ALEXANDRIA, Va. The United Motorcoach Association has appealed to officials in Kansas to exempt motorcoach and tour operators from having to purchase an expensive license to bring groups to Kansas casinos.

In a letter to Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission Executive Director Richard Peterson-Klein, UMA President and CEO Victor Parra asked that coach and tour operators be designated as "non-gaming suppliers."

Currently, companies delivering groups to Kansas casinos are required to have what is called a Level 1 Gaming Supplier License.

Parra pointed out in his letter that the $5,000-$10,000 cost to obtain the license "would adversely impact motorcoach and tour operations by causing charter groups, tours and scheduled-service operators to choose casino and gaming venues outside of Kansas."

Kansas is surrounded by states that also have casinos, including two that have casinos right across the state line.

Parras letter suggested the license is a form of regulation thats prohibited by federal law.

"The preponderance of motorcoach operating companies are regulated by the United States Department of Transportation; more specifically, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration," wrote Parra.

"Each registered passenger carrier must file evidence of $5 million of liability (insurance) and subject themselves to rigorous safety audits and regulatory compliance reviews in addition to motorcoach terminal and destination inspection. Interstate motorcoach operations are generally subject to interstate commerce laws."

He noted that a section of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century contains a provision that says "no state or political subdivision thereof shall enact or enforce any law, rule, regulation, standard, or other provision having the force and effect of law relating to the authority to provide intrastate or interstate charter bus transportation."

Parra also noted that were a waiver granted from the Level 1 License, all payments to motorcoach operators, for example, those made by casinos, still would be tracked and recorded under state regulations. Thats an important consideration to states that attempt to track every penny handled by casinos.