Date: 02/22/2012
Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB12-1280
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & NATURAL RESOURCES
| Votes: View--> | Action Taken: |
| <none> | <none> |
10:26 AM -- House Bill 12-1280
Representative Coram, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 12-1280, which authorizes the Colorado Lottery Commission to license no more than two lottery retailers to install and operate video lottery terminals at up to three sites within the state. The bill defines a video lottery terminal (VLT) to mean an electronic computerized game machine that: is networked and can be monitored, controlled, and audited by a central technology system; upon insertion of cash value, is available to play a video game of chance authorized by the Lottery Division; and uses microprocessors to award to a player, on the basis of chance, free games or credits evidenced by a printed pay voucher redeemable for currency. The bill states that a video lottery terminal is not a machine or device that directly disburses coins, cash, tokens, or any item of value other than a printed pay voucher; or a machine or device defined as a slot machine in the state constitution. Representative Coram answered questions from the committee and distributed amendments (Attachments C, D, and E).
The following individuals testified:
10:42 AM -- Larry Hill, Triple Crown Casinos, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the similarities of VLTs to slot machines and the impact the bill will have on gaming towns. He distributed Attachment F. Mr. Hill answered questions from the committee.
10:50 AM -- Ed and Shirley Smith, Wild Card Casino, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the impact VLTs will have on their casinos. They distributed Attachment G.
10:55 AM -- Mark Grueskin, Colorado Gaming Association and Cory Hoffmann, City of Black Hawk, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the constitutional limitations of gaming to cities of Black Hawk and Central City.
11:04 AM -- Bill Mosher, Trammell Crow, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the bill's impact to the state's gaming revenues.
11:07 AM -- Sally Hopper, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the impacts of the bill to the State Historical Fund and historic preservation.
11:12 AM -- Grayson Robinson, Arapahoe County Sheriff, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the potential impact of a VLT site in Arapahoe County.
11:16 AM -- Nancy Sharpe, Arapahoe County Commissioners, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the impacts of the bill to Arapahoe County's infrastructure and law enforcement.
11:21 AM -- Mark Williams, Mayor City of Arvada, spoke in opposition to the bill.
11:23 AM -- Nick Hoover, Colorado Restaurant Association, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the impacts of the bill to restaurants.
11:24 AM -- Cathy Garcia, Action 22, spoke in opposition to the bill and distributed Attachment H.
11:29 AM -- Jean Dubofsky, Mile High Racing, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the bill's constitutionality. (Attachment I.)
11:33 AM -- John Anderson, Mile High Racing, spoke in support of the bill, and discussed the constitutionality of the bill and explained Colorado Supreme Court opinions on the issue. He distributed Attachment J.
11:36 AM -- Diane Schwenke, Chamber of Commerce, spoke in support of the bill and the potential benefits of the bill on businesses and community colleges.
11:42 AM -- Dr. Lance Bolten, Colorado Community Colleges, spoke in support of the bill and explained how community colleges would benefit from the bill.
11:45 AM -- Shannon Rushton, Colorado Horse Racing Association, spoke in support of the bill and discussed how the bill will help the horse racing industry.
11:52 AM -- Ray Teutsch, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill and discussed horse racing in Colorado.
11:56 AM -- Mark Suprka, Colorado Community College, answered questions from the committee about the bill's impacts to community colleges.
11:58 AM -- Brent Beeman, Running B Stables, spoke in support of the bill, and discussed his profession as a horse trainer and how the bill will help his business.
12:03 PM -- Mark Hillman, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill and discussed racing tracks and horse racing in the state.
12:11 PM
The bill was laid over and the committee adjourned.