BILL REQ. #:  S-4764.2 

READ FIRST TIME 01/31/06.   

     WHEREAS, Legalized gambling in Washington has continued to grow in recent years. The legal and societal implications of the growth have become increasingly more complex; and
     WHEREAS, Washington is not alone in being confronted by these increasingly difficult issues, as neighboring states and Canadian provinces have also experienced similar challenges and are expected to continue to do so in the coming years; and
     WHEREAS, The changing landscape of gambling in Washington involves a wide range and interrelated mix of gambling choices, which include the state-run lottery, parimutuel horse racing, tribal casinos, bingo, raffles, casino nights, commercial card rooms, punch boards, and pull-tabs; and
     WHEREAS, Entities offering these choices are continually affected by and under pressure to respond to movements in competitive market conditions, and policymakers are under pressure to consider changes in the nature and scope of gambling activities currently authorized in this state; and
     WHEREAS, It is unclear what forces may be contributing to the challenges faced by the various segments of the gambling industry and, most important, what, if anything, the state can do to address the challenges; and
     WHEREAS, It is incumbent on both the executive branch and the legislative branch to work together to achieve as full of an understanding as possible of what is occurring in the gambling industry, in order to make appropriate public policy decisions regarding gambling which advance the best interests of the citizens of the state;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the State of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That:
     (1) A joint select committee on the future of gambling policy setting is established.
     (2) The task force shall examine:
     (a) The current and potential future of the nature and scope of legalized gambling in the state, and how these forms of gambling have developed and changed over time;
     (b) The current and possible future tax structures relating to gambling activities in this state;
     (c) The nature of pathological or problem gambling, and current and possible future efforts to address this social problem in this state;
     (d) The current and potential future of the nature and scope of legalized gambling in neighboring states and Canadian provinces, and the potential competitive impact the gambling has or will have on this state's gambling market;
     (e) Current trends emerging across the United States and Canada in each segment of the gambling market, and the potential impact of the trends on the future of this state's gambling market;
     (f) Recent state or federal court decisions, and the potential impact these cases have on the future of gambling policy in this state; and
     (g) The manner in which policies on gambling have been and are established in Washington and various other states, with a focus on the strengths and weaknesses of each in effectively articulating and implementing a consistent and coherent policy over the long term on all significant issues including, but not limited to new gambling offerings, gambling limits, and the location of gambling facilities.
     (3) The joint select committee shall consist of eight voting members, including:
     (a) The chair of the senate committee on labor, commerce, research and development;
     (b) One other member from the majority caucus and two members from the minority caucus of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate from among the members of the senate committee on labor, commerce, research and development;
     (c) The chair of the house of representatives committee on commerce and labor; and
     (d) One other member from the majority caucus and two members from the minority caucus of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives from among the members of the house of representatives committee on commerce and labor.
     (4) The joint select committee shall consist of the following nonvoting members:
     (a) The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall jointly appoint:
     (i) One representative of a city or town that currently bans enhanced cardrooms within its boundaries;
     (ii) One representative of a city or town that authorizes enhanced cardrooms within its boundaries; and
     (iii) One representative of the county prosecuting attorney's office;
     (b) The governor, or the governor's designee;
     (c) The governor shall appoint one representative each from:
     (i) The Washington state gambling commission;
     (ii) The Washington state horse racing commission;
     (iii) The Washington state lottery commission; and
     (iv) One representative of the department of social and health services who has experience administering a statewide program for the treatment of pathological or problem gambling.
     (5) The initial meeting of the joint select committee shall be jointly convened by the chairs of the senate committee on labor, commerce, research and development, and the house of representatives committee on commerce and labor. At the committee's initial meeting, the task force shall choose its chair and vice-chair from among its voting membership.
     (6) In conducting its work, the joint select committee shall, to the extent practicable, encourage, include, and involve participation from throughout Washington by representatives of: (a) All recognized or acknowledged tribes in the state, whether or not the tribe currently operates a legalized class III gaming establishment; (b) the commercial cardroom industry; (c) lottery vendors; (d) the charitable gaming industry and those entities that benefit from such activities; (e) problem and pathological gambling treatment providers, and others active in the support of persons with problem or pathological gambling conditions; and (f) members of the public.
     (7) The joint select committee shall use legislative staff and facilities. All expenses of the task force, including travel, shall be paid jointly by the senate and the house of representatives. The gambling, lottery, and horse racing commissions shall cooperate with the committee, and shall provide information and other support as the committee reasonably requests; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the joint select committee may make a preliminary progress report to the legislature no later than the end of the 2007 legislative session, and shall submit its final findings and recommendations to the legislature and the governor by January 1, 2008; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the joint select committee disband on January 1, 2008.