Mr. Mike Wilson Committee to Promote Arkansas 1 Park, Box 96 Wilson, Arkansas 72395
Dear Mr. Wilson:
This is in response to your request, pursuant to A.C.A.7-9-107 (Repl. 1993), for certification of the following proposed popular name and ballot title for a proposed constitutional amendment:
(Popular Name)
LIMITED CASINO GAMING, COMMUNITY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIME PREVENTION FINANCING AMENDMENT OF 1994.
(Ballot Title)
A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION ESTABLISHING THE ARKANSAS CASINO GAMING COMMISSION, CREATING A COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FUND, AND PERMITTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ONE CASINO AT A DESIGNATED SITE IN CRITTENDEN COUNTY.
THIS AMENDMENT WILL IMPOSE AN EIGHT (8) PERCENT TAX ON THE GROSS REVENUES OF CASINO GAMING, AND THE ENTIRE REVENUE GENERATED FROM THIS TAX SHALL BE DEDICATED TO THE COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FUND. MONIES FROM THIS FUND WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION COUNCILS TO BE ESTABLISHED IN
EACH COUNTY OF THE STATE. EACH COUNTY SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PUBLISH AN AUDITED REPORT EVERY YEAR INFORMING THE TAXPAYERS HOW THE GAMING REVENUES ARE BEING SPENT. AN ADDITIONAL QUARTERLY TAX OF ONE (1) PERCENT WILL BE IMPOSED ON CASINO GAMING TO SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AREA SURROUNDING THE FACILITY.
ALL INDIVIDUALS OR ENTITIES OPERATING, EMPLOYED IN, OR FURNISHING SERVICES OR SUPPLIES TO THE CASINO SHALL BE SUBJECT TO STRICT LICENSING REQUIREMENTS, BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS AND OVERSIGHT BY THE STATE POLICE. ARKANSAS RESIDENTS WILL RECEIVE PREFERENCE IN HIRING BY THE CASINO, ARKANSAS GOODS WILL BE GIVEN PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT IN PURCHASES BY THE CASINO AND MANDATORY TRAINING PROGRAMS WILL BE PROVIDED TO ARKANSAS RESIDENTS SO THAT THEY MAY BECOME QUALIFIED APPLICANTS FOR POSITIONS IN THE CASINO OPENED PURSUANT TO THIS AMENDMENT. INDIVIDUALS UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY-ONE (21) SHALL BE PROHIBITED FROM GAMING OR FROM BEING PRESENT IN GAMING ROOMS. LICENSES SHALL BE GRANTED TO PERMIT THE CASINO TO OPERATE FOR ANY PORTION OF A 24-HOUR DAY THAT THE LICENSEE DETERMINES.
THE COMMISSION SHALL REGULATE AND SUPERVISE THE LICENSING AND OPERATION OF ALL CASINO GAMING ACTIVITIES AND CONSIST OF FIVE (5) MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR. ONLY PERSONS WHO ARE RESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS AND CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE COMMISSION. NO MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, NO PERSON HOLDING ELECTIVE OFFICE IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT, OR ANY OFFICER OR OFFICIAL OF ANY POLITICAL PARTY SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE COMMISSION. MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION CAN BE REMOVED BY THE GOVERNOR AND A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. ALL ADMINISTRATIVE, OPERATIONAL AND OTHER COSTS OF THE COMMISSION SHALL BE BORNE BY THOSE SEEKING LICENSES TO OPERATE, SUPPLY OR
BE EMPLOYED IN CASINO GAMING, AND THE CASINO LICENSED PURSUANT TO THIS AMENDMENT. NO FUNDS FROM THE STATE'S GENERAL TREASURY SHALL BE USED TO PAY FOR THE COMMISSION AFTER THE INITIAL TWO (2) YEARS OF OPERATION, AND ANY STATE FUNDS USED DURING THIS TWO (2) YEAR START-UP PERIOD SHALL BE FULLY REIMBURSED BY THE COMMISSION.
THIS AMENDMENT WILL ESTABLISH