SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESHB 2317

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

              Commerce & Labor, February 24, 1998

Title:  An act relating to limiting the promotion of gambling.

Brief Description:  Limiting the promotion of gambling.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Trade & Economic Development (originally sponsored by Representatives Schoesler, Sheahan, Crouse, Backlund, Lambert, McCune, Pennington, Bush, D. Sommers and Sullivan).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Commerce & Labor:  2/20/98, 2/24/98 [DP, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Schow, Chair; Horn, Vice Chair; Anderson and Newhouse.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

  Signed by Senator Heavey.

Staff:  David Pringle (786-7448)

Background:  The Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development promotes tourism through its marketing programs.  These tourism marketing programs may include the promotion of gambling activities.  The state Gambling Act of 1973 regulates gambling activities in Washington State, and those regulations are enforced by the Washington State Gambling Commission.  In 1988 Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and in 1992 the state gave the Gambling Commission responsibility to negotiate tribal/state compacts for casino gambling activities.  Currently in Washington there are 19 tribal governments with compacts who operate a total of 11 casinos, and two tribal governments without compacts operating five casinos.

Summary of Bill:  The Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development may only promote gambling activities that are either licensed by the state or conducted under a class III tribal gaming compact, and if under compact only where a tribal government has paid all required mitigation fees to a local government.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This is a fair proposal.  Mitigation fees are part of the privilege of operating a casino and it is appropriate to tie them to department advertising.  The Gambling Commission supports this bill.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Carrie Tellefson, Washington State Gambling Commission; Kari Frank, Puyallup Tribe.