SB 5376

SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5376

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Labor, Commerce, Research & Development, January 29, 2007

Title: An act relating to the temporary issuance, summary suspension, and renewal of licenses by the gambling commission.

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

Sponsors: Senators Murray, Clements, Prentice and Kohl-Welles; by request of Gambling Commission.

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Keiser, Vice Chair; Clements, Ranking Minority Member; Franklin, Holmquist, Murray and Prentice.

Background: The Gambling Commission (Commission) has the authority to license persons who: conduct or utilize bingo games, raffles, amusement games, social card games, punch boards, and pull-tabs, or sell gambling devices; or work for an operator of a gambling activity. The Commission may authorize the Director of the Commission to temporarily issue or suspend some, but not all, of these licenses.

Summary of Bill: The Commission may authorize the Director to temporarily issue or suspend licenses subject to final action by the Commission. This authorization includes licenses issued to: persons, associations, or organizations conducting amusement games; persons, associations, or organizations that sell, distribute, supply, or manufacture gambling devices; or persons who work for an operator of a gambling activity.

The Commission may renew the license of persons who are discharged from active military service if the person applies for renewal within six months of being honorably discharged, removed, or released from active military service.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This allows the director to issue individual gambling operator employees a temporary license rather than waiting for the license to be approved at a meeting of the Gambling Commission. This is the same authority that the Liquor Control Board and the Lottery Commission has.