Utah senator wants to ban gambling near schools, playgrounds

Tuesday, July 15, 1997 | 4:01 a.m.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was expected to offer the amendment either Tuesday or Thursday when his panel writes legislation revamping the juvenile justice system. Hatch wants to ban gambling within about two miles of schools, playgrounds, pools, housing projects, boys and girls clubs or any other youth facility.

The far-reaching amendment is patterned after laws that created drug-free zones around schools.

In Nevada, the proposal would affect taverns, grocery stores, convenience stores and any other business that had any gaming activities. Either the businesses or nearby schools would have to relocate. The proposal also would be retroactive.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., described the Hatch amendment as anti-gaming "hysteria," and charged it would shut down the industry in Nevada and New Jersey. He said the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Bishop Gorman High School are within two miles of the Strip.

"Does he think people are going to be jumping out of pools to shoot a game of craps?" Reid asked.

Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., said the amendment "is so Draconian it would wipe out church bingo."

Committee spokeswoman Jeanne Lopato said Hatch "is concerned about the corrosive effects of gambling on young people." The amendment exempts Indian-run casinos.

Nevada law bans convenience stores with slot machines from locating within 1,500 feet of schools and churches, according to Joanie Jacka, administrative coordinator of the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

A new bill by state Sen. Mark James, R-Las Vegas, would add restrictions to casinos attempting to locate in Clark County neighborhoods.

The James bill, however, has no retroactive provision. Other aspects of the Nevada restrictions likewise are far less stringent than those proposed by Hatch, which would prohibit gaming activities from within 10,000 feet of youth facilities.

The Hatch amendment marks Washington's latest shot at the gaming industry in the past two months.

In June, Reid and Bryan fought off attempts in the Senate to eliminate tax deductions for gambling losses. In addition, anti-gaming rhetoric marked the initial meeting of a federal commission studying gambling.