AN ACT CONCERNING A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF GAMBLING IN CONNECTICUT.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 12-564 of the general statutes, not later than ninety days after the effective date of this section, the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall develop and issue a request for proposals for independent research and professional services to (1) perform a comprehensive analysis of the social and economic impacts of all forms of gambling in the state, including, but not limited to, casino gaming facilitates located on Indian land, the sale of lottery tickets by the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, wagering at off-track betting facilities and charitable gaming, (2) determine the types of gambling activity engaged in by the public and the desirability of expanding or maintaining the amount of legalized gambling permitted in the state, and (3) recommend a plan or model that (A) implements any possible expansion of gambling in the state, including, but not limited to, casino gaming facilities located on state land, sports betting, fantasy contests or online lottery draw games, and (B) takes into consideration (i) the impact to the procedures, compact and agreements entered into between the state and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and the state and the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, and (ii) the expansion of gambling in the northeast region of the United States. The independent research and professional service provider shall have expertise in advising state legislatures on issues related to gambling and the expansion of gambling. Such study shall include, but need not be limited to, gaming expertise, legal advice, strategic planning and regulatory, licensing and law enforcement best practices related to gambling and the expansion of gambling. Not later than January 1, 2019, the commissioner shall submit the results of such study, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security.

(b) The Department of Consumer Protection and the Connecticut Lottery Corporation shall provide any information and data needed by the independent research and professional service provider to perform the study, provided the information and data does not disclose the identity of individuals.

(c) The Connecticut Lottery Corporation shall expend unclaimed prize funds to pay the cost of such study.

Statement of Purpose:

To require the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to issue a request for proposals for an independent research and professional service provider to perform a comprehensive study of all forms of gambling in the state and recommend a plan or model that implements any possible expansion of gambling in the state.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]