An Act to Make the
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0584
Committee Amendment CA_A_S554 (Senate)
Amends: 5 MRSA §948, 8 MRSA §1001, 8 MRSA §1003, 17 MRSA §311, 17 MRSA §1831, 28-A MRSA §84, 28-B MRSA §104-B

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "f\ " to S.P. 267, L.D. 584, "An Act to Make the
Director of the Office of Cannabis Policy an Appointed Position Subject to Confirmation
by the Legislature"
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'An Act to Make the Director of the Office of Cannabis Policy, the Director of the
Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations and the Director of the
Gambling Control Unit Appointed Positions Subject to Confirmation by the
Legislature'
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the
following:
'See. 1. 5 MR8A §948, sub-§l, UL, as amended by PL 2011, c, 633, §1, is further
amended to read;
L. Director, Maine Emergency Medical Services; m^
See. 2. 5 MRSA §948, sub-§l, ^M, as amended by PL 2011, c. 633, §2, is further
amended to read:
M. Director, Bureau of Consolidated Emergency Communications-: and
See. 3. 5 MRSA §948, sub-§l, 1f0 is enacted to read:
0. Director. Oamblina Control Unit.
Sec. 4. 8 MRSA §1001, sub"§9, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 687, Pt. A, §5 and
affected by Pl. B, §11, is amended to read:
9. Director. "Director" means the Director of the Gambline Control Unit within the
department, who also serves as the OKOoutivo dirootor Executive Director of the bewd
Gamblme Control Board.
See. 5. 8 MRSA §1003, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2023, c. 549, §§2 to 7 and
affected by §15 and amended by c. 635, §§3 to 5, is further amended to read:
Page I - 132LR1393(02)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " //|" to S.P. 267, L.D. 584 L^>'v
^ 1 2. Duties. The Gommissionor of Public Safety, with the advioo and thoconoont of tho
board, and on u timetable directed by the board, shall hire an exeoutive director; The
executive director shall hire staff in accordance with the Civil Service Law and retain
professional services that the board considers necessary to carry out its responsibilities. In
addition, the board or the director or staff, as delegated by the board, shall:
A. Enforce the provisions of this chapter and any rules adopted under this chapter;
B, Hear and decide all license and registration applications under this chapter and
issues affecting the granting, suspension, revocation or renewal of licenses and
registrations;
C, Review the department's reports of its investigation of the qualifications of an
applicant before a license or registration is issued and investigate the circumstances
surrounding any act or transaction for which board approval is required;
D. Cause the department to investigate any alleged violations of this chapter or rules
adopted under this chapter and the direct or indirect ownership or control of any
licensee;
E. Refer violations of this chapter to the Attorney General to bring action in the courts
and administrative tribunals of this State or the United States, in the name of the State
of Maine, This paragraph does not limit the authority of district attorneys to prosecute
criminal violations of the law;
F. Collect alt licensing and registration fees and taxes imposed by this chapter and
mles adopted pursuant to this chapter;
G. Develop a standard uniform location agreement;
H, Pursuant to subchapter 5, cause the department to investigate all complaints made
to the board regarding ownership, distribution or operation of slot machines or table
games and all violations of this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter;
I. Adopt rules to prevent undesirable conduct relating to the ownership, distribution
and operation of slot machines and table games and slot machine facilities and casinos,
including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) The practice of any fraud or deception upon a player of a slot machine or table
game or a licensee;
(2) The presence or location of a slot machine or table game in or at premises that
may be unsafe due to fire hazard or other public safety conditions;
(3) The infiltration of organized crime into the ownership, distribution or operation
of slot machines or table games and slot machine facilities or casinos; and
(4) The presence of disorderly persons in a location where slot machines or table
games are in use;
J-l. Ensure the board or the director or staff has the ability to regulate, manage and
audit the operation, financial data and program information relating to slot machines
that enables the department to audit the operation, financial data and program
information of a casino or slot machine facility licensee, as required by the board, and
provide the department with the ability to monitor at any time on a real-time basis
Page2-132LR1393(02)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMnTEE AMENDMENT " /)." to S.P. 267, L.D. 584 ^5'5$'<4
^p
wagering patterns, payouts, tax collection and compliance with rules adopted by the
board for the regulation and control of slot machines operated under this chapter;
K. 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;
L. Ensure that the slot machine operator or casino operator does not have access to any
system that is capable of programming slot machines;
M. Inform commercial track operators applying for a license to operate slot machines
that any slot machines licensed by the board must be compatible with a facility-based
monitoring system;
N. Cause, in collaboration with the casino operator 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;
0. Cause, in collaboration with the casino operator or slot machine operator, a slot
machine 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;
P. Collect all funds and taxes due to the State under sections 1018 and 1036;
Q, Certify monthly to the department a full and complete statement of all slot machine
and table game revenue, credits disbursed by licensees, administrative expenses and
the allocation of slot machine and table game income for the preceding month;
R, Submit by March 15th an annual report to the Governor and the joint standing
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over gambling affairs on slot machine
and table game revenue, credits disbursed by slot machine operators and table game
operators, administrative expenses and the allocation of slot machine and table game
income for the preceding year;
S. Prepare and submit to the department a budget for the administration of this chapter;
T, Keep accurate and complete records of its proceedings and certify the records as
may be appropriate; and
U. Adopt rules relating to the conduct of advance deposit wagering> including but not
limited to the following;
(1) Requirements for licensure to conduct advance deposit wagering;
(2) The prevention of any fraud or deception upon an advance deposit wagering
account holder;
(3) Distributions of account statements to advance deposit wagering account
holders from the advance deposit wagering licensee;
(4) Establishing a definition of an abandoned advance deposit wagering account
and provisions for disposition of funds in an abandoned account;
(5) Prescribing methods for verifying residency and age of an applicant for an
advance deposit wagering account;
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITFEE AMENDMENT " ^" to S.P. 267, L.D. 584 ($ ' S5^
(6) Prescribing methods for verifying that an applicant for an advance deposit
wagering account is a natural person and not a custodian, beneficiary, joint trust
corporation or other organization;
(7) Prescribing methods by which deposits are made to advance deposit wagering
accounts. The methods prescribed must prohibit the use of the electronic benefits
transfer system administered by the Department of Health and Human Services
under Title 22, chapter 1, subchapter 1 -A;
(8) Prohibiting the assignment or transfer of an advance deposit wagering account
from an authorized account holder to another person; and
(9) Provisions allowing persons to restrict themselves from advance deposit
wagering upon request by placing themselves on the universal list pursuant to
subsection 3, paragraph I. The rules adopted under this subparagraph must define
the standards for involuntary placement on the universal list and for removal from
the list.
Rules initially adopted as required by this paragraph are major substantive rules as
described in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. Rules adopted after the first year of
operation of advance deposit wagering conducted by an advance deposit wagering
licensee are routine technical rules as described in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
See. 6. 8 MRSA §1003, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2021, c. 681, Pt. J, §4, is
repealed.
See. 7. 8 MRSA §1003, sub-§6 is enacted to read;
6. Director of Gambling Coutrol Unit. The Commissioner of Public Safety, with
the advice and consent of the Governor and subject to review by the joint standing
committee of the Leeislature havina jurisdiction over eamblina matters and to confirmation
bv the Leaislature. shall aoooint the Director of the Gamblina Control UniL established as
a bureau within the Department of Public Safety under Title 25. section 2902. subsection
12. and referred to in this chapter as "the director." The director shall adminjsterand euforce
the laws aoverning fantasy contests under chapter 33. soorts waaerina under chapter 35.
Internet gaming under chapter 39 and beano and games of chance under Title 17. chapters
13-A and 62. respectively, The director also serves as the executive director_of the board.
See. 8. 17 MRSA §311, sub"§2-A, as enacted by PL 2017,c. 284, Pt, JJJJJ, §1, is
amended to read:
2-A. Director. "Director" means the EKecutive Director of the Gambling Control
Board and the Gambling Control Unit.
See. 9. 17 MRSA §1831, sub-§2-A, as enacted by PL 2017,c. 284, Pt. KKKKK,
§6, is amended to read;
2-A. Director. "Director" means the Executive Director of the Gambling Control
Unit.
See. 10. 28-A MRSA §84, first % as amended by PL 2013, c, 368, Pt. V,§20, is
further amended to read:
The commissioner, with die advice and consent of the Governor and subject to review
by the joint standing committee of the Leeislature havine jurisdiction over alcoholic
Page4-132LR1393(02)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
(y COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " ^ " to S,P. 267, L.D. 584
beveraees and lottery matters and to confirmation by the Leaislature. shall appoint the
Director of the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations, referred to in this
chapter as "the director of the bureau." The director of the bureau or the director's designee
shall:
Sec. 11. 28-B MRSA §104-B> first ^ as enacted by PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. B, §6, is
amended to read:
The commissioner, with the advice and consent of the Governor and subject to review
by the joint standine committee of the Legislature havine jurisdiction over cannabis matters
and to confirmation by the Leeislature. shall appoint the Director of the Office of Cannabis
Policy, referred to in this chapter as "the director" The director may employ personnel as
necessary to implement, administer and enforce this chapter and the rules adopted pursuant
to this chapter and the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act and the rules adopted pursuant
to that Act,
See. 12. Appointment. The Commissioner of Administrative and Financial
Services shall appoint the Director of the Office of Cannabis Policy pursuant to the Maine
Revised Statutes, Title 28-B, section 104-B and the Director of the Bureau of Alcoholic
Beverages and Lottery Operations pursuant to Title 28-A, section 84 no later than 60 days
after the effective date of this Act. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall appoint the
Director of the Gambling Control Unit pursuant to Title 8, section 1003, subsection 6 no
later than 60 days after the effective date of this Act.
See. 13. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 6,2027.'
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment provides that the appointing authority for the Director of the Office
of Cannabis Policy within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, the
Director of the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations within the
Department of Administrative and Financial Services and the Director of the Gambling
Control Unit within the Department of Public Safety is the appropriate commissioner with
the advice and consent of the Governor. It further provides that these positions are subject
to confirmation by the Legislature.
The amendment directs the commissioners to appoint their respective positions no later
than 60 days after the effective date of this legislation and adds an effective date of January
6,2027.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT