[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to regulating gambling activities; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The public policy of the state of Washington with regard to gambling activities is to keep the criminal element out of these activities and to promote the social welfare of the people by limiting the nature and scope of gambling activities by strict regulation and control. The legislature finds that while the gambling commission, the lottery commission, and the horse racing commission currently perform those functions independently of each other, there are many issues common to all that are handled differently by each. This may affect both the public safety and welfare, and the potential for industry participants to be subject to multiple regulation. Each year, industry participants seek the authority to offer a broader range of gambling activities, and consolidating and simplifying regulatory processes may benefit the industries as well as the public.

With the growth of gambling industries and the potential for violations of laws and rules resulting in harm to people and local communities, strong state regulation and oversight is necessary to protect all interests involved. Therefore, the legislature intends to study the feasibility and benefits of a state-level single regulatory scheme.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) A task force shall be convened to conduct a study of whether to combine the gambling commission, the lottery commission, and the horse racing commission into a single commission charged with regulating all gambling in Washington.

(2) The task force shall consist of the following members:

(a) The chair of the senate committee on labor, commerce and financial institutions, who shall chair the task force;

(b) Two legislators from the senate committee on labor, commerce and financial institutions, one each selected by the ranking member from each major party on that committee;

(d) The chairs of the gambling commission, the lottery commission, and the horse racing commission;

(e) The executive director of the Washington Indian gaming association;

(f) One representative from nonprofit gaming industry, selected by the chair of the gambling commission;

(g) One representative of the cardroom industry, selected by the chair of the gambling commission;

(h) One representative of for-profit establishments authorized to have punchboards and pull-tabs, selected by the gambling commission;

(i) A representative of the council on problem gambling, selected by the chair of the gambling commission;

(j) One representative of lottery retailers, selected by the chair of the lottery commission;

(k) One representative of lottery vendors, selected by the chair of the lottery commission;

(l) One representative from each of the class 1 racing associations in Washington;

(m) A representative of the attorney general's office; and

(n) A representative of the governor's office.

(3) The task force shall consider:

(a) The feasibility of one regulatory body governing all gambling activities;

(b) Any economic benefits, including cost-efficiency;

(d) Whether there would be benefits to consolidating background investigation and business practices;

(e) The potential effects of centralizing decision-making processes and enforcement; and

(f) Whether there would be benefits to consistency in regulatory practices and administration.

(4) The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the senate committee on labor, commerce and financial institutions and the house of representatives committee on commerce and labor by December 1, 2001.

(5) This section expires March 31, 2002.