SB1937 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 09645 AMC 19806 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB1937

Introduced 2/20/2009, by Sen. Terry Link - Dave Syverson

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

230 ILCS 10/12	from Ch. 120, par. 2412
230 ILCS 10/13	from Ch. 120, par. 2413

Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act. For a riverboat with annual adjusted gross receipts of less than $50,000,000, (i) eliminates the admissions tax and (ii) imposes an additional 1% privilege tax, the proceeds of which shall be paid monthly to the unit of local government that is designated as the home dock of the riverboat upon which those riverboat gambling operations are conducted. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning gaming.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Riverboat Gambling Act is amended by changing Sections 12 and 13 as follows:

(230 ILCS 10/12) (from Ch. 120, par. 2412)

Sec. 12. Admission tax; fees.

(a) A tax is hereby imposed upon admissions to riverboats operated by licensed owners authorized pursuant to this Act. Until July 1, 2002, the rate is $2 per person admitted. From July 1, 2002 until July 1, 2003, the rate is $3 per person admitted. From July 1, 2003 until the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, for a licensee that admitted 1,000,000 persons or fewer in the previous calendar year, the rate is $3 per person admitted; for a licensee that admitted more than 1,000,000 but no more than 2,300,000 persons in the previous calendar year, the rate is $4 per person admitted; and for a licensee that admitted more than 2,300,000 persons in the previous calendar year, the rate is $5 per person admitted. Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, for a licensee that admitted 1,000,000 persons or fewer in calendar year 2004, the rate is $2 per person admitted, and for all other licensees the rate is $3 per person admitted. This admission tax is imposed upon the licensed owner conducting gambling. Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, no admissions tax is imposed upon admissions to a riverboat with annual adjusted gross receipts of less than $50,000,000.

(1) The admission tax shall be paid for each admission, except that a person who exits a riverboat gambling facility and reenters that riverboat gambling facility within the same gaming day shall be subject only to the initial admission tax.

(2) (Blank).

(3) The riverboat licensee may issue tax-free passes to actual and necessary officials and employees of the licensee or other persons actually working on the riverboat.

(4) The number and issuance of tax-free passes is subject to the rules of the Board, and a list of all persons to whom the tax-free passes are issued shall be filed with the Board.

(a-5) A fee is hereby imposed upon admissions operated by licensed managers on behalf of the State pursuant to Section 7.3 at the rates provided in this subsection (a-5). For a licensee that admitted 1,000,000 persons or fewer in the previous calendar year, the rate is $3 per person admitted; for a licensee that admitted more than 1,000,000 but no more than 2,300,000 persons in the previous calendar year, the rate is $4 per person admitted; and for a licensee that admitted more than 2,300,000 persons in the previous calendar year, the rate is $5 per person admitted.

(1) The admission fee shall be paid for each admission.

(2) (Blank).

(3) The licensed manager may issue fee-free passes to actual and necessary officials and employees of the manager or other persons actually working on the riverboat.

(4) The number and issuance of fee-free passes is subject to the rules of the Board, and a list of all persons to whom the fee-free passes are issued shall be filed with the Board.

(b) From the tax imposed under subsection (a) and the fee imposed under subsection (a-5), a municipality shall receive from the State $1 for each person embarking on a riverboat docked within the municipality, and a county shall receive $1 for each person embarking on a riverboat docked within the county but outside the boundaries of any municipality. The municipality's or county's share shall be collected by the Board on behalf of the State and remitted quarterly by the State, subject to appropriation, to the treasurer of the unit of local government for deposit in the general fund.

(c) The licensed owner shall pay the entire admission tax to the Board and the licensed manager shall pay the entire admission fee to the Board. Such payments shall be made daily. Accompanying each payment shall be a return on forms provided by the Board which shall include other information regarding admissions as the Board may require. Failure to submit either the payment or the return within the specified time may result in suspension or revocation of the owners or managers license.

(d) The Board shall administer and collect the admission tax imposed by this Section, to the extent practicable, in a manner consistent with the provisions of Sections 4, 5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g, 5i, 5j, 6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 8, 9 and 10 of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act and Section 3-7 of the Uniform Penalty and Interest Act.

(Source: P.A. 94-673, eff. 8-23-05; 95-663, eff. 10-11-07.)

(230 ILCS 10/13) (from Ch. 120, par. 2413)

Sec. 13. Wagering tax; rate; distribution.

(a) Until January 1, 1998, a tax is imposed on the adjusted gross receipts received from gambling games authorized under this Act at the rate of 20%.

(a-1) From January 1, 1998 until July 1, 2002, a privilege tax is imposed on persons engaged in the business of conducting riverboat gambling operations, based on the adjusted gross receipts received by a licensed owner from gambling games authorized under this Act at the following rates:

15% of annual adjusted gross receipts up to and including $25,000,000;

20% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of $25,000,000 but not exceeding $50,000,000;

25% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of $50,000,000 but not exceeding $75,000,000;

30% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of $75,000,000 but not exceeding $100,000,000;

35% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of $100,000,000.

(a-2) From July 1, 2002 until July 1, 2003, a privilege tax is imposed on persons engaged in the business of conducting riverboat gambling operations, other than licensed managers conducting riverboat gambling operations on behalf of the State, based on the adjusted gross receipts received by a licensed owner from gambling games authorized under this Act at the following rates:

15% of annual adjusted gross receipts up to and including $25,000,000;

22.5% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of $25,000,000 but not exceeding $50,000,000;

27.5% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of $50,000,000 but not exceeding $75,000,000;

32.5% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of $75,000,000 but not exceeding $100,000,000;

37.5% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of $100,000,000 but not exceeding $150,000,000;

45% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of $150,000,000 but not exceeding $200,000,000;

50% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of $200,000,000.

(a-3) Beginning July 1, 2003, a privilege tax is imposed on persons engaged in the business of conducting riverboat gambling operations, other than licensed managers conducting riverboat gambling operations on behalf of the State, based on the adjusted gross receipts received by a licensed owner from gambling games authorized under this Act at the following rates:

15% of annual adjusted gross receipts up to and including $25,000,000;

27.5% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of $25,000,000 but not exceeding $37,500,000;

32.5% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of $37,500,000 but not exceeding $50,000,000;

37.5% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of $50,000,000 but not exceeding $75,000,000;

45% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of $75,000,000 but not exceeding $100,000,000;

50% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of $100,000,000 but not exceeding $250,000,000;

70% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of $250,000,000.

An amount equal to the amount of wagering taxes collected under this subsection (a-3) that are in addition to the amount of wagering taxes that would have been collected if the wagering tax rates under subsection (a-2) were in effect shall be paid into the Common School Fund.

The privilege tax imposed under this subsection (a-3) shall no longer be imposed beginning on the earlier of (i) July 1, 2005; (ii) the first date after June 20, 2003 that riverboat gambling operations are conducted pursuant to a dormant license; or (iii) the first day that riverboat gambling operations are conducted under the authority of an owners license that is in addition to the 10 owners licenses initially authorized under this Act. For the purposes of this subsection (a-3), the term "dormant license" means an owners license that is authorized by this Act under which no riverboat gambling operations are being conducted on June 20, 2003.

(a-4) Beginning on the first day on which the tax imposed under subsection (a-3) is no longer imposed, a privilege tax is imposed on persons engaged in the business of conducting riverboat gambling operations, other than licensed managers conducting riverboat gambling operations on behalf of the State, based on the adjusted gross receipts received by a licensed owner from gambling games authorized under this Act at the following rates:

15% of annual adjusted gross receipts up to and including $25,000,000;

22.5% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of $25,000,000 but not exceeding $50,000,000;

27.5% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of $50,000,000 but not exceeding $75,000,000;

32.5% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of $75,000,000 but not exceeding $100,000,000;

37.5% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of $100,000,000 but not exceeding $150,000,000;

45% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of $150,000,000 but not exceeding $200,000,000;

50% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of $200,000,000.

(a-5) Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, in addition to any other tax imposed under this Section, a privilege tax of 1% of adjusted gross receipts is imposed on a riverboat with annual adjusted gross receipts of less than $50,000,000, the proceeds of which shall be paid monthly, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, to the unit of local government that is designated as the home dock of the riverboat upon which those riverboat gambling operations are conducted.

(a-8) Riverboat gambling operations conducted by a licensed manager on behalf of the State are not subject to the tax imposed under this Section.

(a-10) The taxes imposed by this Section shall be paid by the licensed owner to the Board not later than 3:00 o'clock p.m. of the day after the day when the wagers were made.

(a-15) If the privilege tax imposed under subsection (a-3) is no longer imposed pursuant to item (i) of the last paragraph of subsection (a-3), then by June 15 of each year, each owners licensee, other than an owners licensee that admitted 1,000,000 persons or fewer in calendar year 2004, must, in addition to the payment of all amounts otherwise due under this Section, pay to the Board a reconciliation payment in the amount, if any, by which the licensed owner's base amount exceeds the amount of net privilege tax paid by the licensed owner to the Board in the then current State fiscal year. A licensed owner's net privilege tax obligation due for the balance of the State fiscal year shall be reduced up to the total of the amount paid by the licensed owner in its June 15 reconciliation payment. The obligation imposed by this subsection (a-15) is binding on any person, firm, corporation, or other entity that acquires an ownership interest in any such owners license. The obligation imposed under this subsection (a-15) terminates on the earliest of: (i) July 1, 2007, (ii) the first day after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly that riverboat gambling operations are conducted pursuant to a dormant license, (iii) the first day that riverboat gambling operations are conducted under the authority of an owners license that is in addition to the 10 owners licenses initially authorized under this Act, or (iv) the first day that a licensee under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 conducts gaming operations with slot machines or other electronic gaming devices. The Board must reduce the obligation imposed under this subsection (a-15) by an amount the Board deems reasonable for any of the following reasons: (A) an act or acts of God, (B) an act of bioterrorism or terrorism or a bioterrorism or terrorism threat that was investigated by a law enforcement agency, or (C) a condition beyond the control of the owners licensee that does not result from any act or omission by the owners licensee or any of its agents and that poses a hazardous threat to the health and safety of patrons. If an owners licensee pays an amount in excess of its liability under this Section, the Board shall apply the overpayment to future payments required under this Section.

For purposes of this subsection (a-15):

"Act of God" means an incident caused by the operation of an extraordinary force that cannot be foreseen, that cannot be avoided by the exercise of due care, and for which no person can be held liable.

"Base amount" means the following:

For a riverboat in Alton, $31,000,000.

For a riverboat in East Peoria, $43,000,000.

For the Empress riverboat in Joliet, $86,000,000.

For a riverboat in Metropolis, $45,000,000.

For the Harrah's riverboat in Joliet, $114,000,000.

For a riverboat in Aurora, $86,000,000.

For a riverboat in East St. Louis, $48,500,000.

For a riverboat in Elgin, $198,000,000.

"Dormant license" has the meaning ascribed to it in subsection (a-3).

"Net privilege tax" means all privilege taxes paid by a licensed owner to the Board under this Section, less all payments made from the State Gaming Fund pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section.

The changes made to this subsection (a-15) by Public Act 94-839 are intended to restate and clarify the intent of Public Act 94-673 with respect to the amount of the payments required to be made under this subsection by an owners licensee to the Board.

(b) Until January 1, 1998, 25% of the tax revenue deposited in the State Gaming Fund under this Section shall be paid, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, to the unit of local government which is designated as the home dock of the riverboat. Beginning January 1, 1998, from the tax revenue deposited in the State Gaming Fund under this Section, an amount equal to 5% of adjusted gross receipts generated by a riverboat shall be paid monthly, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, to the unit of local government that is designated as the home dock of the riverboat. From the tax revenue deposited in the State Gaming Fund pursuant to riverboat gambling operations conducted by a licensed manager on behalf of the State, an amount equal to 5% of adjusted gross receipts generated pursuant to those riverboat gambling operations shall be paid monthly, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, to the unit of local government that is designated as the home dock of the riverboat upon which those riverboat gambling operations are conducted.

(c) Appropriations, as approved by the General Assembly, may be made from the State Gaming Fund to the Department of Revenue and the Department of State Police for the administration and enforcement of this Act, or to the Department of Human Services for the administration of programs to treat problem gambling.

(c-5) Before May 26, 2006 (the effective date of Public Act 94-804) and beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, unless any organization licensee under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 begins to operate a slot machine or video game of chance under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 or this Act, after the payments required under subsections (b) and (c) have been made, an amount equal to 15% of the adjusted gross receipts of (1) an owners licensee that relocates pursuant to Section 11.2, (2) an owners licensee conducting riverboat gambling operations pursuant to an owners license that is initially issued after June 25, 1999, or (3) the first riverboat gambling operations conducted by a licensed manager on behalf of the State under Section 7.3, whichever comes first, shall be paid from the State Gaming Fund into the Horse Racing Equity Fund.

(c-10) Each year the General Assembly shall appropriate from the General Revenue Fund to the Education Assistance Fund an amount equal to the amount paid into the Horse Racing Equity Fund pursuant to subsection (c-5) in the prior calendar year.

(c-15) After the payments required under subsections (b), (c), and (c-5) have been made, an amount equal to 2% of the adjusted gross receipts of (1) an owners licensee that relocates pursuant to Section 11.2, (2) an owners licensee conducting riverboat gambling operations pursuant to an owners license that is initially issued after June 25, 1999, or (3) the first riverboat gambling operations conducted by a licensed manager on behalf of the State under Section 7.3, whichever comes first, shall be paid, subject to appropriation from the General Assembly, from the State Gaming Fund to each home rule county with a population of over 3,000,000 inhabitants for the purpose of enhancing the county's criminal justice system.

(c-20) Each year the General Assembly shall appropriate from the General Revenue Fund to the Education Assistance Fund an amount equal to the amount paid to each home rule county with a population of over 3,000,000 inhabitants pursuant to subsection (c-15) in the prior calendar year.

(c-25) After the payments required under subsections (b), (c), (c-5) and (c-15) have been made, an amount equal to 2% of the adjusted gross receipts of (1) an owners licensee that relocates pursuant to Section 11.2, (2) an owners licensee conducting riverboat gambling operations pursuant to an owners license that is initially issued after June 25, 1999, or (3) the first riverboat gambling operations conducted by a licensed manager on behalf of the State under Section 7.3, whichever comes first, shall be paid from the State Gaming Fund to Chicago State University.

(d) From time to time, the Board shall transfer the remainder of the funds generated by this Act into the Education Assistance Fund, created by Public Act 86-0018, of the State of Illinois.

(e) Nothing in this Act shall prohibit the unit of local government designated as the home dock of the riverboat from entering into agreements with other units of local government in this State or in other states to share its portion of the tax revenue.

(f) To the extent practicable, the Board shall administer and collect the wagering taxes imposed by this Section in a manner consistent with the provisions of Sections 4, 5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g, 5i, 5j, 6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 8, 9, and 10 of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act and Section 3-7 of the Uniform Penalty and Interest Act.

(Source: P.A. 94-673, eff. 8-23-05; 94-804, eff. 5-26-06; 94-839, eff. 6-6-06; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 95-1008, eff. 12-15-08.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.