Source: http://mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_126th/billtexts/SP002001.asp
Timestamp: 2020-01-20 05:57:33
Document Index: 367985986

Matched Legal Cases: ['§1001', '§5', '§1001', '§13', '§1011', '§2', '§1011', '§4', '§6', '§1016', '§1', '§33', '§1016', '§3', '§5', '§11', '§1017', '§1', '§1018', '§1', '§4', '§5', '§5', '§1019', '§6', '§5', '§1019', '§7', '§6', '§1019', '§8', '§1020', '§2', '§5', '§11', '§1020', '§3', '§8', '§1031', '§ 1031', '§1035', '§10', '§ 1035', '§1036', '§2']

SP0020, LD 31, item 1, An Act To Increase Gaming Opportunities for Charitable Fraternal and Veterans' Organizations
LD 31 Session - 126th Maine Legislature
An Act To Increase Gaming Opportunities for Charitable Fraternal and Veterans' Organizations
Sec. 1. 8 MRSA §1001, sub-§5-C is enacted to read:
5-C. Charitable nonprofit organization. "Charitable nonprofit organization" means a fraternal beneficiary society, order or association exempt from taxation under the United States Internal Revenue Code, Section 501(c)(8), a domestic fraternal society, order or association exempt from taxation under the United States Internal Revenue Code, Section 501(c)(10) or a veterans' organization exempt from taxation under the United States Internal Revenue Code, Section 501(c)(19).
Sec. 2. 8 MRSA §1001, sub-§13-A is enacted to read:
13-A. Eligible organization. "Eligible organization" means a charitable nonprofit organization that:
A. As of October 1, 2013 has been conducting gaming under Title 17, chapter 13-A or 62 for at least 2 consecutive years; and
B. Has owned or leased for a minimum of 2 consecutive years the premises that serve as the primary location of the organization's administrative operations, which are located in a municipality in which the voters have approved in a referendum election the operation of slot machines by a charitable nonprofit organization.
Sec. 3. 8 MRSA §1011, sub-§2-C is enacted to read:
2-C. Organizations eligible for slot machine operator license. Beginning January 1, 2014, the board may accept an application for a license to operate slot machines from an eligible organization. The application process is governed by this subsection.
A. The eligible organization shall submit an application demonstrating that it is a charitable nonprofit organization eligible for a license to operate slot machines. A refundable administrative deposit of $5,000 must accompany the application. The eligible organization must:
(1) Demonstrate that a majority of the revenue, after deductions for reasonable expenses, generated from gaming conducted under Title 17, chapter 13-A or 62 has been used for the charitable purpose of the eligible organization;
(2) Demonstrate that the premises on which the slot machines will be operated have been owned or leased for at least 2 consecutive years and serve as the primary location of the organization's administrative operations and are located in a municipality in which the voters have approved in a referendum election the operation of slot machines by a charitable nonprofit organization;
(3) Demonstrate that it has at least $2,000 in cash reserved in a segregated account for each slot machine the eligible organization intends to operate if issued a license; and
(4) Meet other criteria established by the board pursuant to rule regarding the licensing and operation of slot machines, including, but not limited to, a requirement that the eligible organization identify and submit to the board a list of the charitable purposes for which the revenue from the operation of the slot machines will be used.
B. The board may not issue a license to an eligible organization unless that eligible organization demonstrates compliance with the qualifications and requirements of sections 1016 and 1019 and demonstrates that there is no other electronic video machine or similar machine, as defined by Title 17, section 1831, on the premises where the slot machines will be operated. As used in this paragraph, "electronic video machine or similar machine" does not include a machine that dispenses preprinted lucky seven or similar sealed tickets that the eligible organization is licensed to sell under Title 17, chapter 62.
D. Prior to January 1, 2014, an eligible organization that seeks to obtain a license to operate slot machines may file a declaration of intent with the board, accompanied by a $250 fee. The declaration of intent must include the following:
(2) The deed, rental agreement or lease agreement for the premises where the eligible organization intends to operate the slot machine;
This paragraph is repealed January 1, 2014.
Sec. 4. 8 MRSA §1011, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2005, c. 663, §6, is further amended to read:
4. Requirement for license; agreement with municipality where slot machines are located. A Except for a slot machine operator who is an eligible organization, a slot machine operator shall enter into an agreement with the municipality where the slot machine operator's slot machines are located that provides for revenue sharing or other compensation, including, but not limited to, a provision requiring the preparation, in conjunction with the municipality, of a security plan for the premises on which the slot machines are located. The revenue-sharing agreement must provide for a minimum payment to the municipality of 3% of the net slot machine income derived from the machines located in the municipality.
Sec. 5. 8 MRSA §1016, sub-§1, ¶D, as amended by IB 2009, c. 2, §33, is further amended to read:
D. In the case of a person who is not an eligible organization applying to be a slot machine operator or casino operator, the person has sufficient knowledge and experience in the business of operating slot machines or casinos to effectively operate the slot machine facilities or casino to which the license application relates in accordance with this chapter and the rules and standards adopted under this chapter;
Sec. 6. 8 MRSA §1016, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 687, Pt. A, §5 and affected by Pt. B, §11, is amended to read:
3. Applicant other than individual. If the person , other than an eligible organization, required to meet the minimum qualifications and suitability requirements specified in subsections 1 and 2 is a business organization, the key executives, directors, officers, partners, shareholders, creditors, owners and associates of the person must meet the suitability requirements specified in subsection 2. For an eligible organization required to meet the minimum qualifications and suitability requirements specified in subsections 1 and 2, at least 2 officers of the governing board of the eligible organization, of whom one is the treasurer, must meet the suitability requirements specified in subsection 2.
Sec. 7. 8 MRSA §1017, sub-§1-A is enacted to read:
Sec. 8. 8 MRSA §1018, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2011, c. 417, §4, c. 469, §5 and c. 585, §§5 and 6, is further amended to read:
C-2. The initial application fee for a slot machine operator license for an eligible organization is $1,000. The annual renewal fee is $350.
Sec. 9. 8 MRSA §1019, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2011, c. 417, §5, is further amended to read:
Sec. 10. 8 MRSA §1019, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2011, c. 417, §6, is further amended to read:
Sec. 11. 8 MRSA §1019, sub-§§8 and 9 are enacted to read:
8. Maintenance contract required for eligible organization licensed to operate slot machines. An eligible organization licensed to operate slot machines in accordance with this chapter shall enter into a contract with a licensed slot machine distributor or, with approval of the board, a 3rd party for the maintenance of slot machines.
Sec. 12. 8 MRSA §1020, sub-§2, ¶G, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 687, Pt. A, §5 and affected by Pt. B, §11, is amended to read:
G. Must have a minimum average daily aggregate payback percentage of 89% computed for all slot machines operated at each slot machine facility on a weekly basis . A slot machine operated by an eligible organization must have a minimum average daily aggregate payback percentage of 80% computed for all slot machines operated on the premises of each eligible organization on a weekly basis; and
Sec. 13. 8 MRSA §1020, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2011, c. 585, §8, is further amended to read:
A. Except for slot machines used for training and educational purposes at postsecondary institutions as provided by section 1011, subsection 1-B, the total number of slot machines registered in the State may not exceed 3,000 3,250; and
C. An eligible organization licensed in accordance with this chapter may not operate more than 5 slot machines on the licensed premises of that eligible organization; and
D. Until January 1, 2015, the total number of slot machines operated by all eligible organizations licensed in accordance with this chapter may not exceed 100. Beginning January 1, 2015, the total number of slot machines operated by all eligible organizations licensed in accordance with this chapter may not exceed 250.
Sec. 14. 8 MRSA §1031-A is enacted to read:
§ 1031-A. Eligible organization; age limit on slot machine use; play limited to members and guests; access by minors; credit prohibited
Sec. 15. 8 MRSA §1035, as amended by PL 2011, c. 585, §10, is further amended to read:
§ 1035. Location of slot machines
Slot machines may be located only on the premises of an eligible organization licensed in accordance with this chapter, the premises of a commercial track, the premises of a casino or the premises of an accredited postsecondary institution for the purposes of training and education under section 1011, subsection 1-B. For the purposes of this section, "premises of a commercial track" means property owned by the person who owns the property on which a commercial track is located and that is either within 200 feet of the outside edge of the racing oval or, if the commercial track was owned by a municipality when a license to operate slot machines in association with that commercial track was issued, within 2,000 feet of the center of the racing oval.
Sec. 16. 8 MRSA §1036, sub-§2-D is enacted to read:
This bill permits the Gambling Control Board, beginning January 1, 2014, to issue a license to a charitable nonprofit organization that is a fraternal organization or a veterans' organization that is tax-exempt under the federal Internal Revenue Code to operate up to 5 slot machines on premises that are owned or leased by the organization, serve as its primary headquarters for fulfilling its charitable mission and are located in a municipality that has, by referendum of the voters, approved the operation of slot machines in that municipality. The organization must be able to demonstrate that it has a cash reserve of $2,000 for each machine the organization intends to operate. An organization that wishes to apply prior to January 1, 2014 may file a declaration of intent to apply with the Gambling Control Board. An application must include a refundable $5,000 deposit. The initial application fee for a slot machine operator license is $1,000, and the annual renewal fee is $350. A slot machine operated by a charitable nonprofit organization is subject to the same central site monitoring that applies to casinos and slot machine facilities at harness racing tracks. The total number of slot machines allowed to be operated by charitable nonprofit organizations statewide is 250. Ten percent of the net slot machine income is required to be deposited directly with the Gambling Control Board for administrative expenses; 8% goes directly to the General Fund; 10% goes to the host municipality; and 2% is dedicated to gambling addiction prevention and treatment. A charitable nonprofit organization that is licensed to operate slot machines is required to establish a separate account, from which the board may withdraw funds to distribute the net revenue percentages. The remaining revenue generated from the slot machines must be used to support the charitable purposes of the fraternal organization or veterans' organization.