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• Introduced by Rep. Gary W. Moore (R) on April 26, 2007, this bill permits the operation of additional slot machines at a harness horse racing track in a municipality along the railroad line from Portland to the New Hampshire border overseen by the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority or the railroad line from Portland through Westbrook, Gorham, Standish and Fryeburg to the New Hampshire border known as the Mountain Division rail line. The bill limits the location of the operation of these slot machines to one harness horse racing track and to within 200 feet of the outside edge of the racing oval at that harness horse racing track. A municipality must approve the operation of slot machines before slot machines authorized by this bill may be operated in that municipality. An entity that operates an agricultural fair or a person licensed to operate a commercial track may apply to the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Board no later than December 31, 2009 for a license to operate slot machines authorized by this bill. The Gambling Control Board will choose one applicant to receive the license authorized by this bill. Slot machines authorized by this bill are subject to regulation and supervision by the Gambling Control Board. The bill is subject to approval by the voters of this State at referendum. The slot machine operator will be required to collect and distribute 1% of gross slot machine income for deposit in the General Fund. The slot machine operator will be required to collect and distribute 39% of the net slot machine income as follows: 1. Two percent for deposit in the General Fund for administrative expenses of the Gambling Control Board, including gambling addiction counseling services; 2. Ten percent to supplement harness racing purses; 3. Three percent for deposit in the Sire Stakes Fund; 4. Three percent for deposit in the Agricultural Fair Support Fund; 5. Five percent for the Town of Standish to establish a drinking water protection fund to protect the quality of the drinking water for communities served by the Portland Water District and to establish a recreational area on Sebago Lake in Standish; 6. One percent for scholarships for students at the University of Maine System; 7. One percent for scholarships for students at the Maine Community College System; 8. Ten percent for the Mountain Division Rail Line Authority, which is established in this bill and may issue bonds, to fund the acquisition, financing, construction, operation, improvement and repair of a railroad line from Portland through Westbrook, Gorham, Standish and Fryeburg to the New Hampshire border; 9. Two percent for the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority to support the operation of a train on the railroad line from Portland to the New Hampshire border; 10. One percent for the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources to be used for equine rescue and other animal protection programs; and 11. One percent for the municipality in which the slot machines are located.
  • Referred to the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee on April 26, 2007.
• Failed in the House by voice vote on March 25, 2008.
• Received in the Senate on March 26, 2008.
• Failed in the Senate by voice vote on March 26, 2008, the senate/or house decided against further actions and the bill is dead.