An Act To Reduce the Annual High-stakes Beano Fee from $50,000 to $12,500

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  passage of this legislation is necessary to ensure the continued operation of high-stakes beano gaming by the Penobscot Nation; and

Whereas,  many jobs and the operation of an elderly assisted living center depend upon high-stakes beano gaming; and

Whereas,  this legislation needs to take effect before next year's license fee to operate high-stakes beano games becomes due; 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. 17 MRSA §314-A, sub-§4,  as amended by PL 2011, c. 410, §2, is further amended to read:

Sec. 2. Retroactivity. This Act applies retroactively to July 1, 2014.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill sets the fee for a high-stakes beano license, currently $50,000, at $12,500.