FIRST REGULAR SESSION

SENATE BILL NO. 168

90TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY


INTRODUCED BY SENATOR EHLMANN.

Pre-filed December 11, 1998, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.



TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.

S0139.04I


AN ACT

To repeal sections 313.812 and 313.815, RSMo 1994, and section 130.031, RSMo Supp. 1998, and to enact in lieu thereof four new sections relating to excursion gambling boats.


Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:

Section A.  Sections 313.812 and 313.815, RSMo 1994, and section 130.031, RSMo Supp. 1998, are repealed and four new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 130.031, 252.003, 313.812 and 313.815, to read as follows:

130.031.  1.  No contribution of cash in an amount of more than twenty-five dollars shall be made by or accepted from any single contributor for any election by an exploratory committee or a candidate committee.  No contribution of cash in an amount of more than one hundred dollars shall be made by or accepted from any single contributor for any election by a continuing committee, a campaign committee or a political party committee.

2.  Except for expenditures from a petty cash fund which is established and maintained by withdrawals of funds from the committee's depository account and with records maintained in accordance with the recordkeeping requirements of section 130.036 to account for expenditures made from petty cash, each expenditure of more than fifty dollars, except an in-kind expenditure, shall be made by check drawn on the committee's depository and signed by the committee treasurer, deputy treasurer or candidate.  A single expenditure from a petty cash fund shall not exceed fifty dollars, and the aggregate of all expenditures from a petty cash fund during a calendar year shall not exceed the lesser of five thousand dollars or ten percent of all expenditures made by the committee during that calendar year.  A check made payable to "cash" shall not be made except to replenish a petty cash fund.

3.  No contribution shall be made or accepted and no expenditure shall be made or incurred, directly or indirectly, in a fictitious name, in the name of another person, or by or through another person in such a manner as to conceal the identity of the actual source of the contribution or the actual recipient and purpose of the expenditure.  Any person who receives contributions for a committee shall disclose to that committee's treasurer, deputy treasurer or candidate the recipient's own name and address and the name and address of the actual source of each contribution such person has received for that committee.  Any person who makes expenditures for a committee shall disclose to that committee's treasurer, deputy treasurer or candidate such person's own name and address, the name and address of each person to whom an expenditure has been made and the amount and purpose of the expenditures the person has made for that committee.

4.  No anonymous contribution of more than twenty-five dollars shall be made by any person, and no anonymous contribution of more than twenty-five dollars shall be accepted by any candidate or committee.  If any anonymous contribution of more than twenty-five dollars is received, it shall be returned immediately to the contributor, if the contributor's identity can be ascertained, and if the contributor's identity cannot be ascertained, the candidate, committee treasurer or deputy treasurer shall immediately transmit that portion of the contribution which exceeds twenty-five dollars to the state treasurer and it shall escheat to the state.

5.  The maximum aggregate amount of anonymous contributions which shall be accepted in any calendar year by any committee shall be the greater of five hundred dollars or one percent of the aggregate amount of all contributions received by that committee in the same calendar year.  If any anonymous contribution is received which causes the aggregate total of anonymous contributions to exceed the foregoing limitation, it shall be returned immediately to the contributor, if the contributor's identity can be ascertained, and, if the contributor's identity cannot be ascertained, the committee treasurer, deputy treasurer or candidate shall immediately transmit the anonymous contribution to the state treasurer to escheat to the state.

6.  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 5 of this section, contributions from individuals whose names and addresses cannot be ascertained which are received from a fund-raising activity or event, such as defined in section 130.011, shall not be deemed anonymous contributions, provided the following conditions are met:

(1)  There are twenty-five or more contributing participants in the activity or event;

(2)  The candidate, committee treasurer, deputy treasurer or the person responsible for conducting the activity or event makes an announcement that it is illegal for anyone to make or receive a contribution in excess of twenty-five dollars unless the contribution is accompanied by the name and address of the contributor;

(3)  The person responsible for conducting the activity or event does not knowingly accept payment from any single person of more than twenty-five dollars unless the name and address of the person making such payment is obtained and recorded pursuant to the recordkeeping requirements of section 130.036;

(4)  A statement describing the event shall be prepared by the candidate or the treasurer of the committee for whom the funds were raised or by the person responsible for conducting the activity or event and attached to the disclosure report of contributions and expenditures required by section 130.041.  The following information to be listed in the statement is in addition to, not in lieu of, the requirements elsewhere in this chapter relating to the recording and reporting of contributions and expenditures:

(a)  The name and mailing address of the person or persons responsible for conducting the event or activity and the name and address of the candidate or committee for whom the funds were raised;

(b)  The date on which the event occurred;

(c)  The name and address of the location where the event occurred and the approximate number of participants in the event;

(d)  A brief description of the type of event and the fund-raising methods used;

(e)  The gross receipts from the event and a listing of the expenditures incident to the event;

(f)  The total dollar amount of contributions received from the event from participants whose names and addresses were not obtained with such contributions and an explanation of why it was not possible to obtain the names and addresses of such participants;

(g)  The total dollar amount of contributions received from contributing participants in the event who are identified by name and address in the records required to be maintained according to the provisions of section 130.036.

7.  No candidate committee established on behalf of a statewide or local elected officer, state representative or state senator, or candidate for statewide or local elected office, state representative or state senator, shall accept contributions from any organization or committee established by or on behalf of an excursion gambling boat or a supplier, as defined in section 313.800, RSMo.

[7.]  8.  No candidate or committee in this state shall accept contributions from any out-of-state committee unless the out-of-state committee from whom the contributions are received has filed a statement of organization pursuant to the provisions of section 130.021 or has filed the reports required by [section 130.051] sections 130.049 and 130.050, whichever is applicable to that committee.

[8.]  9.  Any person publishing, circulating, or distributing any printed matter relative to any candidate for public office or any ballot measure shall on the face of the printed matter identify in a clear and conspicuous manner the person who paid for the printed matter with the words "Paid for by" followed by the proper identification of the sponsor as provided by this section.  For the purposes of this section, "printed matter" shall be defined to include any pamphlet, circular, handbill, sample ballot, advertisement, including advertisements in any newspaper or other periodical, sign, including signs for display on motor vehicles, or other imprinted or lettered material; but "printed matter" is defined to exclude materials printed and purchased prior to May 20, 1982, if the candidate or committee can document that delivery took place prior to May 20, 1982; any sign personally printed and constructed by an individual without compensation from any other person and displayed at that individual's place of residence or on that individual's personal motor vehicle; any items of personal use given away or sold, such as campaign buttons, pins, pens, pencils, book matches, campaign jewelry, or clothing, which is paid for by a candidate or committee which supports a candidate or supports or opposes a ballot measure and which is obvious in its identification with a specific candidate or committee and is reported as required by this chapter; and any news story, commentary, or editorial printed by a regularly published newspaper or other periodical without charge to a candidate, committee or any other person.

(1)  In regard to any printed matter paid for by a candidate from the candidate's personal funds, it shall be sufficient identification to print the first and last name by which the candidate is known.

(2)  In regard to any printed matter paid for by a committee, it shall be sufficient identification to print the name of the committee as required to be registered by subsection 5 of section 130.021 and the name and title of the committee treasurer who was serving when the printed matter was paid for.

(3)  In regard to any printed matter paid for by a corporation or other business entity, labor organization, or any other organization not defined to be a committee by subdivision (7) of section 130.011 and not organized especially for influencing one or more elections, it shall be sufficient identification to print the name of the entity, the name of the principal officer of the entity, by whatever title known, and the mailing address of the entity, or if the entity has no mailing address, the mailing address of the principal officer.

(4)  In regard to any printed matter paid for by an individual or individuals, it shall be sufficient identification to print the name of the individual or individuals and the respective mailing address or addresses, except that if more than five individuals join in paying for printed matter it shall be sufficient identification to print the words "For a list of other sponsors contact:" followed by the name and address of one such individual responsible for causing the matter to be printed, and the individual identified shall maintain a record of the names and amounts paid by other individuals and shall make such record available for review upon the request of any person.  No person shall accept for publication or printing nor shall such work be completed until the printed matter is properly identified as required by this subsection.

[9.]  10.  Any broadcast station transmitting any matter relative to any candidate for public office or ballot measure as defined by this chapter shall identify the sponsor of such matter as required by federal law.

[10.]  11.  The provisions of subsections [8 or] 9 or 10 of this section shall not apply to candidates for elective federal office, provided that persons causing matter to be printed or broadcast concerning such candidacies shall comply with the requirements of federal law for identification of the sponsor or sponsors.

[11.]  12.  It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person required to be identified as paying for printed matter pursuant to subsection [8] 9 of this section or paying for broadcast matter pursuant to subsection [9] 10 of this section to refuse to provide the information required or to purposely provide false, misleading, or incomplete information.

[12.]  13.  It shall be a violation of this chapter for any committee to offer chances to win prizes or money to persons to encourage such persons to endorse, send election material by mail, deliver election material in person or contact persons at their homes; except that, the provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to prohibit hiring and paying a campaign staff.

252.003.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, the conservation commission shall not sell, lease, grant or otherwise convey property owned, operated, managed or leased by the department of conservation to any gaming facility as defined in chapter 313, RSMo.

313.812.  1.  The commission may issue licenses pursuant to subsection 1 of section 313.807 when it is satisfied that the applicant has complied with all rules and regulations, including an update of all information provided to the commission in the licensee's initial application.  The commission shall decide the number, location and type of excursion gambling boat in a city or county under subsection 10 of this section.  The license shall set forth the name of the licensee, the type of license granted, the place where the excursion gambling boat will operate and dock, including the docking of an excursion gambling boat which is continuously docked, and other information the commission deems appropriate.  The commission shall have the ultimate responsibility of deciding the number, location, and type of excursion gambling boats licensed in a city or county; however, any city or county which has complied with the provisions of subsection 10 of this section shall submit to the commission a plan outlining the following:

(1)  The recommended number of licensed excursion gambling boats operating in such city or county;

(2)  The recommended licensee or licensees operating in such city or county;

(3)  The community's economic development or impact and affirmative action plan concerning minorities' and women's ownership, contracting and employment for the waterfront development;

(4)  The city or county proposed sharing of revenue with any other municipality;

(5)  Any other information such city or county deems necessary; and

(6)  Any other information the commission may determine is necessary.  The commission shall provide for due dates for receiving such plan from the city or county.

2.  A license to operate an excursion gambling boat shall only be granted to an applicant upon the express conditions that:

(1)  The applicant shall not, by a lease, contract, understanding, or arrangement of any kind, grant, assign, or turn over to a person the operation of an excursion gambling boat licensed under this section or of the system of wagering described in section 313.817.  This section does not prohibit a management contract with a person licensed by the commission; and

(2)  The applicant shall not in any manner permit a person other than the licensee and the management licensee to have a share, percentage, or proportion of the money received for admissions to the excursion gambling boat.

3.  The commission shall require, as a condition of granting a license, that an applicant operate an excursion gambling boat which, as nearly as practicable, resembles or is a part of Missouri's or the home dock city's or county's riverboat history.  Yellow and purple painted buildings, giant lighted spheres which sit atop towers and Christmas decorations in public view during any period beginning after January 15 and ending on November 15 of that year shall not be considered consistent with a part of any home dock city's riverboat history.

4.  The commission shall encourage through its rules and regulations the use of Missouri resources, goods and services in the operation of any excursion gambling boat.

5.  The excursion gambling boat shall provide for nongaming areas, food service and a Missouri theme gift shop.  The amount of space used for gaming shall be determined in accordance with all rules and regulations of the commission and the United States Coast Guard safety regulations.  No licensee shall provide or cause to be provided any child care services for the benefit of persons other than employees of that licensee.

6.  A license to operate gambling games or to operate an excursion gambling boat shall not be granted unless the applicant has, through clear and convincing evidence, demonstrated financial responsibility sufficient to meet adequately the requirements of the proposed enterprise.

7.  The applicant shall establish by clear and convincing evidence its fitness to be licensed if there is evidence that any of the following apply:

(1)  The applicant has been suspended from operating an excursion gambling boat or a game of chance or gambling operation in another jurisdiction by a board or commission of that jurisdiction;

(2)  The applicant is not the true owner of the enterprise proposed;

(3)  The applicant is not the sole owner, and other persons have ownership in the enterprise, which fact has not been disclosed;

(4)  The applicant is a corporation that is not publicly traded and ten percent or more of the stock of the corporation is subject to a contract or option to purchase at any time during the period for which the license is to be issued unless the contract or option was disclosed to the commission and the commission approved the sale or transfer during the period of the license;

(5)  The applicant has knowingly made a false statement of a material fact to the commission; or

(6)  The applicant has failed to meet a valid, bona fide monetary obligation in connection with an excursion gambling boat.

8.  A license shall not be granted if the applicant has not established his good repute and moral character or if the applicant has pled guilty to, or has been convicted of, a felony.  No licensee shall employ or contract with any person who has pled guilty to, or has been convicted of, a felony to perform any duties directly connected with the licensee's privileges under a license granted pursuant to this section, except that employees performing nongaming related occupations as determined by the commission shall be exempt from the requirements of this subsection.

9.  A licensee shall not lend to any person money or any other thing of value for the purpose of permitting that person to wager on any gambling game authorized by law.  This does not prohibit credit card or debit card transactions or cashing of checks.  Any check cashed must be deposited within twenty-four hours.  The commission may require licensees to verify a sufficient account balance exists before cashing any check.  Any licensee who violates the provisions of this subsection shall be subject to an administrative penalty of five thousand dollars for each violation.  Such administrative penalties shall be assessed and collected by the commission.

10.  Gambling excursions including the operation of gambling games on an excursion gambling boat which is not continuously docked shall be allowed only on the Mississippi River and the Missouri River.  No license to conduct gambling games on an excursion gambling boat in a city or county shall be issued unless and until the qualified voters of the city or county approve such activities pursuant to this subsection.  The question shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the city or county at a general, primary or special election upon the motion of the governing body of the city or county or upon the petition of fifteen percent of the qualified voters of the city or county determined on the basis of the number of votes cast for governor in the city or county at the last election held prior to the filing of the petition.  The question shall be submitted in substantially the following form:

Shall the City (County) of ..................... allow the licensing of excursion gambling boats or floating facilities as now or hereafter provided by Missouri gaming law in the city (county)?

YES NO

If a majority of the votes cast on the question by the qualified voters voting thereon are in favor of the question, then the commission may license excursion gambling boats in that city or county and such boats may operate on the Mississippi River and the Missouri River.  If a majority of the votes cast on the question by the qualified voters voting thereon are opposed to the question, then the commission shall not license such excursion gambling boats in such city or county unless and until the question is again submitted to and approved by a majority of the qualified voters of the city or county at a later election.  Excursion gambling boats may only dock in a city or unincorporated area of a county which approves licensing of such excursion gambling boats pursuant to this subsection, but gambling operations may be conducted at any point on the Mississippi River or the Missouri River during an excursion.  Those cities and counties which have approved by election pursuant to this subsection, except those cities or counties which have subsequently rejected by election, the licensing of any type of excursion gambling boats in the city or county prior to April 6, 1994, are exempt from any local election requirement of this section as such previous election shall have the same effect as if held after May 20, 1994.

11.  If a docking fee is charged by a city or a county, a licensee operating an excursion gambling boat shall pay the docking fee prior to the start of the excursion season.

12.  Any licensee shall not be delinquent in the payment of property taxes or other taxes or fees or in the payment of any other contractual obligation or debt due or owed to the state or a political subdivision of the state.

13.  An excursion gambling boat licensed by the state shall meet all of the requirements of chapter 306, RSMo, and is subject to an inspection of its sanitary facilities to protect the environment and water quality by the commission or its designee before a license to operate an excursion gambling boat is issued by the commission.  Licensed excursion gambling boats shall also be subject to such inspections during the period of the license as may be deemed necessary by the commission.  The cost of such inspections shall be paid by the licensee.

14.  A holder of any license shall be subject to imposition of penalties, suspension or revocation of such license, or other action for any act or failure to act by himself or his agents or employees, that is injurious to the public health, safety, morals, good order and general welfare of the people of the state of Missouri, or that would discredit or tend to discredit the Missouri gaming industry or the state of Missouri unless the licensee proves by clear and convincing evidence that it is not guilty of such action.  The commission shall take appropriate action against any licensee who violates the law or the rules and regulations of the commission.  Without limiting other provisions of this subsection, the following acts or omissions may be grounds for such discipline:

(1)  Failing to comply with or make provision for compliance with sections 313.800 to 313.850, the rules and regulations of the commission or any federal, state or local law or regulation;

(2)  Failing to comply with any rule, order or ruling of the commission or its agents pertaining to gaming;

(3)  Receiving goods or services from a person or business entity who does not hold a supplier's license but who is required to hold such license by the provisions of sections 313.800 to 313.850 or the rules and regulations of the commission;

(4)  Being suspended or ruled ineligible or having a license revoked or suspended in any state of gaming jurisdiction;

(5)  Associating with, either socially or in business affairs, or employing persons of notorious or unsavory reputation or who have extensive police records, or who have failed to cooperate with any officially constituted investigatory or administrative body and would adversely affect public confidence and trust in gaming;

(6)  Employing in any gambling games operation or any excursion gambling boat operation, any person known to have been found guilty of cheating or using any improper device in connection with any gambling game;

(7)  Use of fraud, deception, misrepresentation or bribery in securing any permit or license issued pursuant to sections 313.800 to 313.850;

(8)  Obtaining or attempting to obtain any fee, charge, or other compensation by fraud, deception, or misrepresentation;

(9)  Incompetence, misconduct, gross negligence, fraud, misrepresentation or dishonesty in the performance of the functions or duties regulated by sections 313.800 to 313.850.

313.815.  A licensee licensed to operate gambling games under sections 313.800 to 313.850 shall post a bond or other form of surety from a firm licensed to conduct a surety business in this state, as approved by the commission, to the state of Missouri before the license is issued in a sum as the commission shall fix, with sureties approved by the commission.  The bond or other form of surety approved by the commission shall be used to guarantee that the licensee faithfully makes the payments, keeps its books and records and makes reports, and conducts its gambling games in conformity with sections 313.800 to 313.850 and the rules adopted by the commission.  The bond or other form of surety shall also be used to guarantee the completion of any expansion or modification of a gambling boat in a time period approved by the commission, which shall not exceed two years from the date of approval of the expansion or modification.  Failure to complete an approved expansion or modification of a gambling boat within the two-year period shall be considered sufficient grounds for not renewing the license for that gambling boat.   The bond or other form of surety approved by the commission shall not be canceled by a surety on less than thirty days' notice in writing to the commission.  If a bond or other form of surety approved by the commission is canceled and the licensee fails to file a new bond or other form of surety approved by the commission with the commission in the required amount on or before the effective date of cancellation, the licensee's license shall be revoked.  The total and aggregate liability of the surety on the bond or other form of surety approved by the commission is limited to the amount specified in the bond or other form of surety approved by the commission.




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