HLS 15RS-1293 ENGROSSED 2015 Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO. 641 BY REPRESENTATIVE GUILLORY Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana. GAMING: Provides relative to the central computer monitoring system for gaming regulation 1 AN ACT 2To amend and reenact R.S. 27:30.6(D), (G), (I)(4), (J), and (L), relative to the central 3 computer system for monitoring of electronic gaming devices; to remove the 4 requirement that the central computer be located within the Department of Public 5 Safety and Corrections, office of state police, gaming division; to provide for 6 technical corrections; to provide relative to legislative approval of fees to defray the 7 costs of administering the central computer system; and to provide for related 8 matters. 9Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana: 10 Section 1. R.S. 27:30.6(D), (G), (I)(4), (J), and (L) are hereby amended and 11reenacted to read as follows: 12 ยง30.6. Electronic gaming devices; central computer system 13 * * * 14 D. The central computer system authorized by the provisions of this Section 15 shall be designed and operated to allow the monitoring and reading of electronic 16 gaming devices on licensed riverboats and at live racing facilities for the purposes 17 of maintaining the security and integrity of the devices and the integrity of the 18 information reported to the system, so that the fiscal responsibility of the licensees Page 1 of 4 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HLS 15RS-1293 ENGROSSED HB NO. 641 1 with regard to their obligations to the state will be ensured. The central computer 2 system authorized by the provisions of this Section shall be located within and 3 administered by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state 4 police, gaming division. 5 * * * 6 G. The central computer system shall not provide for the monitoring or 7 reading of personal or financial information concerning patrons of gaming activities 8 conducted on a riverboat or at live racing facilities. 9 * * * 10 I. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, 11 shall impose and collect an annual fee not in excess of fifty dollars on each electronic 12 gaming device linked by telecommunication to the central computer system as 13 provided by this Section. The purpose of the fee shall be to defray the costs to the 14 state of acquiring, implementing, and maintaining the central computer system as 15 provided for in this Section. The annual fee shall be established in an amount which 16 will generate an amount of funds in each fiscal year which is equal to the projected 17 cost of administering the system for that fiscal year. No additional fee shall be 18 imposed with respect to the central computer system. This fee shall be in addition 19 to any other fee provided for by this Chapter. The fee shall be subject to the 20 following provisions: 21 * * * 22 (4) No If the amount of the proposed fee exceeds by fifty percent the fee 23 imposed during the prior year or the sum of twenty-five dollars, the fee shall not be 24 imposed or collected unless the legislative committees with jurisdiction over gaming 25 matters as provided by legislative rule have found that the information and 26 documentation submitted by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office 27 of state police, is sufficient to justify the amount of the proposed fee and those 28 committees have affirmatively approved the amount of the proposed fee. 29 * * * Page 2 of 4 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HLS 15RS-1293 ENGROSSED HB NO. 641 1 J. The telecommunication between electronic gaming devices on licensed 2 riverboats and at live racing facilities and the central computer system shall be in 3 continuous operation at all times. 4 * * * 5 L. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to persons licensed pursuant 6 to the provisions of the Video Draw Poker Devices Control Law as provided for in 7 Chapter 6 8 of this Title or to the casino gaming operator. 8 * * * DIGEST The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 641 Engrossed 2015 Regular Session Guillory Abstract: Removes the requirement that the central computer monitoring system for gaming devices shall be located within the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, state police gaming division, and provides that only certain fee increases relative to the central computer monitoring system shall require legislative approval. Present law provides that all electronic gaming devices on riverboats and slots at tracks live racing facilities be monitored by a central computer which is located within the state police, gaming division. Proposed law removes the requirement that the central computer be located within the state police gaming division and otherwise retains present law. Proposed law makes technical corrections to clarify that the central computer monitoring applies to electronic gaming devices at licensed riverboats and at live racing facilities. Present law provides that the office of state police may assess an annual fee to defray costs associated with defraying the cost of maintaining the central computer system. Present law provides that no fee shall be imposed or collected unless the legislative committees with jurisdiction over gaming have affirmatively approved the amount of the proposed fee. Proposed law changes present law to provide that the legislative committees with jurisdiction over gaming shall only be required to affirmatively approve the fee if the amount of the proposed fee exceeds by 50% the fee imposed during the prior year or the sum of $25.00. (Amends R.S. 27:30.6(D), (G), (I)(4), (J), and (L)) Page 3 of 4 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HLS 15RS-1293 ENGROSSED HB NO. 641 Summary of Amendments Adopted by House The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice to the original bill: 1. Provide that the legislative committees with gaming jurisdiction affirmatively approve central computer maintenance fees only when the fee exceeds by 50% the fee imposed during the prior year or the sum of $25.00. Page 4 of 4 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions.