HJR 11C

1
House Joint Resolution
2A joint resolution proposing the creation of Section 28 of
3Article X of the State Constitution authorizing gaming in
4counties that approve gaming by a countywide referendum;
5providing requirements for gaming facilities; providing
6for regulation and taxation by general law; providing for
7use of revenues.
8
9Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11     That the following creation of Section 28 of Article X of
12the State Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to
13the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next
14general election or at an earlier special election specifically
15authorized 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
20referendum on whether to authorize full gaming within that
21county. If the voters of a county approve the referendum
22question by majority vote, full gaming is authorized and may be
23conducted within that county. If the voters of such county do
24not approve the referendum question by majority vote, full
25gaming under this section is not authorized, and the question
26shall not be presented in another referendum in that county for
27at least two years. As used in this subsection, the term "full
28gaming" means all forms of gaming and includes electronic or
29electromechanical facsimiles of any game of chance or slot
30machine of any kind and any banking card games such as baccarat,
31chemin de fer, and blackjack.
32     (b)  Gaming activities authorized pursuant to this section
33shall be conducted in facilities within the infrastructure of a
34hotel or casino that has at least 250 rooms for overnight
35patrons.
36     (c)  The legislature shall provide for the regulation and
37taxation of gaming facilities and activities by general law and
38may impose fees to pay the costs of such regulation.
39     (d)  Fifty percent of the tax revenue from gaming
40facilities and activities authorized pursuant to this section
41shall be deposited into a public sector trust fund. Ninety
42percent of the moneys in that trust fund must be used to offset
43residential homestead property taxes, eight percent must be used
44for the creation of affordable housing, and the remaining two
45percent must be used for the prevention and treatment of
46compulsive gambling and related disorders.
47     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be
48placed on the ballot:
49
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
50
ARTICLE X, SECTION 28
51     LOCAL OPTION GAMING.--Proposing an amendment to the State
52Constitution to allow the governing body of any county to hold a
53countywide referendum on whether to authorize full gaming within
54that county. The amendment requires gaming facilities to be
55located within a hotel or casino that has at least 250 rooms for
56overnight patrons, provides for regulation and taxation of
57gaming by general law, and requires that 50 percent of the tax
58revenue be deposited into a public sector trust fund, with 90
59percent of the moneys in that trust fund to be used to offset
60residential homestead property taxes, 8 percent to be used for
61the creation of affordable housing, and the remaining 2 percent
62to be used for the prevention and treatment of compulsive
63gambling and related disorders.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.