While other poker-related bills work their way through the Florida House and Florida Senate, a small amendment to an unrelated bill may affect Floridians who play poker online.
<a href="http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=40236&SessionIndex=-1&SessionId=61&BillText=&BillNumber=682&BillSponsorIndex=0&BillListIndex=0&BillStatuteText=&BillTypeIndex=0&BillReferredIndex=0&HouseChamber=S&BillSearchIndex=0">SB 682</a> is a bill that seeks to create a new division within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. <a href="http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=298152.DOCX&DocumentType=Amendments&BillNumber=0682&Session=2009">Amendment 298152</a>, added on April 16, requires the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to make recommendations to the Legislature by Dec. 1 on suggestions for laws that would provide "protection and relief" from online poker activities. GamblingCompliance.Com has posted a <a href="http://www.gamblingcompliance.com/node/37000">story</a> about the proposal.
The General Government Appropriations Committee passed the amended bill unanimously today. The next action on the bill hasn’t been scheduled.
Meanwhile, the bills that would significantly improve the poker climate in Florida continue to work their way through the Legislature. The next action on <a href="http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=40442&SessionIndex=-1&SessionId=61&BillText=cardroom&BillNumber=&BillSponsorIndex=0&BillListIndex=0&BillStatuteText=&BillTypeIndex=0&BillReferredIndex=0&HouseChamber=S&BillSearchIndex=0">SB 836</a> is still pending, but five amendments have been filed for <a href="http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=42069&SessionIndex=-1&SessionId=61&BillText=cardroom&BillNumber=&BillSponsorIndex=0&BillListIndex=0&BillStatuteText=&BillTypeIndex=0&BillReferredIndex=0&HouseChamber=H&BillSearchIndex=0">HB 7145</a>, including three today. Two introduced on April 16 – one dealing with the tax rate on slot machines, the other dealing with when quarter horse tracks may open a poker room – have been approved. The three filed today link the bill to the ratification of a Seminole Tribe compact, deal with the slot machine tax rate and deal with quarter horse track locations. Deadline for new amendments to the bill is Tuesday.
