05/01/1997 04:04 PM Senate STA

                                                                               
         CSHB 50(FIN) BROADCASTING OF RAFFLES AND CLASSICS                     
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN GREEN brought CSHB 50(FIN) before the committee as the               
 final order of business.                                                      
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE MARK HODGINS, prime sponsor of HB 50, explained the            
 legislation allows the removal of a prohibition on legislatively              
 designated sweepstakes to be broadcast on radio or T.V.  Currently,           
 the only designated sweepstakes that can be broadcast are fishing             
 derbies.  This will bring 19 sweepstakes such as the Nenana Ice               
 Classic, the Kenai Snow Goose Classic, etc., into the same status             
 as a fishing derby.  He said basically these are community activist           
 groups that are trying to raise money to provide scholarships and             
 other benefits within their communities.                                      
                                                                               
 Number 326                                                                    
                                                                               
 LAURA MEASLES, Executive Director, Kenai Chamber of Commerce,                 
 testifying from Kenai in CSHB 50(FIN), said the Kenai Chamber Snow            
 Goose Classic began in 1993, and Tesoro Alaska has been the major             
 sponsor in providing financial assistance each year to put this               
 event on.  A determination was made in 1993 by an attorney working            
 for Tesoro that it would not be a violation of any gaming laws if             
 they advertised over the radio the location of ticket outlets in              
 their community, which they proceeded to do, and over the next                
 couple of years the classic grew.  In November 1996, the chamber              
 was notified by the Division of Gaming that the advertising over              
 the radio was illegal and in violation of the gaming law.  Ms.                
 Measles then contacted Representative Hodgins to see what could be            
 done legislatively so that they could at least promote their                  
 activity on the airways.  She noted that without the radio                    
 promotion this year, the classic experienced no growth, and it is             
 affecting their ability, as well as others, to fund their goals of            
 scholarships and various community events.                                    
                                                                               
 There being no further testimony on CSHB 50(FIN), CHAIRMAN GREEN              
 asked for the pleasure of the committee.                                      
                                                                               
 SENATOR WARD moved CSHB 50(FIN) and the accompanying zero fiscal              
 note be passed out of committee with individual recommendations.              
 Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.