Bill Text: CT HB06948 | 2017 | General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: An Act Concerning The Advisory Council On Large Entertainment Venues, The Regulation Of Sports Wagering And The Number Of Off-track Betting Branch Facilities.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Passed) 2017-07-10 - Signed by the Governor [HB06948 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2017-HB06948-Chaptered.html
AN ACT CONCERNING THE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON LARGE ENTERTAINMENT VENUES, THE REGULATION OF SPORTS WAGERING AND THE NUMBER OF OFF-TRACK BETTING BRANCH FACILITIES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There is established an Advisory Council on Large Entertainment Venues. Any amusement, entertainment or recreation facility described in subdivisions (8) to (13), inclusive, of subsection (a) of section 12-541 of the general statutes that has a seating capacity greater than five thousand persons shall be entitled to representation on the council. Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, each representative to the council shall be designated not later than September 1, 2017. The council shall select the chairperson of the council from among the members of the council and schedule the first meeting of the council not later than October 1, 2017. The council shall meet at least annually to consider: (1) The coordination of concerts, mixed martial arts events and other large entertainment events at such facilities; and (2) other issues related to the operation of such facilities as determined by the council.
(b) On and after the date a business entity jointly and exclusively owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut is authorized to conduct any game of chance at a casino gaming facility located in the state by any provision of the general statutes or a public or special act, each tribe shall: (1) Designate a representative to participate on the Advisory Council on Large Entertainment Venues; and (2) assist such amusement, entertainment and recreation facilities to schedule large entertainment events that are available for additional dates in the state.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, to regulate wagering on sporting events to the extent permitted by state and federal law.
Sec. 3. Section 12-571a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) The Department of Consumer Protection shall not operate or authorize the operation of more than [eighteen] twenty-four off-track betting branch facilities, except that the department may operate or authorize the operation of any off-track betting branch facility approved prior to December 31, 1986, by the legislative body of a municipality in accordance with subsection (a) of section 12-572. Any facility approved prior to December 31, 1986, shall be included within the [eighteen] twenty-four facilities authorized by this subsection.
(b) The [eighteen] twenty-four off-track betting branch facilities authorized by subsection (a) of this section may include facilities which have screens for the simulcasting of off-track betting race programs or jai alai games and other amenities including, but not limited to, restaurants and concessions, and, on and after October 1, 2012, shall be located in the town and city of New Haven, the town of Windsor Locks, the town of East Haven, the town and city of Norwalk, the town and city of Hartford, the town and city of New Britain, the town and city of Bristol, the town and city of Torrington, the town and city of Waterbury, the town and city of Milford, the town and city of New London, the town of Manchester, the town of Windham, the town of Putnam, the town and city of Bridgeport and [three] nine additional locations. The location of each such facility and the addition of simulcasting capability to any existing off-track betting branch facility that did not previously have such capability (1) shall be approved by the commissioner, and (2) shall be subject to the prior approval of the legislative body of the town in which such facility is located or is proposed to be located. The department shall report annually to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to legalized gambling on the status of the establishment or improvement of the off-track betting branch facility pursuant to this subsection.