representation of value redeemable for those items,
that have a wholesale value available from a single play of the game
or device of not more than ten (10) times the amount charged to play
the game or device once, or $5.00, whichever amount is less.
Applicant.
The applicant is the intended owner of the game room.
Chief building official.
The chief building official for the City of Beaumont or the
designated representative of the chief building official.
Child care facility.
An establishment that provides assessment, care, training,
education, custody, treatment or supervision for a child who is not
related by blood, marriage or adoption to the owner or operator of
the facility for all or part of the twenty-four (24) hour day whether
or not the establishment operates for profit or charges for its services.
Church.
A building, in possession of a certificate of occupancy,
in which persons regularly assemble for purposes of religious worship,
intended primarily for purposes connected with such worship or for
propagating a particular form of religious belief.
City manager.
The city manager of the City of Beaumont or the designated
representative of the city manager.
Coin operated machine.
Any kind of machine or device operated by or with a coin
or other United State currency, metal slug, token, electronic card,
or check including a skill or pleasure coin operated machine.
Door attendant.
An individual who acts to regulate entry of customers or
other persons into a game room.
Fire chief.
The chief of the City of Beaumont Fire Department or the
designated representative of the chief of the fire department.
Game room.
A building, facility, or other place that contains six (6)
or more amusement redemption machines.
Game room owner.
An individual who:
(1)
Has ownership interest in or receives income from a game room
or an amusement redemption machine located in a game room;
(2)
Is a partner, director or officer of a business, company, or
corporation that has an ownership interest in a game room or in an
amusement redemption machine located in a game room;
(3)
Is a shareholder that holds more than ten percent (10%) of the
outstanding shares of a business, company, or corporation that has
an ownership interest in a game room or in an amusement redemption
machine located in a game room;
(4)
Has been issued by the county clerk an assumed name certificate
for a business that owns a game room or an amusement redemption machine
located in a game room;
(5)
Signs a lease for a game room;
(6)
Opens an account for utilities for a game room; or
(7)
Receives a certificate of occupancy for a game room.
Hospital.
A building, in possession of a certificate of occupancy,
where the primary function is to provide medical and/or surgical treatment
to sick or injured people and or otherwise defined by the Texas Occupations
Code chapter 241.
Operator.
An individual who supervises, manages, or participates in
the performance of activities that contribute to the functioning of
a game room, including the following activities:
(1)
Operates a cash register, cash drawer, or other depository on
the premises of a game room or of a business where the money earned
or the records of credit card transactions or other credit transactions
generated in any manner by the operation of a game room or activities
conducted in a game room are kept;
(2)
Displays, delivers, or provides to a customer of a game room
merchandise, goods, entertainment, or other services offered on the
premises of a game room;
(3)
Takes orders from a customer of a game room for merchandise,
goods, entertainment, or other services offered on the premises of
a game room; or
Permit.
A current, valid permit issued by the city manager pursuant
to the terms of this article to an owner of a game room.
Permit holder.
An individual who has been issued a valid permit pursuant
to this article.
Police chief.
The chief of police of the City of Beaumont Police Department
or the designated representative of the chief of police.
School.
A building, in possession of a certificate of occupancy,
where persons regularly assemble for the purpose of instruction or
education together with the playgrounds, stadia and other structures
or grounds used in conjunction therewith. The term is limited to:
(1)
Public and private schools used for primary and/or secondary
education, in which any regular kindergarten or grades one through
twelve (12) classes are taught;
(2)
Colleges and universities; and
(3)
Special education facilities in which students who have physical
or learning disabilities receive specialized education in lieu of
attending regular classes in kindergarten or any grades one through
twelve (12).
Skill or pleasure coin operated machine.
Any kind of coin operated machine that dispenses, or is used
or is capable of being used to dispense or afford amusement, skill,
or pleasure, or is operated for any purpose, other than for dispensing
only merchandise, music or service. This includes:
(1)
A marble machine, marble table machine, marble shooting machine,
miniature racetrack machine, miniature football machine, miniature
golf machine, miniature bowling machine, billiard or pool game, or
machine or device that dispenses merchandise or commodities or plays
music in connection with or in addition to dispensing skill or pleasure;
and
(2)
Does not include any amusement machine designated exclusively
for a child.
(Ordinance 23-073 adopted 9/26/2023)
The necessity of the public interest for the provisions and
prohibitions hereinafter contained and enacted is declared as a matter
of legislative determination and public policy, and it is further
declared that the provisions and prohibitions contained in this article
are in the furtherance of and for the purpose of securing and promoting
the public health, comfort, convenience, safety, welfare and prosperity
of the city and its inhabitants.
(Ordinance 23-073 adopted 9/26/2023)