04/29/1995 02:30 PM Senate JUD

            SCR 19 BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION ON GAMING                           
                                                                              
 [The following is a verbatim transcript.]                                     
                                                                               
 MR. BOTELHO:  Thank you Mr. Chairman.  My name for the record is              
 Bruce Botelho, Attorney General for the state.   I apologize, Mr.             
 Chairman, for not being here when the matter was first called.  The           
 resolution would establish a Blue Ribbon Gaming Commission between            
 now and the 15th of January, 1996, the 1996 legislative session, to           
 study the future of gambling and gaming in the state.  It has been            
 precipitated by a variety of developments in the state, to note               
 three or four of those activities, one has been the push toward               
 cruise ship gambling; second and independent, but certainly tied to           
 it, the interest in undertaking casino gambling through the Indian            
 Gaming Regulatory Act and the request by the Klawock Community                
 Association to negotiate a compact under the federal law here in              
 Alaska and the fact that they would be entitled to play any game              
 which is otherwise authorized in the state.  We also have seen                
 legislation proposed to allow certain forms of gambling on the                
 state ferries, we had various lottery bills in the past, the                  
 legislature has been asked to deal with such activities as                    
 paramutuel betting.  All of these make clear, and certainly the               
 national picture makes clear, that one of the major policy issues             
 facing legislatures around the country, and our state in                      
 particular, is the future of gambling and gaming in the state.                
 Mr. Chairman, the Administration supports this resolution, and                
 would urge its speedy adoption.                                               
                                                                               
 SENATOR TAYLOR:  Any questions by the committee?  Senator Green...            
                                                                               
 SENATOR GREEN:  I just have... do resolutions require an effective            
 date, since we are appointing a committee?                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR TAYLOR:  It will become effective upon passage.                       
                                                                               
 SENATOR GREEN:  It's an automatic?                                            
                                                                               
 SENATOR TAYLOR:  Yes.                                                         
                                                                               
 SENATOR GREEN:  It does not require...                                        
                                                                               
 SENATOR TAYLOR:  It's just a resolution anyhow, which is like an              
 intent of the Senate or an intent of the legislature.                         
                                                                               
 SENATOR GREEN:  O.K., it's just that it has a closure date and I              
 just wondered if it had..., if it is automatically in place if it             
 passed.                                                                       
                                                                               
 SENATOR TAYLOR:  I don't have any further questions either.  Thank            
 you very much for taking your time to come down.                              
                                                                               
 MR. BOTELHO:  Thank you Mr. Chairman.                                         
                                                                               
 SENATOR TAYLOR:  I just wanted you to know that the Judiciary                 
 Committee in the Senate is not a bad place to visit.                          
                                                                               
 MR. BOTELHO:  Every once in awhile, Mr. Chairman.  Thank you.                 
                                                                               
 SENATOR GREEN:  Would you like a motion for SCR 19?                           
                                                                               
 SENATOR TAYLOR:  Yes, let there be a motion.                                  
                                                                               
 SENATOR GREEN:  SCR 19, I move that it be out of committee with               
 individual recommendations.                                                   
                                                                               
 SENATOR TAYLOR:  SCR 19 has been moved from committee with                    
 individual recommendations.  Are there any objections?  There being           
 no objections, it moves from committee.                                       
                                                                               
 [End of verbatim transcript.]