[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4284 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4284

To provide for the establishment of an Amateur Sports Illegal Gambling 
 Task Force; to increase penalties for illegal sports gambling; and to 
      study illegal sports gambling behavior among minor persons.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 13, 2000

Ms. Berkley (for herself, Mr. Gibbons, and Ms. DeLauro) introduced the 
  following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide for the establishment of an Amateur Sports Illegal Gambling 
 Task Force; to increase penalties for illegal sports gambling; and to 
      study illegal sports gambling behavior among minor persons.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Illegal Sports Betting Enforcement 
Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. AMATEUR SPORTS ILLEGAL GAMBLING TASK FORCE.

    (a) Appointment of Task Force.--The Attorney General shall 
establish in the Department of Justice an Amateur Sports Illegal 
Gambling Task Force.
    (b) Duties.--The duties of the Amateur Sports Illegal Gambling Task 
Force are--
            (1) to enforce Federal laws that prohibit gambling relating 
        to amateur sporting events and contests, and
            (2) to submit annually, to the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate, a 
        report describing with respect to violations of such laws, 
        prosecutions commenced, and convictions obtained during the 
        period for which such report is submitted.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2001 
and $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.

SEC. 3. INCREASED PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL SPORTS GAMBLING.

    (a) Interstate Transmission of Bets or Information Assisting in 
Placing Bets on Sporting Events.--Section 1084(a) of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``two'' and inserting ``5''.
    (b) Interstate Transportation of Wagering Paraphernalia.--Section 
1953(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: ``If the matter carried or sent in interstate or 
foreign commerce was intended by the defendant to be used to assist in 
the placing of bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest, the 
maximum term of imprisonment for the offense shall be 10 years.''.
    (c) Illegal Gambling Business.--Section 1955(a) of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``If the 
gambling business included the placing of bets or wagers on any 
sporting event or contest, the maximum term of imprisonment for the 
offense shall be 10 years.''.
    (d) Interstate Travel To Promote and Conduct an Illegal Gambling 
Business.--Section 1952 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) If the offense violated paragraph (1) or (3) of subsection 
(a) and the illegal activity included the placing of bets or wagers on 
any sporting event or contest, the maximum term of imprisonment for the 
offense shall be 10 years.''.
    (e) Sports Bribery.--Section 224(a) of title 18, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``If the purpose 
of the bribery is to affect the outcome of a bet or wager placed on any 
sporting event or contest, the maximum term of imprisonment for the 
offense shall be 10 years.''.

SEC. 4. STUDY ON ILLEGAL SPORTS GAMBLING BEHAVIOR AMONG MINOR PERSONS.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Institute of Justice 
shall conduct a study to determine the extent to which minor persons 
participate in illegal sports gambling activities.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Director of the National Institute of Justice shall 
submit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President 
pro tempore of the Senate, a report--
            (1) describing the extent to which minor persons 
        participate in illegal sports gambling activities, and
            (2) making recommendations on actions that should be taken 
        to curtail participation by minor persons in sports gambling 
        activities.

SEC. 5. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of the Congress as follows:
            (1) Illegal sports gambling poses a significant threat to 
        youth on college campuses and in society in general.
            (2) State and local governments, the National Collegiate 
        Athletic Association, and other youth, school, and collegiate 
        organizations should provide educational and prevention 
        programs to help youth recognize the dangers of illegal sports 
        gambling and the serious consequences it can have.
            (3) Such programs should include public service 
        announcements, especially during tournament and bowl game 
        coverage.
            (4) The National Collegiate Athletic Association and other 
        amateur sports governing bodies should adopt mandatory codes of 
        conduct regarding the avoidance and prevention of illegal 
        sports gambling among our youth.
            (5) The National Collegiate Athletic Association should 
        enlist universities in the United States to develop scientific 
        research on youth sports gambling, and related matters.
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