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House to address poker initiative
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Posted on Jul 07 2005
The House of Representatives is addressing the issues aired by the Saipan Chamber of Commerce on the need to remove poker establishments from residential villages and schools.
House leadership spokesman Charles Reyes Jr. said that House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial and other members have met with Chamber president Alex Sablan on the matter.
Sablan’s group is lobbying the Legislature to pass a bill for such purpose.
At the same time, the Chamber has submitted a petition, “Third Senatorial District Initiative Petition for Local Law on Poker and Pachinko Machines of 2005” for the November 2005 ballot.
Reyes said the poker initiative is actually addressed by a bill that was introduced by Rep. Clyde Norita. “These issues are under discussion in the House,” said Reyes.
During a session last May, House members failed to reach a consensus on the bill, House Bill 14-267, which aims to keep poker establishments away from schools, nurseries, and churches.
Rep. David Apatang had opposed the 250-foot distance being proposed for these establishments, saying it would hurt a number of poker businesses.
The bill provides that no amusement machine shall be operated within 250 feet from the closest boundary of any public or private school, childcare center, nurseries, and churches.
It also prohibits operation of these machines adjacent to or within the same facility or complex and under the same roof where commercial Laundromats or grocery stores are located.
As proposed, poker shops would only be allowed to operate along Middle Road and Beach Road.
