Brief Description: Modifying gambling commission powers and duties to temporarily issue, suspend, and renew licenses.

Sponsors: By Representatives Conway, Wood, Condotta, Kenney and Moeller; by request of Gambling Commission.

House Committee on Commerce & Labor
Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development

Background:

The Gambling Commission (Commission) issues licenses for charitable/nonprofit organizations and commercial entities to conduct gambling activities. The Commission also licenses manufacturers and suppliers of gambling devices and their representatives, amusement game operators, and employees of gambling entities, such as card room employees.

The Commission employs a full-time director (Director) who is the administrator for the Commission. For charitable/nonprofit and commercial licenses, the Commission may authorize the Director to temporarily issue and suspend licenses subject to final action by the Commission. The Director does not have this authority for the other types of licenses.

Gambling licenses are good for one year. Licensees who do not timely renew their licenses must submit a new application.

Summary:

The authority of the Commission to give the Director authority to issue temporary licenses and suspend licenses, subject to final action by the Commission, is extended to licenses for amusement game operators, manufacturers and suppliers of gambling devices and their representatives, and employees of gambling entities. The effect is that the Commission may give the Director temporary license and license suspension authority for all licenses the Commission issues.

A grace period for license renewal is created for military personnel. A licensee has six months after being honorably discharged, removed, or released from active military service to renew his or her license.

Rules Authority: The bill does not address the rule-making powers of an agency.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   90   4
Senate   48   0

Effective: July 22, 2007