ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 66

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

211th LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2004 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman JOSEPH AZZOLINA

District 13 (Middlesex and Monmouth)

SYNOPSIS

    Establishes Internet Gaming Study Commission.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

    Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

A Joint Resolution establishing Internet Gaming Study Commission.

    Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. There is established a commission to be known as the Internet Gaming Study Commission to consist of 21 members as follows:

    a. Two members of the General Assembly, who shall not be of the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, to serve during the two-year legislative session in which the appointments are made;

    b. Two members of the Senate, who shall not be of the same political party, to be appointed by the Senate President, to serve during the two-year legislative session in which the appointments are made;

    c. The Attorney General, ex officio, or a designated representative;

    d. The Director of the Division of Gaming Enforcement in the Department of Law and Public Safety, ex officio, or a designated representative;

    e. The Chairman of the Casino Control Commission, ex officio, or a designated representative;

    f. The Chairman of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, ex officio, or a designated representative;

    g. The Chairman of the New Jersey Lottery Commission, ex officio, or a designated representative;

    h. The Chairman of the Legalized Games of Chance Commission, ex officio, or a designated representative;

    i. The Chairman of the New Jersey Racing Commission, ex officio, or a designated representative; and

    j. Ten members to be appointed by the Governor: one of whom shall be a representative of the Casino Association of New Jersey, one of whom shall be a representative of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, Inc., one of whom shall be an attorney with expertise in federal and State gaming law and regulation, one of whom shall be an expert in electronic commerce, one of whom shall be a holder of a license to operate a casino in this State, and five members of the general public who have knowledge or interest in gaming in this State. No more than half of the members appointed by the Governor shall be of the same political party.

    The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the commission for this purpose.

    Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.

    2. a. The commission shall organize within 30 days after the appointment of a majority of its members and shall select a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among the members. The chairperson shall appoint a secretary, who need not be a member of the commission.

    b. The commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson and hold hearings at such places as the chairperson shall designate, during the sessions and recesses of the Legislature. The commission shall hold a public hearing as prescribed in section 4 of this joint resolution.

    c. The commission shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission or agency, as it may require and as may be available for its purposes, and to employ stenographic and clerical assistance and incur traveling and other miscellaneous expenses as may be necessary in order to perform its duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for its purposes.

    3. The commission shall conduct a thorough and comprehensive study of the current status, prevalence and growth of Internet gaming; investigate the amount of money wagered through Internet gaming by State residents and by citizens and residents of this nation; review the extent and opportunities for gaming in the mid-Atlantic region; analyze the impact of Internet gaming on the economic growth and financial stability of the horse racing industry, the casinos and the lottery in this State; review the means available and actions taken here in this State and nationwide to control or end illegal Internet gaming through law enforcement; investigate the impact on this State of the legalization of Internet gaming in other States or nations; and determine the appropriateness, manner and impact of permitting Internet gaming in this State by law. The commission's review of Internet gaming shall include a review of all forms of electronic gaming including technology that allows wagers to be placed through interactive television.

    The commission shall make findings of fact, reach conclusions on the future and impact of Internet gaming, and make recommendations concerning the legalization of Internet gaming in this State. Recommendations for legislation, if deemed appropriate, shall be made to address the financial, societal and competitive impact of Internet gaming in this State.

    4. Within six months after the commission organizes, the commission shall prepare and make public an interim report outlining its findings. Following the issuance of the interim report, the commission shall provide at least 10 days notice to the public of the time and place of a public hearing to be held to receive public comment on the interim report. The commission shall prepare and submit a final report, no later than one year after the commission organizes, to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly.

    5. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately and shall expire 30 days after the commission submits its final report as prescribed in section 4 of this joint resolution.

STATEMENT

    This joint resolution establishes a 21 member Internet Gaming Study Commission composed of Legislators, Executive Branch officials and members of the public with expertise or interest in gaming in this State. The commission will conduct a thorough and comprehensive study of the current status, prevalence and growth of Internet gaming; investigate the amount of money wagered through Internet gaming by State residents and by citizens and residents of this nation; review the extent and opportunities for gaming in the mid-Atlantic region; analyze the impact of Internet gaming on the economic growth and financial stability of the horse racing industry, the casinos and the lottery in this State; review the means available and actions taken here in this State and nationwide to control or end illegal Internet gaming through law enforcement; investigate the impact on this State of the legalization of Internet gaming in other States or nations; and determine the appropriateness, manner and impact of permitting Internet gaming in this State by law.

    The commission is to make findings of fact, reach conclusions on the future and impact of Internet gaming, and make recommendations concerning the legalization of Internet gaming in this State. Recommendations for legislation, if deemed appropriate, are to be made to address the financial, societal and competitive impact of Internet gaming in this State.

    The commission is to make an interim report of its findings within six months of organizing and submit a final report within one year with its recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly.