Bill Text: HI HB1107 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Relating To Gaming.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-12-01 - Carried over to 2020 Regular Session. [HB1107 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-HB1107-Amended.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1107
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO GAMING.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Americans illegally wagered approximately $150 billion on sporting events in 2017.  With access to the internet now ubiquitous, residents even in remote states such as Hawaii have been able to win money and items of value on sporting events and other outcomes in spite of legal prohibitions.  Tens of thousands of Hawaii residents are estimated to participate in illegal internet gaming on unregulated online platforms, raising questions about whether these games are fair for Hawaii residents.

     In 2018, the United States Supreme Court struck down a federal law that prohibited online sports gaming, enabling each state to choose whether or not to regulate such practices.  The proliferation of easy online access and changing technology has enabled the rapid growth of numerous forms and outlets for online gaming, which, together with this Supreme Court decision, reinforce the need for the State to carefully evaluate the negative outcomes of online gaming, including criminal, financial, and psychological impacts on local families and communities.  In addition to an evaluation of the negative outcomes, the potential benefits of online gaming must also be considered, including support for the local economy, revenue, and entertainment.  A task force evaluation of positive and negative outcomes associated with online gaming will help the State determine the best path forward in regard to modern gaming, and whether the State's gaming laws are outdated and need to be updated to properly address online gaming in the digital age.

     The purpose of this Act is to create an online gaming task force to examine and recommend policy issues on the benefits and harms of online gaming.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established an online gaming task force to examine and make recommendations on policy issues regarding the benefits and harms of online gaming.

     (b)  The task force shall consist of the following members, or their designee:

     (1)  The chairs of the house standing committee on judiciary and the senate standing committee on judiciary, who shall serve as co-chairs of the working group;

     (2)  The attorney general;

     (3)  The director of health;

     (4)  The superintendent of education; and

     (5)  The president and chief executive officer of the Hawaii tourism authority.

     (c)  The chairs of the task force may invite other interested parties to join the task force.

     (d)  The legislative reference bureau shall assist the task force with its reports to the legislature and prepare any proposed legislation.

     (e)  The task force shall submit a report on the status of it progress, including its findings and recommendations, and any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session in 2020, 2021, and 2022.

     (f)  The working group shall be dissolved on June 30, 2022.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2019.

 

 

Report Title:

Sports Wagering; Task Force

 

Description:

Establishes a task force to examine and make recommendations on policy issues regarding the benefits and harms of online gaming.  (HB1107 HD1)

 

 

 

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