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2018 HB 5306: An Act Concerning A Strategic Plan To Expand Gambling In Connecticut.

Bill Text

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than ninety days after the effective date of this section, the Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall develop and issue a request for proposals for professional services to recommend a strategic plan to expand gambling in the state. The professional service provider shall have expertise in advising state legislatures on issues related to gambling and the expansion of gambling.

(b) At a minimum, the strategic plan shall:

(1) Analyze the economic impacts of all legal and current forms of gambling in the state, including, but not limited to, gambling at casino gaming facilities, and gambling facilitated by the Connecticut Lottery Corporation and off-track betting facilities;

(2) Contain a fiscal analysis to determine the impact of expanding gambling in the state (A) by amending the procedures, compact and agreements entered into by and between the state and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and the state and the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, and (B) without amending such procedures, compact and agreements;

(3) Identify the various approaches to expanding gambling in the state and analyze the economic impact and the fiscal and legal consequences if the state authorizes (A) any person, business entity or Indian tribe to operate one or more commercial casino gaming facilities within the state, (B) the Connecticut Lottery Corporation to sell tickets for lottery draw games online and accept payment through the use of a credit card, (C) the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, off-track betting facilities, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe or the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, or any combination thereof, to conduct wagering on sporting events to the extent permitted by federal law, and (D) the operation of fantasy contests in the state without amending such procedures, compact and agreements; and

(4) Recommend a strategic plan that (A) implements the expansion of gambling in the state, (B) establishes a quasi-public agency to regulate and oversee such expansion, (C) provides for the taxation of such expansion, and (D) includes best practices to protect the public interest in the integrity of gambling operations and reduce the dangers of unsuitable, unfair or illegal practices, methods and activities in such operations.

(c) Not later than January 1, 2019, the commissioner shall submit the strategic plan, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security.

(d) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection and the Connecticut Lottery Corporation shall provide any information and data needed by the professional service provider to complete the strategic plan, provided the information and data does not disclose the identity of any individual.

(e) The Connecticut Lottery Corporation shall expend unclaimed prize funds to pay the cost of the strategic plan.

Sec. 2. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall engage an independent third party to study the social effects of legalized gambling on the citizens of this state and to make recommendations regarding ways to mitigate the potential negative public health consequences associated with gambling if (1) the state authorizes any person, business entity or Indian tribe to operate one or more commercial casino gaming facilities within the state and such facilities become operational, (2) the state authorizes the Connecticut Lottery Corporation to sell tickets for lottery draw games online and accept payment through the use of a credit card, (3) the state authorizes the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, off-track betting facilities, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe or the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, or any combination thereof, to conduct wagering on sporting events to the extent permitted by federal law, or (4) fantasy contest operators offer fantasy contests in the state. Not later than January 1, 2019, the commissioner shall submit the findings of the study and the recommendations, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security.

Sec. 3. Subsection (b) of section 12-564 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(b) The commissioner shall conduct studies concerning the effect of legalized gambling on the citizens of this state including, but not limited to, studies to determine the types of gambling activity engaged in by the public and the desirability of expanding, maintaining or reducing the amount of legalized gambling permitted in this state. Such studies shall be conducted as often as the commissioner deems necessary, except that no studies shall be conducted before the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009 2028, and thereafter studies shall be conducted at least once every ten years. The commissioner shall submit the findings of such studies and the costs of conducting such studies to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to legalized gambling shall each receive a report concerning each study carried out, stating the findings of the study and the costs of conducting the study public safety and security, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a.

In Section 1(b)(1), "gambling" was inserted before "at" and "and gambling facilitated by" was inserted before "the Connecticut" for clarity and in Section 1(b)(2), "Perform" was changed to "Contain" for accuracy.

Behind the Bill