BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 1103
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 8, 2013

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                    AB 1103 (Hall) - As Amended:  March 21, 2013 

          Policy Committee:                              Governmental  
          Organization Vote:                            16 - 0 

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Yes    Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill clarifies that for purpose of defining slot machines,  
          only amusement machines or devices that do not offer money or  
          any item that can be redeemed for money as a prize are excluded  
          from the definition of a slot machine. 

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Negligible cost.

           COMMENTS  

           Purpose  . The author asserts that illegal gambling machines that  
          offer money as prizes are a growing problem throughout our  
          communities.  The last couple of years, law enforcement has seen  
          an increase in these types of machines that offer up to hundreds  
          of dollars as prizes.  These machines are often found in stores,  
          restaurants and bars throughout the state. 

          Unfortunately, according to the sponsor of this bill, the Los  
          Angeles County Sheriff's Department, district attorneys are  
          having a hard time prosecuting these individuals because of a  
          loophole in the law that allows individuals to claim these types  
          of machines are games of skill. 

          AB 1103 aims to clarify that only amusement machines that do not  
          offer money as a prize or an item than can be redeemed for  
          money, are excluded from the definition of a slot machine. Any  
          other machine that operates as a game of chance and includes  
          money as a prize is considered a slot machine and is therefore  
          illegal. 








                                                                  AB 1103
                                                                  Page  2



           Analysis Prepared by  :    Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081