Division of Gaming Enforcement; creation; duties.

(1) There is created within the Florida Gaming Control Commission a Division of Gaming Enforcement. The Division of Gaming Enforcement shall be considered a criminal justice agency as defined in s. 943.045.

(2) The commissioners shall appoint a director of the Division of Gaming Enforcement who is qualified by training and experience in law enforcement or security to supervise, direct, coordinate, and administer all activities of the division.

(3) The director and all investigators employed by the division must meet the requirements for employment and appointment provided by s. 943.13 and must be certified as law enforcement officers as defined in s. 943.10(1). The director and such investigators shall be designated law enforcement officers and shall have the power to detect, apprehend, and arrest for any alleged violation of chapter 24, part II of chapter 285, chapter 546, chapter 550, chapter 551, or chapter 849, or any rule adopted pursuant thereto, or any law of this state. Such law enforcement officers may enter upon any premises at which gaming activities are taking place in the state for the performance of their lawful duties and may take with them any necessary equipment, and such entry does not constitute a trespass. In any instance in which there is reason to believe that a violation has occurred, such officers have the authority, without warrant, to search and inspect any premises where the violation is alleged to have occurred or is occurring. Any such officer may, consistent with the United States and Florida Constitutions, seize or take possession of any papers, records, tickets, currency, or other items related to any alleged violation. Investigators employed by the commission shall also have access to, and shall have the right to inspect, premises licensed by the commission, to collect taxes and remit them to the officer entitled to them, and to examine the books and records of all persons licensed by the commission.

(4)(a) The division and its investigators are specifically authorized to seize any contraband in accordance with the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act. For purposes of this section, the term “contraband” has the same meaning as the term “contraband article” in s. 932.701(2)(a)2.

(b) The division is specifically authorized to store and test any contraband that is seized in accordance with the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act and may authorize any of its staff to implement this paragraph.

(c) This subsection does not limit the authority of any other person authorized by law to seize contraband.

(5) The Department of Law Enforcement shall provide assistance in obtaining criminal history information relevant to investigations required for honest, secure, and exemplary gaming operations, and such other assistance as may be requested by the executive director of the commission and agreed to by the executive director of the Department of Law Enforcement. Any other state agency, including the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Department of Revenue, shall, upon request, provide the commission with any information relevant to any investigation conducted pursuant to this section. The commission shall reimburse any agency for the actual cost of providing any assistance pursuant to this subsection.