HOUSE BILL NO. 366                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     An Act relating to rat racing charitable gaming; and                                                                       
     providing for an effective date.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Stoltze MOVED to  ADOPT Work Draft  Version H                                                                   
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BEN  MULLIGAN,  STAFF TO  REPRESENTATIVE  STOLTZE,  explained                                                                   
that the  intent of  the Committee  Substitute is to  include                                                                   
only charitable gaming in existence  before Nov. 1, 2002, and                                                                   
it would not allow new forms of  gaming.  It is for nonprofit                                                                   
groups that supply money toward charities.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Fate referred  to  the definition  of  animal                                                                   
classics, and  asked if there  are other games using  rats or                                                                   
gerbils.  Mr. Mulligan  said that  he  was not  aware of  any                                                                   
other  games.   Both  Palmer and  the  Tanana  Fair have  rat                                                                   
racing.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative Fate  asked if this  bill would provide  for a                                                                   
new  animal classic  game.   Representative  Stoltze  replied                                                                   
that  the intent  of  the bill  is  a narrow  focus  allowing                                                                   
continuation of  events having  an historic precedent  and to                                                                   
limit gaming and gambling to charitable operations.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Fate  asked  if  a true  rat  race  would  be                                                                   
illegal under this bill. Representative  Stoltze replied that                                                                   
it  would have  to  be handled  on  a case-by-case  basis  as                                                                   
legislative policymakers.  He expressed that  the Legislature                                                                   
has a duty to  ensure that big loopholes are  not created and                                                                   
that the gaming  activities are controlled by  the Department                                                                   
of Revenue. By  keeping the focus narrow, that  goal would be                                                                   
accomplished.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Fate expressed  concern that  there could  be                                                                   
other gaming events  but agreed that the bill  seems narrowly                                                                   
worded.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative Joule commented  on having a gaming commission                                                                   
versus legislative control.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative Croft  understood why it was  narrowly drafted                                                                   
but asked if a separate statutory  change would be needed for                                                                   
each game other than manure-related games.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stoltze  thought it was a good  point, but the                                                                   
Department of Revenue  (DOR) wouldn't be able  to control the                                                                   
activities if the bill was too broadly crafted.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Croft moved  to enter  a photograph  into the                                                                   
record.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stoltze  MOVED to ADOPT Amendment  #1. Several                                                                   
OBJECTIONS were voiced simultaneously.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Amendment #1 reads:                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 19                                                                                                            
     Delete "a"                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 19 following "chicken" insert manure                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative Joule and Representative  Croft both asked how                                                                   
(b) would read.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Stoltze explained  on  page 2,  line 19,  (b)                                                                   
would read: "concerning an activity  involving chicken manure                                                                   
and a numbered or lettered grid."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Chenault removed  his objection.  Amendment #1                                                                   
was adopted.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stoltze  MOVED to report CSHB  366(FIN) out of                                                                   
Committee  with individual  recommendations the  accompanying                                                                   
fiscal note.   There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CSHB 366(FIN)  was REPORTED out of Committee  with individual                                                                   
recommendations  and  with one  previously  published  fiscal                                                                   
impact note.