Pursuant to s. 35.095 (1)(b), Wisconsin Statutes, the following 2021 Act(s) have been published: Act Number Bill Number Publication Date
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
May 21, 2021
The Honorable, the Senate:
hist134500I am vetoing 2021 Senate Bill 170 in its entirety. This bill would allow an organization with a Class B raffle license to conduct a raffle by using a paddlewheel.
I object to this bill and am once gain vetoing it because paddlewheel gambling is not permitted by the Wisconsin Constitution. Under Article IV, Section 24, raffles may be licensed only under limited circumstances. Even though Senate Bill 170 uses the term “raffle,” paddlewheel gambling is not a raffle as contemplated by the constitutional text. Instead, it is more similar to roulette, which is a distinct form of gambling under our Constitution. While a roulette wheel typically lies horizontally and is spun with a ball to determine the winner based on chance, and a paddlewheel as described in this bill hangs vertically and is spun to determine the winner using a pointer or marker based on chance, this is a distinction without a difference. I cannot knowingly sign a bill that I believe is prohibited by our Constitution.
Furthermore, as I stated when I vetoed this bill last year, the expansion proposed by this bill creates an unnecessary risk of gaming revenue for the State. Tribal Nations have exclusive rights to conduct Class III gaming in Wisconsin, as guaranteed under the tribal gaming compacts. The compacts signed by the State of Wisconsin and the Tribes enable revenue-sharing payments from the Tribes to the State in exchange for an agreement by the State to not substantively alter the charitable games authorized by the State or allow the operation of any additional Class III games. By expanding the definition of raffle to include this device, or by adding a newly approved form of Class III game, this bill could be considered a violation of the compacts.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
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Referrals and Receipt of Committee Reports Concerning Proposed Administrative Rules
The joint committee for review of Administrative Rules reported and recommended:
Relating to degrees from programs accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Counseling (CACREP).
Relating to speech and language impairment criteria.
STEPHEN NASS
Senate Chairperson
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The committee on Education reported and recommended:
Relating to expanding virtual summer and interim session courses.
hist134515Referred to the joint committee for review of Administrative Rules, May 24, 2021. ALBERTA DARLING
Chairperson
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The committee on Health reported and recommended:
Relating to community substance abuse services.
hist134513Referred to the joint committee for review of Administrative Rules, May 24, 2021. PATRICK TESTIN
Chairperson
