SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 926
92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR LOUDON.
Pre-filed December 8, 2003, and ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
3139S.01I
AN ACT
To amend chapter 313, RSMo, by adding thereto five new sections relating to gambling.
Section A. Chapter 313, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto five new sections, to be known as sections 313.950, 313.951, 313.953, 313.956, and 313.959, to read as follows:
313.950. As used in sections 313.950 to 313.959, the following terms mean:
(1) "Committee", joint committee on gaming and wagering;
(2) "Department", the department within the selected university which supervises and administers the conduct of the study;
(3) "Director", the study director appointed by the dean or other managing director of the department;
(4) "University", any university located within the state of Missouri.
313.951. 1. The committee shall solicit competitive bids from universities to conduct a comprehensive legal and factual study of pathological or serious problem gambling and problem gambling in this state.
2. For at least three weeks, the committee shall solicit bids by mail or other reasonable method that is available to all universities in this state. The committee may also solicit for bids by advertising in newspapers of general circulation in areas where universities are located for at least two weeks. All solicitations for bids shall contain the date by which bids are due, as well as information concerning the questions to be addressed in the study.
3. After the bidding is closed, the committee shall choose the best and lowest bid. The selected university must demonstrate its ability to answer the study questions contained in subsection 2 of section 313.953. The primary consideration regarding the quality of any bid shall be the academic and professional qualifications of the economists and social scientists on the research team and their capability to deliver the best data, especially in answers to questions (1) and (2) in subsection 2 of section 313.953.
313.953. 1. The selected university shall conduct a comprehensive study of the economic and social impact of pathological or serious problem gambling and problem gambling in this state. The study shall include a review of existing policies and practices with respect to the prevention and treatment of pathological or serious problem gambling and problem gambling and shall formulate and propose necessary and appropriate changes in those policies and practices. The selected university may seek the cooperation of any agency within the state of Missouri or within any other state in obtaining information regarding any aspect or effect of pathological or serious problem gambling and problem gambling.
2. The study shall include, but is not limited to:
(1) The economic impact of pathological or serious problem gambling and problem gambling on the state of Missouri and on the political subdivisions of this state:
(a) An assessment of the percentage of residents of this state that are pathological or serious problem gamblers;
(b) The median age of pathological or serious problem gamblers and problem gamblers;
(c) A determination of how much money an individual pathological or serious problem gambler costs society each year in terms of crimes, bankruptcy, other bad debts, prosecution, and incarceration costs and other social service costs; and the total amount of money lost annually by pathological or serious problem gamblers in this state;
(2) The economic impact of pathological or serious problem gambling on other businesses, including at least theft and lost revenues;
(3) An assessment of the relationship between pathological or serious problem gambling and crime;
(4) An assessment of the impact of pathological or serious problem gambling on individuals, families, social institutions, criminal activity, and the economy;
(5) A review of the demographics of pathological or serious problem gamblers; and
(6) A review of the costs and effectiveness of state and federal gambling regulatory policy.
3. The university shall complete its study and submit its final report to the governor and the general assembly not later than January 31, 2007. The final report shall contain a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the university with its recommendations for legislation and administrative actions as the university deems appropriate.
313.956. 1. The director may hold hearings, administer oaths, take testimony, receive evidence, and require by subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of materials as the director considers advisable to carry out the purposes of sections 313.950 to 313.959. A subpoena of the director shall be served in the manner provided for a subpoena issued by a circuit court pursuant to Missouri rules of civil procedure. A subpoena may be served anywhere in the judicial district in which the person required to be served resides or may be found. A subpoena shall state the time and place a person is required to appear, be signed by the director, and be attested to by the director.
2. Upon request of the director, the head of any state agency shall furnish the director with the information considered necessary by the director to carry out the provisions of sections 313.950 to 313.959.
3. The director shall appoint and terminate the employment of any additional personnel as may be necessary to carry out the study.
313.959. 1. Up to two hundred thousand dollars shall be appropriated to the selected university to fund the study pursuant to sections 313.950 to 313.959.
2. Any money appropriated for the purposes of sections 313.950 to 313.959, which remains unused as of January 1, 2006, shall be transferred and placed to the credit of the state general revenue fund pursuant to section 33.080, RSMo.