Legislature(2005 - 2006)BELTZ 211
04/11/2006 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| CONFIRMATIONHEARING | |
| SB312 | |
| SB311 | |
| SB309 | |
| HB439 | |
| SB282 | |
| HB122 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 439 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 282 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 122 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 311 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 312 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 309 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 282-BROADCASTING PROMOTING CHARITABLE GAMING
CHAIR BUNDE announced SB 282 to be up for consideration.
SENATOR GARY STEVENS, sponsor of SB 282, explained that it
levels the playing field for broadcasters to promote raffles and
lotteries in this state. Currently, radio and TV are banned from
advertising charitable games whereas newspapers are free to
advertise the same activities. Statutes also impede stations
from assisting not-for-profit organizations in raising money and
may also deny broadcasters equal protection under the federal
and state constitutions sections dealing with broadcast media
that are also engaged with print media. For example, local
church raffles cannot be promoted by local radio and TV stations
and Boy Scout fund raisers involving raffles may not be included
in public service announcements; not-for-profit groups, such as
the Boys and Girls Clubs, are excluded from promoting fund
raisers involving games of chance on radio and TV - even though
they can advertise in the print media; various statewide events,
such as the Iditarod, may not be promoted by broadcasters.
2:55:55 PM
SENATOR SEEKINS asked if lotteries were legal in Alaska and if
he anticipated any lotteries arriving from outside the state.
SENATOR GARY STEVENS replied that radio broadcasters could
better answer that question and he did not anticipate out of
state lotteries coming to the state.
CHAIR BUNDE thought that "lottery" and "raffle" might need a
definition.
SENATOR SEEKINS asked him to explain how this related to the
Iditarod.
REPRESENTATIVE GARY STEVENS replied that various statewide fund
raising activities such as the Iditarod may not be promoted by
broadcasters.
SENATOR SEEKINS recalled that certain Calcutta-type events were
allowed last year for groups like the Iditarod - that really
weren't a lottery process.
2:58:30 PM
CHAIR BUNDE noted that he had received information saying that
rat racing was prohibited from advertising. He then asked the
Department of Revenue representative about the definition of
raffle and lottery.
2:59:07 PM
DAN STICKLE, Economist, Department of Revenue, explained that
raffle and lottery were defined the same way in AS 05.15.690,
Section 38, as "the selling of rights to participate in the
awarding of prizes in a game of chance conducted by the drawing
for prizes by lot."
3:00:20 PM
CHAIR BUNDE asked if the impetus behind the bill was equal
access to advertising dollars by broadcast media.
REPRESENTATIVE GARY STEVENS replied yes.
3:01:30 PM
DENNIS BOOKEY, General Manager, Morris Communications,
Anchorage, said he manages six radio stations. He also has a
personal interest in an AM/FM small operation in Kodiak. He was
the past president of the Alaska Broadcasters' Association when
the original statute was enacted. He said that broadcasters
aren't asking to expand gaming, but just don't want one form of
media to be excluded over another. Most of this is public
service oriented; the money isn't very significant.
3:03:03 PM
CHAIR BUNDE asked why the original prohibition was created.
MR. BOOKEY replied that the FCC had regulations against this,
but the federal government realized that the restriction on
broadcasters for a charitable nonprofit organization did not fit
with the times and changed the law. It gave states time to come
up with their own law. At first broadcasters wanted to take
advantage of the change by doing some games of chance on the air
since they were already nonprofits. The Attorney General
suggested that while there was nothing in the law precluding
them from doing it, it might be a good idea to get a law saying
they could. The current statute brought that point up, but an
amendment was added that precluded it and broadcasters were not
able to stop it. He said, "So, it kind of got convoluted in the
process."
3:04:45 PM
CHAIR BUNDE asked if this legislation had a companion bill.
SENATOR GARY STEVENS replied yes.
CHAIR BUNDE said he didn't understand the prohibition for the
animal classics. He asked Senator Gary Stevens to explore that
for the next meeting.
SENATOR ELLIS asked if there is any limitation on these being
501(c)(3)s or some other category in state or could outside
charitable interests run their games here and advertise if this
were to be allowed.
SENATOR GARY STEVENS responded that he would find that out as
well for the next meeting.
3:05:39 PM
CHAIR BUNDE said he would hold SB 282 for a future meeting.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|