SENATE BILL REPORT
ESSB 5556
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 Passed Senate, February 10, 2012
Title: An act relating to social card games in an area annexed by a city or town that allowed a house-banked social card game business to continue operating under RCW 9.46.295
Brief Description: Concerning certain social card games in an area annexed by a city or town.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection (originally sponsored by Senators Prentice, Fain and Keiser).
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection: 2/17/11 [DPS].
Passed Senate: 3/03/11, 44-1; 2/10/12, 45-1.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & CONSUMER PROTECTION |
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5556 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Conway, Vice Chair; Holmquist Newbry, Ranking Minority Member; King, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Hewitt, Keiser and Kline.
Staff: Edith Rice (786-7444)
Background: The Gambling Act authorizes social card games, including house-banked games, when licensed by the Gambling Commission. A gambling license is legal authority to engage in that gambling activity. A city, town, or county may absolutely prohibit gambling but may not change the scope of the license.
In 2009 the Legislature authorized certain cities that ban house-banked card games and annex an area that allows house banked card games to grandfather an existing card game business in the annexed area and allow it to continue operating. This authority was limited to certain cities with certain populations and that met other specific criteria. It only applied to house-banked card game businesses.
In November 2009 voters in the Panther Lake area approved the annexation of the area to the city of Kent, effective July 1, 2010. In April 2010 Kent adopted an ordinance allowing house-banked card rooms in the annexed area to continue operating.
The 2011 Legislature enacted legislation which provided that a jurisdiction which prohibited house-banked social card games which annexed an area and permitted a house-banked social card game in the annexed area to continue operating before July 15, 2011, must allow all card rooms in the annexed area, operating and licensed on January 1, 2011, to continue operating. A jurisdiction that allows a social card game business in an annexed area to continue operating is not required to allow additional social card game businesses.
Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill: If a city or town annexes an area with an existing card room that was licensed prior to 2013, the existing card room can continue to operate even if the city does not otherwise allow card rooms.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: None.
Persons Testifying: No one.