Chapter 501 Oregon Laws 1999

Session Law

 

AN ACT

 

SB 249

 

Relating to taxation; creating new provisions; amending ORS 320.005, 320.011, 320.012, 320.013, 320.100, 320.120, 320.150 and 320.990; and repealing ORS 320.031, 320.040, 320.050, 320.060, 320.065 and 320.070.

 

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

 

      SECTION 1. ORS 320.005 is amended to read:

      320.005. As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:

      (1) "Amusement device" means a video lottery game terminal, including but not limited to any [mechanical,] electronic, mechanical-electronic or nonmechanical [mechanism which is designed for the amusement of the player or operator and is complete in itself having as its purpose the production or creation of a game of chance] device that:

      (a) Displays a ticket through the use of a video display screen;

      (b) Is available for consumer play upon the payment of consideration;

      (c) Determines winners through the element of chance; and

      (d) Displays possible prizes on the device.

      (2) "Department" means the Department of Revenue.

      [(3) "Display or operation" means the display by a person for gain, benefit or advantage of any amusement device for use by the public or for the operation by the public of the device and includes but is not limited to a device that is displayed or operated by or for the use of the members of any private club, lodge, fraternal society or other like organization whose membership is limited to a portion of the public.]

      [(4)(a) "Game of chance" means any contest, game, gaming scheme or gaming mechanism or other amusement device in which the outcome depends in a material degree upon an element of chance as opposed to an element of knowledge, expertise, physical ability or other skill of the user which may affect the outcome in a material way notwithstanding that chance may also be a factor. Game of chance does not include an on-line terminal of the Oregon State Lottery used to sell lottery game tickets or a game of knowledge, expertise, physical ability or other skill.]

      [(b) A game of chance is exemplified by poker, blackjack, keno, roulette, racing or other gaming device.]

      [(c) A game of knowledge, expertise, physical ability or other skill is exemplified by a pinball machine, shuffleboard, video or other game where the user has control of any object, for example a human character, space ship, car, ball or coin in order that the user may direct the object to a destination or cause the object to assume a particular or different form.]

      [(d) "Game of chance" may be defined further by the department by rule.]

      (3) "Net receipts" has the meaning given the term "net receipts from video lottery games" under ORS 461.547.

      (4) "Operate" means to make an amusement device available for use by the public for gain, benefit or advantage.

      (5)(a) "Person" means every individual, partnership (limited or not), corporation (for-profit or not-for-profit), company, cooperative, joint stock company, joint venture, firm, business trust, association, organization, institution, club, society, receiver, assignee, trustee in bankruptcy, auctioneer, syndicate, trust, trustee, estate, personal representative or any group of individuals acting as a unit, whether mutual, cooperative, fraternal, nonprofit or otherwise.

      (b) "Person" includes this or another state, a municipal corporation, quasi-municipal corporation or political subdivision of this or another state, and the agencies, departments and institutions of this or another state, irrespective of the nature of the activities engaged in or functions performed, but does not include the United States or a foreign government or any agency, department or instrumentality of the United States or of any foreign government.

      (6) "Tax year" means a period of 12 months beginning July 1 and ending the following June 30.

      SECTION 2. ORS 320.011 is amended to read:

      320.011. (1) An excise tax is imposed upon every person for the privilege of [engaging in the business of display or operation of] operating an amusement device within this state [for gain, benefit or advantage]. The [excise] tax shall be imposed [on an annual basis and shall be measured] as provided in subsection (2) of this section and ORS 320.012.

      (2) The [excise] tax shall be $125 for [display or operation of each amusement device designed and played as a game of chance] operating an amusement device during the tax year.

      (3) If an amusement device is not in operation in each quarter of the tax year, the tax imposed under this section shall be prorated, based on the number of calendar quarters in which the amusement device was operating for one day or more.

      [(3)] (4) The [excise] tax imposed by this section is in addition to all other excises, taxes, fees or other charges and shall not be used to reduce amounts otherwise accruing to the State Lottery Fund under contracts or agreements with lottery operators or retailers or in any other manner.

      SECTION 3. ORS 320.012 is amended to read:

      320.012. (1) If at any point during the [period for which the excise tax as measured under ORS 320.011 (2) is paid that the net receipts at a location of the person from the display or operation of an amusement device or] tax year, net receipts from one or more amusement devices operating at a single location exceed $104,000, the tax imposed under ORS 320.011 shall be increased by [adding to its measure the amount of] an additional $50 for each device at the location.

      (2) If at any point during the [period for which the excise tax as measured under ORS 321.011 (2) and subsection (1) of this section is paid that the net receipts at a location of the person from the display or operation of an amusement device or] tax year, net receipts from one or more amusement devices operating at a single location exceed $260,000, the tax imposed under ORS 320.011 and subsection (1) of this section shall be increased by [adding to its measure the amount of] an additional $75 for each device at the location.

      [(3) Any increases in the measure of the excise tax provided by this section shall be paid to the Department of Revenue within 10 days after the close of the calendar quarter in which the net receipts of the person reach the level for which the increase in the measure of the tax is provided. Upon payment of the increase in excise tax and any penalty, the department shall issue to the person a receipt for each amusement device with respect to which the increase is paid.]

      [(4) As used in this section, "net receipts" has the meaning given the term "net receipts from video lottery games" under ORS 461.547.]

      [(5)] (3) The department may adopt rules defining the term "location" for purposes of this section.

      SECTION 4. ORS 320.013 is amended to read:

      320.013. (1) In addition to the excise tax imposed by ORS 320.011, an excise tax is imposed upon every person for the privilege of [engaging in the business of display or operation of any] operating an amusement device within this state. The tax [for gain, benefit or advantage. The excise shall be imposed on an annual basis and] shall be $10 for [display or operation of] each amusement device operated during the tax year [designed and played as a game of chance].

      (2) All moneys received from the tax imposed under subsection (1) of this section [as taxes or penalty], not including penalties, shall be paid by the Department of Revenue into the State Treasury quarterly and are continuously appropriated to pay the expenses of the state and local programs of the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps established under ORS 418.650 to 418.663.

      SECTION 5. (1) If an amusement device was in operation before July 1 of the tax year and is to be operating on July 1 of the tax year, the excise tax imposed under ORS 320.011 and 320.013 shall be due on June 30 preceding the tax year.

      (2) If an amusement device begins operating at a location on or after July 1 of the tax year, the excise tax imposed under ORS 320.011 and 320.013 shall be due on the day the amusement device begins operating.

      (3) If additional taxes are due under ORS 320.012, the additional taxes shall be due on the 14th day after the close of the calendar quarter in which the net receipts from amusement devices operating at a location equal or exceed the level at which the additional taxes are due.

      (4) If taxes imposed under ORS 320.011 or 320.013 have been paid for operating an amusement device that, during the tax year, is taken out of operation as the result of being replaced by another amusement device, the taxes that have been paid for the amusement device that has been taken out of operation shall be taken into account in determining any taxes due on the replacement amusement device.

      (5) The Department of Revenue may not refund any amusement device tax to an amusement device taxpayer who, at the time of payment, was responsible for the payment of the tax and who subsequently is no longer the person responsible for the payment of the tax.

      SECTION 6. (1) Each person responsible by law or contract for the operation of an amusement device in this state, together with any officer or partner thereof, shall be liable jointly and severally for the taxes imposed under this chapter and for any penalties arising under this chapter.

      (2) If an amusement device is operated in this state without a tax imposed by this chapter having been paid on or before 30 days after the date the tax is due, a penalty of $200 shall be imposed.

      (3) The penalty imposed in subsection (2) of this section shall be waived if the sole reason the tax was not paid is because of the failure of the Oregon State Lottery to act under the agreement described in ORS 320.150.

      SECTION 7. ORS 320.100 is amended to read:

      320.100. (1) All moneys received from the taxes imposed under ORS 320.011 and 320.012, including penalties, [as taxes or penalty] shall be paid by the Department of Revenue in the following manner:

      (a) Seventy-five percent (75%) of the moneys shall be credited, appropriated or remitted as follows:

      (A) Forty-three and two-tenths percent (43.2%) thereof shall be credited to the General Fund to be available for payment of general governmental expenses.

      (B) Nine and seven-tenths percent (9.7%) is continuously appropriated to pay the expenses of state and local programs of the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps established under ORS 418.650 to 418.663.

      (C) Forty-seven and one-tenth percent (47.1%) thereof shall be remitted to the county treasurers of the several counties of the state. Each county shall receive such share of the moneys as its population, determined by the State Board of Higher Education, bears to the total population of the counties of the state, as determined by the census last preceding such apportionment.

      (b) Twenty-five percent (25%) of the moneys shall be continuously appropriated to pay the expenses of the state and local programs of the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps established under ORS 418.650 to 418.663.

      (2) All revenues received under this section by the treasurers of the several counties shall be placed in the general fund of each county to be expended by the county courts or the board of county commissioners of the several counties for general governmental expenses.

      SECTION 8. ORS 320.120 is amended to read:

      320.120. (1) The Department of Revenue may employ the agents necessary for the administration and enforcement of this chapter. Agents of the department charged with the enforcement of this chapter have all the power and authority of police officers in the performance of such duties.

      (2) The Oregon State Lottery and the agents and employees of the Oregon State Lottery may not be considered agents of the department charged with the enforcement of this chapter.

      SECTION 9. ORS 320.150 is amended to read:

      320.150. The Department or Revenue and the Oregon State Lottery Commission shall enter into an agreement pursuant to which the [commission shall assume responsibility for collection functions] Oregon State Lottery shall assist the department in the collection of excise taxes imposed under this chapter on amusement devices operated under the authority of the Oregon State Lottery Commission pursuant to ORS 461.215 and 461.217 and any other functions of the department under this chapter as may be provided under the agreement. The agreement is not intended to preclude performance by the department of collection functions as from time to time may be required, nor is the agreement intended to preclude the performance of functions by the [commission] Oregon State Lottery, under less formal arrangements made with the department, with respect to the tax imposed under this chapter if the functions are not specifically mentioned in the agreement. The collection of taxes under this chapter by the Oregon State Lottery shall not render the Oregon State Lottery or the agents and employees of the Oregon State Lottery responsible for collection of the tax.

      SECTION 10. ORS 320.990 is amended to read:

      320.990. [(1)] Violation of any provision of this chapter by any person is punishable, upon conviction, by a fine of not more than $500, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months, or by both. Justice courts have concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts of any prosecution provided for in this subsection.

      [(2) Violation of ORS 320.060 (3) is forgery in the first degree and is punishable as such.]

      [(3) Violation of ORS 320.060 (4) and (5) and 320.070 (3) is punishable, upon conviction, by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or both.]

      SECTION 11. Sections 5 and 6 of this 1999 Act and the amendments to ORS 320.005, 320.011, 320.012, 320.013, 320.100, 320.120, 320.150 and 320.990 by sections 1 to 4 and 7 to 10 of this 1999 Act apply to the operation of amusement devices in amusement device tax years beginning on or after July 1, 1999.

      SECTION 12. ORS 320.031, 320.040, 320.050, 320.060, 320.065 and 320.070 are repealed.

      SECTION 13. Nothing in the repeal of ORS 320.031, 320.040, 320.050, 320.060, 320.065 and 320.070 by section 12 of this 1999 Act shall affect the determination or collection of amusement device taxes for an amusement device tax year beginning before July 1, 1999.

      SECTION 14. Sections 5 and 6 of this 1999 Act are added to and made a part of ORS chapter 320.

 

Approved by the Governor July 6, 1999

 

Filed in the office of Secretary of State July 6, 1999

 

Effective date October 23, 1999

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