Bill Text: FL S0268 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Amusement Games or Machines

Spectrum:

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-04-22 - Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 641 (Ch. 2015-93) [S0268 Detail]

Download: Florida-2015-S0268-Introduced.html
       Florida Senate - 2015                                     SB 268
       
       
        
       By Senator Stargel
       
       
       
       
       
       15-00271-15                                            2015268__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to amusement games or machines;
    3         amending s. 546.002, F.S.; defining terms; creating s.
    4         546.10, F.S.; authorizing an amusement game or machine
    5         to be operated in conformity with specified
    6         requirements; authorizing free replays if an amusement
    7         game or machine conforms with specified requirements;
    8         allowing an individual who plays an amusement game or
    9         machine to receive a point or a coupon redeemable
   10         onsite for merchandise under specified circumstances;
   11         authorizing an amusement game or machine to allow an
   12         individual to directly receive merchandise under
   13         certain circumstances; specifying a cap on the
   14         redemption value of a point or a coupon; requiring the
   15         Department of Revenue to annually adjust the cap;
   16         providing a formula for the adjustment of the cap;
   17         requiring the department to publish the amount of the
   18         adjusted cap; authorizing certain persons or entities
   19         to enjoin the operation of an amusement game or
   20         machine; providing an effective date.
   21          
   22  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   23  
   24         Section 1. Section 546.002, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   25  read:
   26         546.002 Definitions.—As used in this chapter ss. 546.001
   27  546.008, the term:
   28         (1) “Amusement attraction” means a any building or
   29  structure around, over, or through which persons may move or
   30  walk, without the aid of any moving device integral to the
   31  building or structure, which building or structure provides
   32  amusement, pleasure, thrills, or excitement. This term does not
   33  include enterprises principally devoted to the exhibition of
   34  products of agriculture, industry, education, science, religion,
   35  or the arts.
   36         (2)“Amusement game or machine” means a game or machine
   37  that is operated only for the entertainment of the general
   38  public, that is activated by the insertion of currency, coin,
   39  card, coupon, point, slug, token, or similar device, and that is
   40  played through an individual’s application of skill. The term
   41  does not include:
   42         (a)A casino-style game in which the outcome of the game is
   43  determined by factors unpredictable to the player.
   44         (b)A video poker game or any other game, machine, or
   45  device that may be construed as a gambling device under the laws
   46  of this state.
   47         (c) A machine or device defined as a gambling device in 15
   48  U.S.C. s. 1171, unless excluded under 15 U.S.C. s. 1178.
   49         (3)(2) “Amusement ride” means a any mechanical device that
   50  which carries or conveys passengers around, over, or along a
   51  fixed or restricted route or course or within a defined area for
   52  the purpose of giving its passengers amusement, pleasure,
   53  thrills, or excitement.
   54         (4)“Arcade amusement center” means a place of business
   55  which has at least 50 amusement games or machines onsite and is
   56  operated for the entertainment of the general public.
   57         (5)“Merchandise” means a noncash prize, including a toy or
   58  a novelty item. The term does not include:
   59         (a)A cash equivalent, such as a gift card or certificate.
   60         (b)An alcoholic beverage.
   61         (c)A coin, card, slug, token, or similar device that can
   62  be used to activate an amusement game or machine.
   63         (d)A coupon or point that has a redemption value greater
   64  than the cap calculated pursuant to s. 546.10(5).
   65         (6) “Redemption value” means the imputed value of a coupon
   66  or a point which is based on the wholesale cost of the onsite
   67  merchandise for which the individual may redeem the coupon or
   68  point.
   69         (7) “Truck stop” means a dealer registered pursuant to s.
   70  212.18, excluding a marina, which:
   71         (a) Declares the sale of diesel fuel to be its primary fuel
   72  business; and
   73         (b) Operates at least six functional diesel fuel pumps.
   74         Section 2. Section 546.10, Florida Statutes, is created to
   75  read:
   76         546.10Amusement game or machine.—
   77         (1) Notwithstanding chapter 849 or any other provision of
   78  law, an amusement game or machine may be operated in conformity
   79  with this section.
   80         (2) An amusement game or machine may allow an individual,
   81  through the application of skill, to replay a game without the
   82  insertion of additional currency or an additional coin, card,
   83  coupon, point, slug, token, or similar device if the amusement
   84  game or machine meets all of the following requirements:
   85         (a) It can accumulate and react to no more than 15 free
   86  replays.
   87         (b) It can be discharged of accumulated free replays only
   88  by reactivating the amusement game or machine for one additional
   89  play for the accumulated free replay.
   90         (c) It cannot make, directly or indirectly, a permanent
   91  record of a free replay.
   92         (3) An amusement game or machine may allow an individual,
   93  through the application of skill, to receive a coupon or point
   94  that may be redeemed onsite for merchandise if all of the
   95  following requirements are met:
   96         (a) The amusement game or machine is located at an arcade
   97  amusement center or truck stop, at a bowling center as defined
   98  in s. 849.141, at a public lodging or public food service
   99  establishment licensed pursuant to chapter 509, or on the
  100  premises of a retailer as defined in s. 212.02.
  101         (b) A coupon or a point has no value other than the
  102  redemption value for onsite merchandise.
  103         (c) The redemption value of a coupon or a point does not
  104  exceed the cap calculated pursuant to subsection (5).
  105         (4)An amusement game or machine may allow an individual,
  106  through the application of skill, to receive merchandise
  107  directly if all of the following requirements are met:
  108         (a)The amusement game or machine is at any location listed
  109  in paragraph (3)(a).
  110         (b)The wholesale cost of the merchandise does not exceed
  111  10 times the cap calculated pursuant to subsection (5).
  112         (5)The cap on the redemption value of a coupon or a point
  113  is $5.25. Beginning July 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, the
  114  Department of Revenue shall adjust the cap on the redemption
  115  value of a coupon or a point by multiplying the prior year’s cap
  116  by the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All
  117  Urban Consumers, U.S. City Average, All Items, or a successor
  118  index as reported by the United States Department of Labor, for
  119  the most recent 12-month period ending on March 31; adding the
  120  resulting number to the prior cap; and rounding the product to
  121  the nearest cent. The Department of Revenue shall publish the
  122  cap, as adjusted, in a brochure accessible on its website
  123  relating to sales and use tax on amusement games or machines.
  124         (6) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an action
  125  to enjoin the operation of any amusement game or machine at any
  126  location listed in paragraph (3)(a) may be brought only by the
  127  Attorney General, the state attorney of the circuit in which the
  128  amusement game or machine is located, any federally recognized
  129  tribal government that possesses sovereign powers and rights of
  130  self-government and that is a party to a compact with the state,
  131  or, in the case of a duty to enforce an alleged violation of a
  132  statute, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or
  133  the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
  134         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.

feedback