Privacy measure revised, approved

By MARK PETERS, Portland Press Herald Writer

Copyright © 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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AUGUSTA — A key legislative panel gave unanimous support Wednesday to a bill that would provide broad exemptions to Maine's public disclosure law for companies involved in slot-machine gambling. The Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee has recommended that the full Legislature pass the bill, which would allow companies to keep private some of the information they must submit for a gaming license. But the panel agreed to give the public more access than had been originally proposed.

Bangor residents, the harness racing community and Penn National Gaming are closely watching the privacy bill. Penn National won't start building the state's first so-called racino at Bangor Raceway until it passes. The Legislature is expected to take up the bill after the Judiciary Committee reviews the exemptions.

The committee removed privacy protection for such information as the political activity and civil and criminal histories of gaming companies and their employees. The revisions would also require these companies to release information on the compensation of top executives. And the public could see some data on the racino's operation.

But many items still remained protected, from trade secrets to information regulators determine would be an "unwarranted invasion of personal privacy" if released.

"It remains one of the broadest pieces of confidentiality statute that would exist in Maine law if you enact it," said Chief Deputy Attorney General Linda Pistner.

Changes in the proposal, which evolved over the past two weeks, came after concerns were voiced by the Maine Attorney General's Office, anti-gambling advocates and the Maine Press Association. They questioned whether the bill would give gambling companies too much privacy, and why it would make private some information the public already can request.

The revised bill requires the Maine Gambling Control Board to allow the public to look at most available information. It exempts marital status, home addresses and other personal information.

Committee members supported what some described as a compromise between the gaming industry and the public's right to know.

"I think it is pretty well balanced," said state Rep. John Patrick, D-Rumford, co-chairman of the committee.

Penn National, which requested the privacy law while filing its application for a state gambling license, does not plan to oppose the changes in the bill at this point. There is no current opposition from other gambling-related companies such as slot machine vendors, to which the law also would apply.

The Maine Press Association was pleased the committee addressed a number of the issues it had about public access, said Mike Mahoney, the association's lobbyist.

It was unclear Wednesday how the bill would fare in the full House and Senate. Advocates will try to get a two-thirds majority vote in each chamber so the legislation can be enacted immediately.

Public Safety Commissioner Michael Cantara said he will recommend the governor support the bill. Gov. John Baldacci has said he would back privacy legislation so that the Bangor racino could move forward.

Staff Writer Mark Peters can be contacted at 623-1031 or at:

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