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                    ENGROSSED SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 8430

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State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1992 Regular Session

By Senators Hayner, Nelson, Anderson, Sellar, Rasmussen, Metcalf, Wojahn and Bailey

Read first time 03/11/92.Advocating the creation of a task force to study issues on gambling.

     WHEREAS, Legalized wagering in Washington State has increased significantly during the past decade; and

     WHEREAS, Legalized wagering in neighboring states is expanding and is expected to continue increasing during the coming years; and

     WHEREAS, Under Federal law, tribal gambling has expanded into traditional casino gambling; and

     WHEREAS, The United States Congress recently authorized coastal gambling on cruise ships; and

     WHEREAS, The State's public policy has been to prevent organized crime from creeping into legalized social gambling, which under existing statutes is subject to strict limitation and regulation; and

     WHEREAS, With the expansion of tribal gambling, competition for the gambling dollar between tribes, charitable organizations, the lottery, and the horse racing industry will be greatly increased; and

     WHEREAS, Competition for the gambling dollar will result in pressure to legislate increases in the nature and scope of gambling currently authorized in the State;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the State of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That a State Gambling Policy Task Force be established to examine the need for:  (1) A clear public policy on gambling, particularly given the pressures to increase the nature and scope of gambling in Washington State; (2) review of the current nature and scope of gambling authorized for play in the State; (3) planning for the future of gambling and corresponding issues in the State, given the expansion of tribal and coastal gambling and the increased competition for the gambling dollar; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the task force shall be composed of fourteen representatives:  One each from the Gambling Commission, Lottery Commission, and Horse Racing Commission; two members from each caucus in the House of Representatives and the Senate; a representative from an Indian tribe; and a representative from the offices of the Governor and the Attorney General; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the task force shall be chaired by the director of the Gambling Commission.  The director shall submit a report summarizing the findings of the task force to the legislature by January 1, 1993.