SF 76 (LSB 1283XS (2) 91)

SENATE FILE 76

BY  REICHMAN

A BILL FOR

An Act concerning a moratorium on the issuance of new gambling games licenses, and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  99F.5A  Limitations on issuance of licenses to conduct gambling games.
   1.  a.  Commencing on the effective date of this Act, through June 30, 2030, the total number of licenses issued by the commission to conduct gambling games on an excursion gambling boat, at a gambling structure, or at a pari-mutuel racetrack shall not exceed nineteen subject to the requirements of this subsection.
   b.  Licenses to conduct gambling games shall be restricted to those counties where an excursion gambling boat, gambling structure, or racetrack enclosure was operating and licensed to conduct gambling games on the effective date of this Act.
   c.  The commission shall be authorized to take any of the following actions concerning the issuance of licenses to conduct gambling games:
   (1)  A gambling games licensee may move to a new location within the same county and retain the gambling games license.
   (2)  A licensed facility may be sold and a new gambling games license issued for operation in the same county.
   (3)  If a license to conduct gambling games is surrendered, not renewed, or revoked, a new gambling games license may be issued for operation in the same county.
   2.  This section is repealed July 1, 2030.
    Sec. 2.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill places a moratorium on the issuance of new licenses to conduct gambling games in excess of 19 licenses through June 30, 2030. The bill restricts gambling games licenses to those counties conducting gambling games on the effective date of the bill. The bill allows the racing and gaming commission to authorize a gambling games licensee to move to a new location within the same county, to issue a gambling games license in a county if a licensed facility in that county is sold, and to issue a new license in a county if a previous license to conduct gambling games in that county was surrendered, not renewed, or revoked.
   The bill takes effect upon enactment.