‘Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the commercial harness racing track that operates a slot machine facility in Bangor has been a good corporate citizen; and
Whereas, an enhanced gambling facility in Bangor will provide much needed jobs for citizens in Maine and is prepared to operate table games as soon as it receives a license; and
Whereas, the General Fund will recognize much needed revenue from the enhancement of gaming opportunities at the established facility in Bangor; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Sec. 1. 8 MRSA §1001, sub-§5-A, as enacted by IB 2009, c. 2, §2, is amended to read:
Sec. 2. 8 MRSA §1011, sub-§2-A, as enacted by IB 2009, c. 2, §29, is amended to read:
(1) No less than 50 acres in size; and
(2) Located not more than:
(a) Thirty miles from a Level I or Level II trauma center verified as such by the American College of Surgeons or successor organization;
(b) Fifteen miles from the main office of a county sheriff;
(c) Twenty-five miles from the main office of a state police field troop;
(d) Thirty miles from an interchange of the interstate highway system;
(e) Ten miles from a fire station;
(f) Ten miles from a facility at which harness racing was conducted pursuant to a license from the State Harness Racing Commission for the 2009 racing year; and
(g) One-half mile from a state highway as defined in Title 23, section 1903, subsection 15.
For the purposes of this paragraph, distances are determined by measuring along the most commonly used roadway, as determined by the Department of Transportation;
Sec. 3. 8 MRSA §1011, sub-§3, as amended by IB 2009, c. 2, §29, is further amended to read:
Sec. 4. 8 MRSA §1018, sub-§1, ¶C-1, as enacted by IB 2009, c. 2, §34, is amended to read:
Sec. 5. 8 MRSA §1019, sub-§6, as amended by IB 2009, c. 2, §35, is further amended to read:
Sec. 6. 8 MRSA §1019, sub-§7, as enacted by IB 2009, c. 2, §36, is amended to read:
Sec. 7. 8 MRSA §1036, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2005, c. 663, §11, is further amended to read:
Sec. 8. 8 MRSA §1036, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2009, c. 462, Pt. H, §1 and c. 622, §2, is further amended to read:
(1) For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2011, $50,000;
(2) For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012, $50,000; and
(3) For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2013 and for each fiscal year thereafter, $100,000;
Sec. 9. 8 MRSA §1036, sub-§2-B, as enacted by IB 2009, c. 2, §46, is amended to read:
Sec. 10. 8 MRSA §1036, sub-§2-C is enacted to read:
Sec. 11. Legislation defining eligibility of charitable nonprofit organizations to receive funds. The Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs shall report out legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 125th Legislature defining the eligibility of charitable nonprofit organizations to receive funds from the account held by the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Board pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 8, section 1036, subsection 2-C, paragraph D for the purposes of mitigating the reduction of charitable donations from revenues from gaming conducted in accordance with Title 17, chapters 13-A and 62 due to the expansion of gaming conducted under Title 8, chapter 31.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.’