HCS HB 1141 -- GAMING COMMISSION FUND

SPONSOR:  Jackson

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Veterans
by a vote of 8 to 3.

Currently, appropriations to the Gaming Commission Fund are used
for its operating expenses and the balance is distributed as
follows:

(1)  Up to one cent of the revenue from license fees, penalties,
administrative fees, or reimbursements by operators may be
appropriated to the Compulsive Gamblers Fund;

(2)  $500,000 must be appropriated on a per capita basis to
cities and counties that match the state portion and have
demonstrated a need for funding community neighborhood
organization programs for the homeless and to deter gang-related
violence and crimes;

(3)  $4.5 million to the Missouri College Guarantee Fund;

(4)  $3 million to the Veterans' Commission Capital Improvement
Trust Fund;

(5)  $3 million to the Missouri National Guard Trust Fund; and

(6)  The remaining net proceeds must be transferred to the Early
Childhood Development Education and Care Fund  unless more than
$28 million remains in the fund after the above appropriations in
which case a second set of transfers is authorized as follows:
an additional $500,00 will be transferred to the Missouri College
Guarantee Fund, an additional $3 million to the Veterans'
Commission Capital Improvement Trust Fund, and an additional $1
million to the Missouri National Guard Trust Fund.  If any moneys
remain after these transfers are made, they are deposited into
the Early Childhood Development, Education and Care Fund.

This substitute requires that all revenue in the Gaming
Commission Fund be distributed by the Office of Administration
rather than the Gaming Commission.

The Gaming Commission will continue to receive an appropriation
for operation and administrative costs; however, the Office of
Administration is only authorized to distribute 80% of the
commission's total appropriation before other distributions are
made.  The commission will receive the remaining balance of its
appropriation after the moneys have been distributed as currently
required.

After the second set of transfers are made, any remaining moneys
are divided equally between the College Guarantee Fund, the
Veterans' Commission Capital Improvement Trust Fund, the National
Guard Trust Fund, and the Early Childhood Development, Education
and Care Fund.  Currently, these remaining funds are transferred
only to the Early Childhood Development, Education and Care Fund.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, and
FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will distribute the
money in the Gaming Commission Fund in an equitable manner
between the Veterans' Capital Improvement Trust Fund, National
Guard Trust Fund, College Guarantee Fund, and Early Childhood
Development, Education, and Care Fund.  This distribution will
give more money to Missouri's seven veterans hospitals, allowing
more veterans to receive care.  This is important because there
is a waiting list for admittance to a veterans hospital despite
the fact that there are beds available.  The problem is that
there isn't enough money to hire the staff required to care for
more patients.  The bill will alleviate this problem.  There are
about four family members related to every veteran in this state.
When you help a veteran, you help the entire family.  Providing a
veteran with extra services and money will improve the whole
family's quality of life.  By increasing funding for veterans,
children and the elderly will be positively affected, too.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Jackson; Jason
Blakemore, Veteran of Foreign Wars Service Officer; American
Legion, Department of Missouri; Disabled American Veterans;
Missouri Association of Veterans Organizations; American Legion,
Department of Missouri; Pat Kerr, Support Our Troops; Military
Officers Association of America, State Council; Veterans of
Foreign Wars of the United States, Missouri Department; Vietnam
Veterans of America, Missouri State Council; and Marine Corps
League, Department of Missouri.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that of the four funds
affected only the Early Childhood Development, Education, and
Care Fund will lose money.  Children are being asked to forgo
services so that veterans can have more.  This money provides
direct services to families across the state, including military
families.  Reducing funding will have a negative affect on
families.  This money funds high-quality, early learning for
children who might not otherwise have this opportunity.  Early
childhood education is critical, and children who participate in
these programs are more successful.  Early childhood education is
one of the most effective programs the state can invest in
because it increases the likelihood that a child will have higher
achievement scores and graduate.  Also, children who participate
in early education programs are less likely to need public
assistance later, since they are more likely to have greater
earnings.

Testifying against the bill were Missouri National Education
Association; Citizens for Missouri's Children; Missouri Child
Care Resource and Referral Network; Policy Works, LLC; Missouri
School Boards' Association; and Missouri State Teachers
Association.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say the purpose of the $1
admission fee is to fund the regulatory effort related to
Missouri's casino industry.  The Gaming Commission is funded
entirely by this fee.  No tax money is used to fund the
commission.  Reducing the amount of money the commission receives
will significantly impact its ability to monitor and maintain the
integrity of the casino industry.  Background checks that are
performed on every casino employee will be slower, reduced, or
not done at all.  Currently, there are State Highway Patrolmen on
duty at each casino as long as it is open.  A reduction in
commission funding will not allow the casinos to maintain this
level of staffing.

Others testifying on the bill were Missouri Veterans Commission;
Missouri Gaming Commission; and Missouri Association for
Community Action, Incorporated.

Alice Hurley, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:42 am