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Legislative Updates Spring 2005 ALABAMA: House Bill
519, introduced by Rep. Yvonne Kennedy, D-Mobile, proposes a constitutional
amendment that, if ratified, would levy a 15 percent state tax on the
net revenue from electronic bingo machines at the state's four dog tracks.
As a result of local constitutional amendments passed last year in Greene
and Macon Counties, the dog tracks in those counties-Greenetrack (no live
racing) and VictoryLand-now offer electronic bingo but the machines are
not taxed by the state. HB 519 also authorizes the two remaining dog tracks-Birmingham
Race Course in Jefferson County and Mobile Greyhound Park in Mobile County-to
conduct electronic bingo. ARIZONA: Gov. Janet Napolitano March 15 vetoed Senate Bill 1333, the Animal and Ecological Terrorist bill. Despite the gov-ernor's veto, the bill was reintroduced in the House Judiciary Committee March 31 as a strike-everything amendment to SB 1166. This overly broad and punitive
bill seeks to penalize mainstream advocates working to protect wildlife
and public lands and captive animals used in research, agricultural, entertainment
and gambling industries. Violators of specific activities outlined in
the bill could be prosecuted under the state RICO statutes, enacted to
prosecute organized crime racketeers. ARKANSAS: Senate Bill
999, a measure that would allow Southland Greyhound Park in West Memphis
and the horse track in Hot Springs to offer wagering on additional electronic
games of skill, such as chess and checkers, had cleared the Senate and
House in mid-March. Gov. Mike Huckabee said he would let the legislation
become law without his signature. Voters in either the city or county
where the tracks are located must approve the machines. Both tracks currently
offer Instant Racing, an electronic pari-mutuel game that allows players
to wager on previously run races. FLORIDA: On March 8, voters in Broward County approved a local ballot measure allowing its four pari-mutuels, Hollywood Greyhound Park, two horse tracks and a jai alai fronton, to operate slot machines; voters in Miami-Dade County defeated the measure. Local referenda were authorized last November after voters statewide approved a constitutional amendment allowing those counties to determine whether to legalize slot machines at pari-mutuels. Passage of the measure in Broward County requires the Legislature to determine what type of gaming will be allowed, the tax rate, the number of machines and whether those machines are electronic bingo, video slots or Las Vegas-style Class III coin-drop slot machines. The Legislature, which began its 60-day session March 8, has been at odds over the issue. The House bill (HB 1901) proposes a flat tax rate of 55 percent and limits the slots to Class II bingo-style machines. The Senate bill (SB 1174) is more industry-friendly, proposing lower tax rates, unlimited numbers of Class III slot machines, lower payouts for gamblers and less stringent oversight. On April 27, Senate President
Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said "We're way apart," referring to the
deepening schism between the House and Senate over the issue. The Legislature
failed to pass either bill before the session ended May 6. The issue is
likely headed to court. IDAHO: Senate Bill 1074, a measure to allow off-track betting on simulcasts of horse and dog races at another location in Kootenai County if the defunct Coeur d'Alene Greyhound Park in Post Falls is sold or converted to other uses, was passed by the Senate Feb. 24 and by the House March 23. Greyhound racing was outlawed
in 1996. The track was leased to horse racing interests and wagering on
out-of-state simulcast races was allowed to continue. KANSAS: A hearing on House Bill 2508, a measure to amend the Kansas Pet Animal Act to include greyhounds, was heard in the House Agriculture Committee March 14. The act was changed in 1988 to exclude greyhounds from the designation of "dog." Kevin Neuman of Kansas City
REGAP, testifying for the bill, said, "The Kansas government is the
only one in the United States that says a greyhound is not a dog."
Gary Guccione, executive director of the National Greyhound Association
based in Abilene, testifying against the bill, said greyhounds aren't
bred for pets and therefore should not fall under pet protection laws. NEW HAMPSHIRE: Senate
Bill 225, sponsored by Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, D-Manchester, would allow
the operation of 5,700 video slot machines at the state's three dog tracks,
one horse track and three hotels located in northern New Hampshire. The
racetracks would share a total of 3,900 machines and the hotels would
receive 600 terminals each. OREGON: The Senate General Government Affairs Committee heard more than two hours of testimony March 22 on two racing-related bills, House Bill 2842 and Senate Bill 929. More than 60 people attended the public hearing, including two people who brought their adopted greyhounds. HB 2842, if passed, would outlaw greyhound racing in the state. SB 929 would amend existing simulcasting statutes to allow year-round simulcasting at the Portland Meadows thoroughbred track. The Oregon Greyhound Association
(OGA) strongly opposes both measures. "If economics dictates greyhound
racing is dead, so be it, but it shouldn't be state policy to kill the
sport," said OGA attorney Paul Romaine. OGA executive director Dick
Gage also told committee members that he had received a letter of intent
from Eric M. Spector, president of California-based Pioneer Resources
Inc., proposing to build, own and operate a multipurpose entertainment
complex with a greyhound track as its centerpiece. "I'm hoping they're
completely legitimate," Gage said of Pioneer Resources. TEXAS: House Bill 897,
a measure to allow video lottery terminals at the state's horse WEST VIRGINIA: Senate Bill 442, a measure authorizing table games such as craps, roulette, blackjack and other casino-style table games for the dog and horse tracks, passed the Senate March 28. Under provisions of the bill, the state will collect 23.5 percent of the net revenue from the games, the remainder going to the tracks. Eight percent of the state's share will be used to increase purses. House Bill 2966 would split
a percentage of video lottery proceeds from the Mountaineer horse track
between the greyhound and thoroughbred breeding development funds, an
estimated $3.7 million. Since 1993, the Tomblin Kennel has received more
than $2 million from the breeder's development fund. Kennel owner Freda
Tomblin is the mother of Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin.
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