FIFTY-EIGHTH WYOMING LEGISLATURE

APPROVED INTERIM COMMITTEE STUDIES

2005 INTERIM

JOINT TRAVEL, RECREATION, WILDLIFE AND CULTURAL RESOURCES INTERIM COMMITTEE

Initial Approved Budget: $22,000

Topic #1:            Gambling.

(a) The Committee will undertake a study of the regulation of gambling in Wyoming.  Subtopics include:

(i) Bingo – both in general and in light of the recent district court opinion regarding the legality of electronic bingo.

(ii) Tribal Relations – the Committee will study the relationship to and effects of tribal gaming on state regulation and management of gambling.  Management Council directed that the Committee coordinate this study with the related study on Tribal gambling assigned to the Select Committee on Tribal Relations.

(iii) Lottery – the Committee will study possibilities of creating a state lottery or entering into powerball, and the potential uses for monies raised by that action.  Management Council directed that the Committee review costs and potential revenues from a state lottery.

(iv) Pari-mutuel Commission – the Committee will study the types of gambling being regulated by the commission.

Topic #2:            Game and Fish topics.

(a)        The Committee will review the following topics regarding state wildlife resources and determine if changes or updating is needed:

            (i)         Electronic licensing.

            (ii)        Regulation of intentional feeding of big game animals by private individuals in order to control the spread of diseases.

            (iii)       Licensing of fishing outfitters and guides.

            (iv)       Review results of the task force study on the hunting segment of the tourism industry.

Topic #3:            State Parks and Cultural Resources.

(a)        (i)         Combined Collection Center – the department has received an appropriation to hire a consultant to study the need for facilities and management of archival and museum storage.  The department will report the progress of the study and recommend potential legislation needed to address the issues.

(ii) Central Wyoming History Repository Web Portal – the Committee will study the need for a web portal to facilitate a central repository for information regarding Wyoming history and cultural resources.