To repeal sections 313.805, 313.812 and 313.817, RSMo 1994, relating to operation of excursion gambling boats, and to enact in lieu thereof three new sections relating to the same subject.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI,

AS FOLLOWS:

Section A. Sections 313.805, 313.812 and 313.817, RSMo 1994, are repealed and three new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 313.805, 313.812 and 313.817, to read as follows:

313.805. The commission shall have full jurisdiction over and shall supervise all gambling operations governed by sections 313.800 to 313.850. The commission shall have the following powers and shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement sections 313.800 to 313.850:

(1) To investigate applicants and determine the priority and eligibility of applicants for a license and to select among competing applicants for a license the applicant which best serves the interests of the citizens of Missouri;

(2) To license the operators of excursion gambling boats and operators of gambling games within such boats, to identify occupations within the excursion gambling boat operations which require licensing, and adopt standards for licensing the occupations including establishing fees for the occupational licenses and to license suppliers;

(3) To adopt standards under which all excursion gambling boat operations shall be held and standards for the facilities within which the gambling operations are to be held, except that the commission shall allow passengers to board the excursion gambling boats at anytime while such boats are docked and shall not require any excursion gambling boat to cruise between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 311, RSMo, to the contrary, the commission may authorize the operation of gambling games on an excursion gambling boat which is also licensed to sell or serve alcoholic beverages, wine, or beer[. The commission shall regulate the wagering structure for gambling excursions including providing a maximum loss of five hundred dollars per individual player per gambling excursion];

(4) To enter the premises of excursion gambling boats, facilities, or other places of business of a licensee within this state to determine compliance with sections 313.800 to 313.850;

(5) To investigate alleged violations of sections 313.800 to 313.850 or the commission rules, orders, or final decisions;

(6) To assess any appropriate administrative penalty against a licensee, including, but not limited to, suspension, revocation, and penalties of an amount as determined by the commission up to three times the highest daily amount of gross receipts derived from wagering on the gambling games, whether unauthorized or authorized, conducted during the previous twelve months as well as confiscation and forfeiture of all gambling game equipment used in the conduct of unauthorized gambling games. Forfeitures under this section shall be enforced as provided under sections 513.600 to 513.645, RSMo;

(7) To require a licensee, an employee of a licensee or holder of an occupational license to remove a person violating a provision of sections 313.800 to 313.850 or the commission rules, orders, or final orders, or other person deemed to be undesirable from the excursion gambling boat or adjacent facilities;

(8) To require the removal from the premises of a licensee, an employee of a licensee, or a holder of an occupational license for a violation of sections 313.800 to 313.850 or a commission rule or engaging in a fraudulent practice;

(9) To require all licensees to file all financial reports required by rules and regulations of the commission;

(10) To issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and subpoenas duces tecum for the production of books, records, and other pertinent documents, and to administer oaths and affirmations to the witnesses, when, in the judgment of the commission, it is necessary to enforce sections 313.800 to 313.850 or the commission rules;

(11) To keep accurate and complete records of its proceedings and to certify the records as may be appropriate;

(12) To ensure that the gambling games are conducted fairly. No gambling device shall be set to pay out less than eighty percent of all wagers;

[(13) To require all licensees of gambling game operations to use a cashless wagering system whereby all players' money is converted to tokens, electronic cards, or chips which only can be used for wagering on the excursion gambling boat;

(14)] (13) Determine which of the authorized gambling games will be permitted on any licensed excursion gambling boat;

[(15)] (14) Excursion gambling boats shall cruise, unless the commission finds that the best interest of Missouri and the safety of the public indicate the need for continuous docking of the excursion gambling boat in any city or county authorized under subsection 10 of section 313.812. The commission shall base its decision to allow continuously docked excursion gambling boats on any of the following criteria: the docking location or the excursion cruise could cause danger to the boat's passengers, violate federal law or the law of another state, or cause disruption of interstate commerce or possible interference with railway or barge transportation. In addition, the commission shall consider economic feasibility or impact that would benefit land-based development and permanent job creation. The commission shall not discriminate among applicants for continuous docking excursion gambling that are similarly situated with respect to the criteria set forth in this section;

[(16)] (15) The commission shall render a finding concerning the possibility of continuous docking, as described in subdivision (15) of this section, within thirty days after a hearing on any request from an applicant or licensee. Such hearing may be held prior to any final action on licensing to assist an applicant and any city or county in the finalizing of their economic development plan;

[(17)] (16) To take any other action as may be reasonable or appropriate to enforce sections 313.800 to 313.850 and the commission rules.

313.812. 1. The commission may issue licenses pursuant to subsection 1 of section 313.807 when it is satisfied that the applicant has complied with all rules and regulations, including an update of all information provided to the commission in the licensee's initial application. The commission shall decide the number, location and type of excursion gambling boat in a city or county under subsection 10 of this section. The license shall set forth the name of the licensee, the type of license granted, the place where the excursion gambling boat will operate and dock, including the docking of an excursion gambling boat which is continuously docked, and other information the commission deems appropriate. The commission shall have the ultimate responsibility of deciding the number, location, and type of excursion gambling boats licensed in a city or county; however, any city or county which has complied with the provisions of subsection 10 of this section shall submit to the commission a plan outlining the following:

(1) The recommended number of licensed excursion gambling boats operating in such city or county;

(2) The recommended licensee or licensees operating in such city or county;

(3) The community's economic development or impact and affirmative action plan concerning minorities' and women's ownership, contracting and employment for the waterfront development;

(4) The city or county proposed sharing of revenue with any other municipality;

(5) Any other information such city or county deems necessary; and

(6) Any other information the commission may determine is necessary.

The commission shall provide for due dates for receiving such plan from the city or county.

2. A license to operate an excursion gambling boat shall only be granted to an applicant upon the express conditions that:

(1) The applicant shall not, by a lease, contract, understanding, or arrangement of any kind, grant, assign, or turn over to a person the operation of an excursion gambling boat licensed under this section or of the system of wagering described in section 313.817. This section does not prohibit a management contract with a person licensed by the commission; and

(2) The applicant shall not in any manner permit a person other than the licensee and the management licensee to have a share, percentage, or proportion of the money received for admissions to the excursion gambling boat.

3. The commission shall require, as a condition of granting a license, that an applicant operate an excursion gambling boat which, as nearly as practicable, resembles or is a part of Missouri's or the home dock city's or county's riverboat history.

4. The commission shall encourage through its rules and regulations the use of Missouri resources, goods and services in the operation of any excursion gambling boat.

5. The excursion gambling boat shall provide for nongaming areas, food service and a Missouri theme gift shop. The amount of space used for gaming shall be determined in accordance with all rules and regulations of the commission and the United States Coast Guard safety regulations.

6. A license to operate gambling games or to operate an excursion gambling boat shall not be granted unless the applicant has, through clear and convincing evidence, demonstrated financial responsibility sufficient to meet adequately the requirements of the proposed enterprise.

7. The applicant shall establish by clear and convincing evidence its fitness to be licensed if there is evidence that any of the following apply:

(1) The applicant has been suspended from operating an excursion gambling boat or a game of chance or gambling operation in another jurisdiction by a board or commission of that jurisdiction;

(2) The applicant is not the true owner of the enterprise proposed;

(3) The applicant is not the sole owner, and other persons have ownership in the enterprise, which fact has not been disclosed;

(4) The applicant is a corporation that is not publicly traded and ten percent or more of the stock of the corporation is subject to a contract or option to purchase at any time during the period for which the license is to be issued unless the contract or option was disclosed to the commission and the commission approved the sale or transfer during the period of the license;

(5) The applicant has knowingly made a false statement of a material fact to the commission; or

(6) The applicant has failed to meet a valid, bona fide monetary obligation in connection with an excursion gambling boat.

8. A license shall not be granted if the applicant has not established his good repute and moral character or if the applicant has pled guilty to, or has been convicted of, a felony. No licensee shall employ or contract with any person who has pled guilty to, or has been convicted of, a felony to perform any duties directly connected with the licensee's privileges under a license granted pursuant to this section, except that employees performing nongaming related occupations as determined by the commission shall be exempt from the requirements of this subsection.

9. A licensee shall not lend to any person money or any other thing of value for the purpose of permitting that person to wager on any gambling game authorized by law. This does not prohibit credit card or debit card transactions or cashing of checks. Any check cashed must be deposited within twenty-four hours. The commission may require licensees to verify a sufficient account balance exists before cashing any check. Any licensee who violates the provisions of this subsection shall be subject to an administrative penalty of five thousand dollars for each violation. Such administrative penalties shall be assessed and collected by the commission.

10. Gambling excursions including the operation of gambling games on an excursion gambling boat which is not continuously docked shall be allowed only on the Mississippi River and the Missouri River. No license to conduct gambling games on an excursion gambling boat in a city or county shall be issued unless and until the qualified voters of the city or county approve such activities pursuant to this subsection. The question shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the city or county at a general, primary or special election upon the motion of the governing body of the city or county or upon the petition of fifteen percent of the qualified voters of the city or county determined on the basis of the number of votes cast for governor in the city or county at the last election held prior to the filing of the petition. The question shall be submitted in substantially the following form:

Shall the City (County) of ..................... allow the licensing of excursion gambling boats or floating facilities as now or hereafter provided by Missouri gaming law in the city (county)?

[ ] YES [ ] NO

If a majority of the votes cast on the question by the qualified voters voting thereon are in favor of the question, then the commission may license excursion gambling boats in that city or county and such boats may operate on the Mississippi River and the Missouri River. If a majority of the votes cast on the question by the qualified voters voting thereon are opposed to the question, then the commission shall not license such excursion gambling boats in such city or county unless and until the question is again submitted to and approved by a majority of the qualified voters of the city or county at a later election; however, in no event shall a proposal pursuant to this subsection be submitted to the voters sooner than twenty-four months from the date the last proposal was submitted pursuant to this subsection. Excursion gambling boats may only dock in a city or unincorporated area of a county which approves licensing of such excursion gambling boats pursuant to this subsection, but gambling operations may be conducted at any point on the Mississippi River or the Missouri River during an excursion. Those cities and counties which have approved by election pursuant to this subsection, except those cities or counties which have subsequently rejected by election, the licensing of any type of excursion gambling boats in the city or county prior to April 6, 1994, are exempt from any local election requirement of this section as such previous election shall have the same effect as if held after May 20, 1994.

11. If a docking fee is charged by a city or a county, a licensee operating an excursion gambling boat shall pay the docking fee prior to the start of the excursion season.

12. Any licensee shall not be delinquent in the payment of property taxes or other taxes or fees or in the payment of any other contractual obligation or debt due or owed to the state or a political subdivision of the state.

13. An excursion gambling boat licensed by the state shall meet all of the requirements of chapter 306, RSMo, and is subject to an inspection of its sanitary facilities to protect the environment and water quality by the commission or its designee before a license to operate an excursion gambling boat is issued by the commission. Licensed excursion gambling boats shall also be subject to such inspections during the period of the license as may be deemed necessary by the commission. The cost of such inspections shall be paid by the licensee.

14. A holder of any license shall be subject to imposition of penalties, suspension or revocation of such license, or other action for any act or failure to act by himself or his agents or employees, that is injurious to the public health, safety, morals, good order and general welfare of the people of the state of Missouri, or that would discredit or tend to discredit the Missouri gaming industry or the state of Missouri unless the licensee proves by clear and convincing evidence that it is not guilty of such action. The commission shall take appropriate action against any licensee who violates the law or the rules and regulations of the commission. Without limiting other provisions of this subsection, the following acts or omissions may be grounds for such discipline:

(1) Failing to comply with or make provision for compliance with sections 313.800 to 313.850, the rules and regulations of the commission or any federal, state or local law or regulation;

(2) Failing to comply with any rule, order or ruling of the commission or its agents pertaining to gaming;

(3) Receiving goods or services from a person or business entity who does not hold a supplier's license but who is required to hold such license by the provisions of sections 313.800 to 313.850 or the rules and regulations of the commission;

(4) Being suspended or ruled ineligible or having a license revoked or suspended in any state of gaming jurisdiction;

(5) Associating with, either socially or in business affairs, or employing persons of notorious or unsavory reputation or who have extensive police records, or who have failed to cooperate with any officially constituted investigatory or administrative body and would adversely affect public confidence and trust in gaming;

(6) Employing in any gambling games operation or any excursion gambling boat operation, any person known to have been found guilty of cheating or using any improper device in connection with any gambling game;

(7) Use of fraud, deception, misrepresentation or bribery in securing any permit or license issued pursuant to sections 313.800 to 313.850;

(8) Obtaining or attempting to obtain any fee, charge, or other compensation by fraud, deception, or misrepresentation;

(9) Incompetence, misconduct, gross negligence, fraud, misrepresentation or dishonesty in the performance of the functions or duties regulated by sections 313.800 to 313.850.

313.817. 1. Except as permitted in this section, the licensee licensed to operate gambling games shall permit no form of wagering on gambling games.

2. The licensee may receive wagers only from a person present on a licensed excursion gambling boat.

[3. Wagering shall not be conducted with money or other negotiable currency. The licensee shall exchange the money of each wagerer for tokens, chips, or other forms of credit to be wagered on the gambling games. The licensee shall exchange the gambling tokens, chips, or other forms of wagering credit for money at the request of the wagerer.

4.] 3. A person under twenty-one years of age shall not make a wager on an excursion gambling boat and shall not be allowed in the area of the excursion boat where gambling is being conducted; provided that employees of the licensed operator of the excursion gambling boat who have attained eighteen years of age shall be permitted in the area in which gambling is being conducted when performing employment-related duties, except that no one under twenty-one years of age may be employed as a dealer or accept a wager on an excursion gambling boat. The governing body of a home dock city or county may restrict the age of entrance onto an excursion gambling boat by passage of a local ordinance.

[5.] 4. A licensee shall only allow wagering and conduct gambling games at the times allowed by the commission.