Legislative Update #6
Florida Greyhound Association
(Date Monday, April 16, 2007)
From: FGA President Phil Ruotolo
Florida Senate report by Alisa Snow and Lena Juarez:
Video Lottery Terminals: Legislation that would allow VLTs in pari-mutuel facilities cleared the Senate Regulated Industries Committee in a 7-1 vote earlier this week. The bill (SB 2434) was sponsored by Sen. Steve Geller, D-Hallandale Beach.
For such an important bill, there was very little discussion from committee members as racetrack owners and their lobbyists looked on. Those voting in favor of it were Senators King, Hill, Rich, Aronberg, Jones, and Geller. Senators Haridopolos and Argenziano were absent from the vote.
Only Sen. Steven Wise voted against the bill, noting that it was not clear how the money would be spent for education. Sen. Wise is the chairman of the Senate K-12 Appropriations Committee.
According to Sen. Geller, the VLT bill was written to look like the existing law that allows slot machines. It even contains the same provision that requires the racetracks to enter into binding arbitration if they cannot reach purse agreements with thoroughbred owners and breeders.
Sen. Geller declined our request to add language that would give those same rights to greyhound kennel operators. He also declined similar requests from lobbyists representing jai alai and standard-bred horses.
Apparently Sen. Geller did not want to jeopardize the VLT bill by adding “controversial” language to it. You may recall that the committee chairman, Sen. Dennis Jones, gave the same explanation when he declined to include our “equity” language in his slot machine regulation bill two weeks ago.
THANKS to those of you who wrote members of this committee and expressed support for the equity language. This is very important to our efforts at the Capitol. We will continue to push this equity language during the bill’s next stop at the Senate Finance and Tax Committee.
Cardrooms – The same committee also approved a cardroom bill by Sen. Geller (SB 752). It limits cardrooms operations to pari-mutuel facilities – which must have a full live racing schedule – but allows them to operate from “10 a.m. and 2 a.m. only on days when the facility is authorized to accept wagers on pari-mutuel events.” It eliminates the requirement that cardrooms operate only on days with live racing.
The Florida House of Representatives by Jack Cory:
The House Council on Jobs and Entrepreneurship Chaired by Representative Ron Reagan R-Sarasota met on Thursday at 8:00 AM. Former FGA Board Member Ronnie Beckner and Columbia County Greyhound Breeder Kevin Doyle accompanied by one of his greyhounds “Mary” came to Tallahassee to help us lobby the Council this week. They did a great job visiting with members of the Council before the meeting. Kevin Doyle and “Mary” then stood at the House Chamber Door visiting with Members of the House during the morning Legislative Session. Kevin Doyle, a Teacher by profession, is also President of the Columbia County Teachers Association.
HB 1377 Card Rooms by Representative Tee Holloway D-Miami was approved by the Council. The bill would permit the tracks to run Card Rooms when not running live but would prohibit the tracks from reducing their current schedule of live racing any more than current law allows. It would also authorize the tracks to run tournaments and other kinds of games.
A workshop was on the Council agenda to consider HB 1447-VLT’s also by Representative Charlie Dean authorizing VLT’s in all pari-mutuel Facilities. Unfortunately the Council ran out of time and did not get to the bill. We expect this bill to be on the next Council agenda. Currently the Council is scheduled to meet next Friday April 20 at 9:00 a.m. That will be the 46th Day of the Legislative Session. After the 45th day of the Legislative Session the House goes to 2 Hours Notice of Committee Agendas.
Representative Dean has been a strong supporter of including purses in any VLT Bill. He has voted for purses by supporting equal treatment for all pari-mutuels.
Representative Dean will be a candidate for the State Senate in an expected Special Elections this summer in Senate District 3 covering all of the Greyhound Farms in North Central Florida. Senate District 3 covers all or parts of Baker, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Madison, Marion, Suwannee and Taylor Counties. Please be ready to help his Campaign this summer.
Some of the Tracks have begun very preliminary discussions on VLT’s with us this week.
A special thanks to Ronnie Beckner, Kevin Doyle and “Mary” for coming to Tallahassee to lobby the Council this week. They were a big help!
