To amend chapter 650, RSMo, by adding thereto six new sections relating to a bureau of gaming security, with an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, AS FOLLOWS:

     Section A. Chapter 650, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto six new sections, to be known as sections 650.300, 650.305, 650.310, 650.315, 650.320 and 650.323, to read as follows:

     650.300. As used in sections 650.300 to 650.323, the following words and terms shall have the meanings given unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

     (1) "Bureau", the Missouri bureau of gaming security;

     (2) "Department", the Missouri department of public safety;

     (3) "Director", the director of the Missouri bureau of gaming security.

     650.305. 1. There is hereby created within the department of public safety a "Missouri Bureau of Gaming Security". The bureau shall exist as a separate division within the department as if transferred by type III transfer under the Reorganization Act of 1974.

     2. The bureau shall be administered by a director appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. The director shall be subject to removal by the governor at any time. The director shall maintain an office in Jefferson City.

     3. The director shall have the following powers, subject to appropriation:

     (1) To employ administrative personnel under the state merit system as necessary to fulfill the clerical functions of the bureau;

     (2) To appoint a maximum of two hundred certified peace officers to fulfill the enforcement functions of the bureau as required by sections 650.300 to 650.323; and

     (3) To enforce the requirements of sections 650.300 to 650.323 as they pertain to gaming facilities.

     4. The bureau shall begin operations on January 1, 1998, and bureau officers shall begin enforcement operations on July 1, 1999.

     650.310. 1. The Missouri bureau of gaming security shall have enforcement authority over all gaming activities in Missouri, including:

     (1) All bingo activities as described in sections 313.005 to 313.085, RSMo;

     (2) The operation of the Missouri state lottery under sections 313.200 to 313.350, RSMo;

     (3) All horseracing operations as described in sections 313.500 to 313.720, RSMo;

     (4) All excursion gambling boat activities as described in sections 313.800 to 313.850, RSMo; and

     (5) Any other gaming activities involving the commitment of money or other valuable consideration upon games of chance.

     2. The Missouri gaming commission shall assist the bureau in any way possible by providing reasonable access to records, facilities and personnel.

     3. The officers of the bureau shall have access to all buildings, offices, riverboats and other facilities established for gaming activities. Certified peace officers shall be assigned on a continuing, partial or random basis to such facilities in order to detect, deter and eradicate illegal activities.

     4. No fees, charges or taxes shall be charged to the officers of the bureau when they are engaged in their official functions.

     650.315. 1. All enforcement officers of the bureau shall pass a course of training for certified peace officers as established by the peace officer standards and training commission under chapter 590, RSMo.

     2. The curriculum for training of peace officers of the bureau shall include at least three hundred hours in the enforcement of gaming laws and the detection of the particular methods of circumvention of such laws.

     3. Certified peace officers of the bureau shall be trained in the handling and use of firearms and may wear concealed firearms while engaged in the course of their duty and while off duty.

     4. The course of training shall include a minimum of one thousand hours.

     5. Hours of peace officer training completed within the past by an officer may be credited toward the general requirements of this section, as determined by the peace officer standards and training commission.

     650.320. 1. Certified peace officers of the bureau may enforce the general criminal laws of the state of Missouri and all state laws relating to gaming activities. The officers shall have the power of arrest when within any gaming facility, upon the premises thereof, or while in direct pursuit of suspects therefrom.

     2. Officers of the bureau may request the assistance of the local law enforcement authorities or the Missouri state highway patrol and shall cooperate with such other agencies in investigations and enforcement actions.

     650.323. 1. All users of licensed gaming facilities in this state and all purchases of lottery tickets shall be charged a user fee to pay for all costs of the bureau.

     2. The costs of the bureau shall be estimated for fiscal year 1999 and each subsequent fiscal year by the director of the bureau, and such costs shall be approved by the director of the department of public safety.

     3. The gaming commission shall allocate the estimated costs of the bureau among the licensed gaming facilities in the state and all purchasers of lottery tickets according to the gross revenues received by such facilities and the lottery. The allocation shall be made according to the preceding calendar year's gross revenues.

     3. The user fees assessed under this section shall be passed along to the users of the licensed gaming facilities and the purchasers of all state lottery tickets. The revenues from the user fees for each month shall be remitted to the department of revenue by the fifteenth day of the following month. The revenues shall be paid into the general revenue fund.

     4. The user fees shall be reassessed each fiscal year based upon the actual costs of the bureau for the previous fiscal year and the surplus or deficit resulting from the user fees assessed in the previous fiscal year.

     5. The costs of the bureau shall be appropriated by the general assembly and paid out of the general revenue fund.

     Section B. The provisions of this act shall go into effect on January 1, 1998.