An Act To Ensure the State's Authority over the Operation of Gambling Activities

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

Whereas,  a recent opinion of the United States Department of Justice clarified that intrastate sale of lottery tickets over the Internet is not in violation of the federal Interstate Wire Act of 1961; and

Whereas,  the State needs to assert its authority over the conduct of gambling; 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. 8 MRSA §371, sub-§6  is enacted to read:

Sec. 2. 17-A MRSA §952, sub-§11,  as enacted by PL 1975, c. 499, §1, is amended to read:

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