04/28/2005 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

     CSHB  61(L&C)-GAMING: CALCUTTA POOLS &  CRANE CLASSICS                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR RALPH SEEKINS announced HB 61 to be up for consideration.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR BEN STEVENS  moved to adopt SCS CSHB  61(L&C), version L,                                                               
4/22/05.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELLIS objected for an explanation.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SHALON   SZYMANSKI,  staff   to  Representative   Lesil  McGuire,                                                               
explained  how  the CS  addresses  concerns  raised in  the  last                                                               
meeting.  Previously,  the  bill  said at  least  30  percent  of                                                               
proceeds  must go  to charities  in Calcutta  pools and  that has                                                               
been changed to no less than 50 percent.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:42:22 PM                                                                                                                    
The second  change is in  section 7,  which limits the  number of                                                               
Calcutta permits  per event  to only one  permit. It  also states                                                               
that the organization hosting the  event is the only organization                                                               
that could be granted a  permit. The Iditarod Committee could ask                                                               
the Boys  and Girls Club  in Nome  to sponsor the  event, because                                                               
those are non-profit organizations.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:43:26 PM                                                                                                                    
Section 10  states that Calcutta  pools cannot be held  for horse                                                               
racing. The last  change was a technical change to  make it clear                                                               
that operators cannot be hired to conduct a Calcutta pool.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:44:14 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR ELLIS removed his objection and version L was adopted.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:44:30 PM                                                                                                                    
LARRY  MEYERS,  Deputy  Director,  Tax  Division,  Department  of                                                               
Revenue (DOR),  was present to  answer questions, but  there were                                                               
none.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:45:07 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BEN  STEVENS moved to  pass SCS CSHB 61(L&C),  version L,                                                               
from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  attached                                                               
fiscal note. There were no objections and it was so ordered.