An Act to Implement a Facility-based Monitoring System for Slot Machines
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2070
Committee Amendment CA_A_S552 (Senate)
Amends: 8 MRSA §1003, 8 MRSA §1020

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " (^ to S.P. 871, L.D. 2070, "An Act to Implement
a Facility-based Monitoring System for Slot Machines"
Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the following:
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the current contract between the Department of Public Safety, Gambling
Control Board and the 3rd party operatmg the central site monitoring system on behalf of
the Gambling Control Board expires on June 30, 2024; and
Whereas, it is necessary to enact the changes authorizing the transition from a central
site monitoring system to a facility-based monitoring system before the expiration of the
current contract; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
therefore,'
Amend the bill in section 1 in subsection 13-B in the last line (page 1, line 8 in L.D.)
by striking out the following: "and disabling of slot machines" and inserting the following:
'and malfunction'
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 4 and inserting the following:
'See. 4. 8 MRSA §1003, sub-§2, ^K, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 687, Pt. A, §5 and
affected by Pt. B, § 11, is amended to read:
K. Maintain Ensure the board or the director or staff, in collaboration with the casino
operator or slot machine operator, has the ability to activate and deactivate the
operation of individual slot machines via the central site monitoring system under
3 authority of board staff or perQons contracted by the board;'
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 6 and inserting the following:
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " /^' to S.P. 871, L.D. 2070
'See. 6. 8 MRSA §1003, sub-§2, ^N, as enacted by PL 2003,c. 687, Pt. A, §5 and
affected by Pt. B, § 11, is amended to read:
N. Cause the central site monitoring system to disable. in collaboration with the casino
OBerator or slot machine operator, a slot machine to_be disabLed that does not meet
registration requirements provided by this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter
or as directed by the department;'
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 7 and inserting the following:
-See. 7. 8 MRSA §1003, sub-§2, ^O, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 687, Pt. A, §5 and
affected by Pt. B, § 11, is amended to read:
0. Cause the central site monitoring system to disable. in collaboration with the casino
operator or slot machine operator, a slot machme to be disabled and cause the
department to seize the proceeds of that slot machine if the funds from that slot machine
have not been distributed, deposited or allocated in accordance with section 1036;'
Amend the bill in section 8 in §1004 in subsection 1 by inserting after paragraph G the
following:
'An on-site computer system that is accessible by the department thrQugh read-onlv access
and was m operation as of January 1. 2024 at a casino or slot machine facility operated by
a person licensed under section 1011 is considered a facility-based monitoring system
under this chapter.'
Amend the bill by inserting after section 12 the following:
'See. 13. 8 MRSA §1020, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2019, c. 614, §4, is further
amended to read:
4. Examination Certification of slot machines and associated equipment. The
board shall, in cooperation with the department, examine approve qualified independent
laboratories for certification of slot machines and slot machine associated equipment of
from slot machine distributors and gambling services vendors seeking registration as
required in this chapter. The board shall require the slot machine distributor or gambling
services vendor seeking examination and appmvri certification of the slot machine or slot
machine associated equipment to pay the board-approved independent laboratory the
0 anticipated cost of the examination certification before the examination occurs certification
is completed. After the examination occurs, the board shall refund overpayments or charge
and collect amounts Quffioient to reimburse the board for underpayments of actual cost.
The board may contract for the examinations of slot machines and slot machine associated
equipment as required by this section adopt rules to establish the approval process to verify
5 certifications, approve shipments and inspect slot machines. Rules adopted pursuant to this
subsection are routine technical mles as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 14. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
allocations are made.
PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF
Gambling Control Board Z002
Initiative: Reduces allocations for coirtracted services related to a central site monitoring
system for slot machines.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " ft" to S.P. 871, L.D. 2070 ( ^ •$S ~^
ROt
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 2023-24 2024-25
All Other $0 ($500,000)
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL $0 ($500,000)
Sec. 15. Effective date. This Act takes effect June 30, 2024.'
Amend the bill by adding before the summary the followmg:
'Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation
takes effect when approved.'
Amend the bill by relettermg or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment does the following.
1. The bill provides that a facility-based monitoring system is used to disable slot
machines; the amendment instead provides that the Department of Public Safety, Gambling
Control Board, or the director or staff of the board, in collaboration with a casino operator
or slot machine operator, has the ability to disable slot machines when appropriate.
2. It clarifies that an on-site computer system that is accessible by the Department of
Public Safety through read-only access and was in operation as of January 1, 2024 at a
casino or slot machine facility licensed by the State is considered a facility-based
monitoring system.
3. It amends the provision of law regarding examination of slot machines and
associated equipment to provide that the Gambling Control Board, in cooperation with the
Department of Public Safety, must approve qualified independent laboratories for
certification of slot machines and associated equipment from slot machine distributors and
gambling services vendors seeking registration. A slot machine distributor or gambling
services vendor seeking certification of the slot machine or associated equipment must pay
the board-approved independent laboratory the cost of the certification before it is
completed. The Gambling Control Board may adopt routine technical rules to establish the
approval process to verify certifications, approve shipments and inspect slot machines.
4. It adds an emergency preamble and emergency clause and an effective date of June
30,2024.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 02/21/24 ^K?<=-
LD 2070 LR 2775(02)
An Act to Implement a Facility-based Monitoring System for Slot Machines
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '^"/<,'5^^
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Projections Projections
FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25 FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27
Appropriations/Allocations
Other Special Revenue Funds $0 ($500,000) ($1,100,000) ($1,100,000)
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This bill replaces the current requirement that the Gambling Control Unit (GCU) within the Department of Public
Safety maintain a central site monitoring system with a requirement that all slot machines be able to electronically
communicate with the GCU starting June 30, 2024. The bill includes a deallocation of Other Special Revenue Funds
of $500,000 in fiscal year 2024-25 to reflect elimination of expenses related to the maintenance of the central site
monitoring system.
LR2775(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1