1 | House Joint Resolution |
2 | A joint resolution proposing the creation of Section 28 of |
3 | Article X of the State Constitution authorizing gaming in |
4 | counties that approve gaming by a countywide referendum; |
5 | providing requirements for gaming facilities; providing |
6 | for regulation and taxation by general law; providing for |
7 | use of revenues. |
8 |
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9 | Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
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11 | That the following creation of Section 28 of Article X of |
12 | the State Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to |
13 | the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next |
14 | general election or at an earlier special election specifically |
15 | authorized by law for that purpose: |
16 | ARTICLE X |
17 | MISCELLANEOUS |
18 | SECTION 28. Local option gaming.-- |
19 | (a) The governing body of any county may hold a countywide |
20 | referendum on whether to authorize full gaming within that |
21 | county. If the voters of a county approve the referendum |
22 | question by majority vote, full gaming is authorized and may be |
23 | conducted within that county. If the voters of such county do |
24 | not approve the referendum question by majority vote, full |
25 | gaming under this section is not authorized, and the question |
26 | shall not be presented in another referendum in that county for |
27 | at least two years. As used in this subsection, the term "full |
28 | gaming" means all forms of gaming and includes electronic or |
29 | electromechanical facsimiles of any game of chance or slot |
30 | machine of any kind and any banking card games such as baccarat, |
31 | chemin de fer, and blackjack. |
32 | (b) Gaming activities authorized pursuant to this section |
33 | shall be conducted in facilities within the infrastructure of a |
34 | hotel or casino that has at least 250 rooms for overnight |
35 | patrons. |
36 | (c) The legislature shall provide for the regulation and |
37 | taxation of gaming facilities and activities by general law and |
38 | may impose fees to pay the costs of such regulation. |
39 | (d) Fifty percent of the tax revenue from gaming |
40 | facilities and activities authorized pursuant to this section |
41 | shall be deposited into a public sector trust fund. Ninety |
42 | percent of the moneys in that trust fund must be used to offset |
43 | residential homestead property taxes, eight percent must be used |
44 | for the creation of affordable housing, and the remaining two |
45 | percent must be used for the prevention and treatment of |
46 | compulsive gambling and related disorders. |
47 | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be |
48 | placed on the ballot: |
49 | CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT |
50 | ARTICLE X, SECTION 28 |
51 | LOCAL OPTION GAMING.--Proposing an amendment to the State |
52 | Constitution to allow the governing body of any county to hold a |
53 | countywide referendum on whether to authorize full gaming within |
54 | that county. The amendment requires gaming facilities to be |
55 | located within a hotel or casino that has at least 250 rooms for |
56 | overnight patrons, provides for regulation and taxation of |
57 | gaming by general law, and requires that 50 percent of the tax |
58 | revenue be deposited into a public sector trust fund, with 90 |
59 | percent of the moneys in that trust fund to be used to offset |
60 | residential homestead property taxes, 8 percent to be used for |
61 | the creation of affordable housing, and the remaining 2 percent |
62 | to be used for the prevention and treatment of compulsive |
63 | gambling and related disorders. |