Florida Gaming Control Commission; appointment and employment restrictions.

(1) PERSONS INELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE COMMISSION.—The following persons are ineligible for appointment to the commission:

(a) A person who holds any office in a political party.

(b) A person who within the previous 10 years has been convicted of or found guilty of or has pled nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, in any jurisdiction, any felony, or a misdemeanor that directly related to gambling, dishonesty, theft, or fraud.

(c) A person who has been convicted of or found guilty of or pled nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, in any jurisdiction, a crime listed in s. 775.21(4)(a)1. or s. 776.08.

(d) A person who has had a license or permit issued under chapter 550, chapter 551, or chapter 849 or a gaming license issued by any other jurisdiction denied, suspended, or revoked.

(2) PROHIBITIONS FOR EMPLOYEES AND COMMISSIONERS; PERSONS INELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT TO AND EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMMISSION.—

(a) A person may not, for the 2 years immediately preceding the date of appointment to or employment with the commission and while appointed to or employed with the commission:

1. Hold a permit or license issued under chapter 550 or a license issued under chapter 551 or chapter 849; be an officer, official, or employee of such permitholder or licensee; or be an ultimate equitable owner, as defined in s. 550.002(37), of such permitholder or licensee;

2. Be an officer, official, employee, or other person with duties or responsibilities relating to a gaming operation owned by an Indian tribe that has a valid and active compact with the state; be a contractor or subcontractor of such tribe or an entity employed, licensed, or contracted by such tribe; or be an ultimate equitable owner, as defined in s. 550.002(37), of such entity;

3. Be a registered lobbyist for the executive or legislative branch, except while a commissioner or employee of the commission when officially representing the commission or unless the person registered as a lobbyist for the executive or legislative branch while employed by a state agency as defined in s. 110.107 during the normal course of his or her employment with such agency and he or she has not lobbied on behalf of any entity other than a state agency during the 2 years immediately preceding the date of his or her appointment to or employment with the commission; or

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

(b) A person is ineligible for appointment to or employment with the commission if, within the 2 years immediately preceding such appointment or employment, he or she violated paragraph (a) or solicited or accepted employment with, acquired any direct or indirect interest in, or had any direct or indirect business association, partnership, or financial relationship with, or is a relative of:

1. Any person or entity who is an applicant, licensee, or registrant with the commission; or

2. Any officer, official, employee, or other person with duties or responsibilities relating to a gaming operation owned by an Indian tribe that has a valid and active compact with the state; any contractor or subcontractor of such tribe or an entity employed, licensed, or contracted by such tribe; or any ultimate equitable owner, as defined in s. 550.002(37), of such entity.

(c) A person who is ineligible for employment with the commission under paragraph (b) due to being a relative of a person listed under subparagraph (b)1. or subparagraph (b)2. may submit a waiver request to the commission for the person to be considered eligible for employment. The commission shall consider waiver requests on a case-by-case basis and shall approve or deny each request. If the commission approves the request, the person is eligible for employment with the commission. This paragraph does not apply to persons seeking appointment to the commission.

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.

(3) PERSONS INELIGIBLE FOR EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMMISSION.—

(a) A person is ineligible for employment with the commission if he or she has been convicted of or found guilty of or pled nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, in any jurisdiction, a felony within 5 years before the date of application; convicted of or found guilty of or pled nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, in any jurisdiction, a misdemeanor within 5 years before the date of application which the commission determines bears a close relationship to the duties and responsibilities of the position for which employment is sought; or dismissed from prior employment for gross misconduct or incompetence or intentionally making a false statement concerning a material fact in connection with the application for employment to the commission.

(b) If an employee of the commission is charged with a felony while employed by the commission, the commission shall suspend the employee, with or without pay, and terminate employment with the commission upon conviction. If an employee of the commission is charged with a misdemeanor while employed by the commission, the commission shall suspend the employee, with or without pay, and may terminate employment with the commission upon conviction if the commission determines that the offense bears a close relationship to the duties and responsibilities of the position held with the commission.

(4) NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.—

(a) A commissioner or an employee of the commission must notify the commission within 3 calendar days after arrest for any offense.

(b) A commissioner or an employee must immediately provide detailed written notice of the circumstances to the commission if the member or employee is indicted, charged with, convicted of, pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, or forfeits bail for:

1. A misdemeanor involving gambling, dishonesty, theft, or fraud;

2. A violation of any law in any state, or a law of the United States or any other jurisdiction, involving gambling, dishonesty, theft, or fraud which would constitute a misdemeanor under the laws of this state; or

3. A felony under the laws of this or any other state, the United States, or any other jurisdiction.