House Bill 606

(COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MOBILE-ONLINE BETTING TASK FORCE; TO PROVIDE THE PURPOSES OF THE TASK FORCE; TO DESIGNATE THE CHAIRPERSON AND CO-CHAIRPERSON OF THE TASK FORCE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTED MEMBERS TO THE TASK FORCE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) There is hereby created the Mobile-Online Betting Task Force to undertake a comprehensive analysis of all matters related to legalizing online betting, online gaming and/or online wagering for a fee within this state and to recommend the proper oversight and regulation of the online betting, online gaming and/or online wagering with a fee. The task force shall be chaired by the House Gaming Committee Chairperson and co-chaired by the Senate Gaming Committee Chairperson and shall be composed of a total of eleven (11) members, with nine (9) members to be appointed as follows:

(a) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission or a designee;

(b) The Commissioner of the Department of Revenue or a designee;

(d) Three (3) members appointed by the Chairperson of the Senate Gaming Committee; and

(e) Three (3) members appointed by the Chairperson of the House of Representatives Gaming Committee.

(2) The members of the task force shall be appointed within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this act. Any vacancy in the task force shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled as prescribed in subsection (1). The task force shall hold its first meeting within sixty (60) days of the effective date of this act, on the call of the Chairman of the task force. A majority of the membership of the task force shall constitute a quorum, and shall meet at the call of the Chairman, or upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the task force. All members must be notified in writing of all meetings at least five (5) days before the date on which a meeting of the task force is scheduled.

(3) The members of the task force shall serve without compensation.

(4) The task force shall prepare and submit a final report that contains a detailed statement of findings, conclusions and recommendations of the task force to the Legislature by October 15, 2023. The report shall be made available to the public.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.