SB 4A — Gaming Enforcement

Florida Senate - 2021 CS for SB 4-A FirstBy Engrossedthe 20214Ae1Committee Aon billAppropriations; to be entitled An act relating to gaming enforcement;

and Senator Hutson 576-00040-21A 20214Ac1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to gaming enforcement;

expanding the authority of the Office of Statewide Prosecution within the Department of Legal Affairs to investigate and prosecute certain crimes;crimes referred by the Florida Gaming Control Commission;

requiring the Governor to remove or suspend members of the commission under certain circumstances;

9796 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

9998 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 16.56, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

or 16. Any criminal violation of chapter 24, part II of chapter 285, chapter 546, chapter 550, chapter 551, or chapter 849;849 referred to the Office of Statewide Prosecution by the Florida Gaming Control Commission;

AtThe the end of the initial chair’schair and initial vice chair’schair terms pursuant to subparagraph 1., the commission shall electserve onea ofminimum the members of the2 commissionyears. as chair and one of the members of the commission as vice chair.

At the end of the initial chair’s and initial vice chair’s terms, the commission shall elect one of the members of the commission as chair and one of the members of the commission as vice chair.

In addition to such power, the Governor mustmay remove a member who is convicted of or found guilty of or has pled nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, in any jurisdiction, a misdemeanor that directly relates to gambling, dishonesty, theft, or fraud.

3. Be a registered lobbyist for the executive or legislativehave branch,been except while a commissionermember or employee of the commissionLegislature; when officially representing the commission;

or 4. Be a bingoregistered gamelobbyist operatorfor the executive or anlegislative employeebranch, ofexcept while a bingocommissioner gamewhen operator.officially representing the commission;

or 5. Be a bingo game operator or an employee of a bingo game operator.

549551 For the purposes of this subsection, the term “relative” means a spouse, father, mother, son, daughter, grandfather, grandmother, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, cousin, nephew, niece, father-in law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, or half-sister.

731 If, during the course of an investigation by the Commission on Ethics into an alleged violation of this paragraph, allegations are made as to the identity of the person giving or providing the prohibited thing, that person must be given notice and an opportunity to participate in the investigation and relevant proceedings to present a defense.

If the Commission on Ethics determines that the person gave or provided a prohibited thing, the person may not appear before the commission or otherwise represent anyone before the commission for a period of 2 years.

(e)1. If,(e) A duringcommissioner, thean courseemployee of anthe investigationcommission, byor thea Commissionrelative onliving Ethicsin intothe ansame allegedhousehold violationas ofa thiscommissioner subsection,or allegationsan areemployee mademay asnot toplace thea identitywager ofin theany personfacility givinglicensed orby providing the prohibitedcommission thing,or thatany personfacility mustin bethe givenstate noticeoperated andby an opportunityIndian totribe participatethat inhas thea investigationvalid and relevantactive proceedingscompact towith presentthe astate. defense.

2. If the Commission on Ethics determines that the person gave or provided a prohibited thing, the person may not appear before the commission or otherwise represent anyone before the commission for a period of 2 years.

(f) A commissioner, an employee of the commission, or a relative living in the same household as a commissioner or an employee may not place a wager in any facility licensed by the commission or any facility in the state operated by an Indian tribe that has a valid and active compact with the state.