2013 -- H 5032

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LC00059

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO SPORTS, RACING AND ATHLETICS - MUTUEL BETTING AND LICENSE

FEES

     Introduced By: Representatives Fellela, Ucci, Azzinaro, Messier, and Serpa

     Date Introduced: January 09, 2013

     Referred To: House Finance

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 41-4-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 41-4 entitled "Mutuel

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Betting and License Fees" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     41-4-2. Betting only at track -- Minors prohibited Betting only at track – Minors

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under age twenty-one (21) prohibited. -- The pari-mutuel system, so-called, or other form of

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betting system authorized by this chapter, shall not be used or permitted at any location other than

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the race track at which the horse racing event is licensed to be conducted. No licensee shall

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knowingly permit any minor person under age twenty-age (21) to be a patron of the pari-mutuel

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system or other betting system authorized by this chapter.

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     SECTION 2. Section 41-11-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 41-11 entitled "Simulcast

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Programs from Licensed Betting Facilities" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     41-11-4. Admission of minors prohibited Admission of minors under age twenty-one

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(21) prohibited. -- No person who is under the age of eighteen (18) twenty-one (21) years shall

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be admitted into a building where pari-mutuel betting or simulcast is taking place, unless the

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person is an employee of a licensed concessionaire or licensed vendor and performing his or her

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duties of employment.

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     SECTION 3. Chapter 41-9.1 of the General Laws entitled "The Rhode Island Gaming

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Control and Revenue Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     41-9.1-28.1. Minors under age twenty-one (21) prohibited. – (a) No casino or slot

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parlor licensee shall knowingly permit any person under age twenty-one (21) to be a patron of the

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casino or slot parlor.

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     (b) If any individual is convicted of underage gambling, it shall be deemed to be a

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disorderly persons offense and shall be fined a minimum of one hundred dollars ($100) and not

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more than five hundred dollars ($500). In addition, the individual's driver's license shall be

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suspended for six (6) months.

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     (c) If the individual is under the age of seventeen (17) and has not yet obtained a driver's

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license, the issuance of that person's driver's license shall be postponed for six (6) months.

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     (d) If a parent or a person who has custody or control of a person under the age of

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twenty-one (21) allows an underage individual to gamble, that person shall be charged with a

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disorderly person's offense and the penalties shall be the same as paragraph (a) of this section.

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     SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC00059

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO SPORTS, RACING AND ATHLETICS - MUTUEL BETTING AND LICENSE

FEES

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     This act would increase the legal age for gambling from eighteen (18) to twenty-one (21)

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years of age at any facility where there is a pari-mutuel system, casinos or slot parlors. This act

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also provides penalties which would include fines and loss of a driver's license for underage

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gambling.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC00059

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