Florida Senate - 2015                                     SB 116
       
       
        
       By Senator Margolis
       
       
       
       
       
       35-00105-15                                            2015116__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to gaming; providing a short title;
    3         prohibiting applicants for and permitholders of pari
    4         mutuel permits from contributing to certain campaign
    5         accounts and political committees; defining the term
    6         “department officials”; prohibiting specified
    7         political activity or employment by department
    8         officials; providing an effective date.
    9  
   10         WHEREAS, public confidence in the conduct of the gaming
   11  industry is an important factor in ensuring the success of the
   12  industry in this state, and
   13         WHEREAS, the enactment of increased controls restricting
   14  the ability of the gaming industry to directly influence the
   15  political process increases the public confidence in the conduct
   16  of the gaming industry, and
   17         WHEREAS, transparency and accountability in the regulation
   18  of the gaming industry is of paramount importance in this
   19  regard, and
   20         WHEREAS, it is imperative that regulators of the gaming
   21  industry be held to the highest standards of conduct, NOW,
   22  THEREFORE,
   23  
   24  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   25  
   26         Section 1. This act may be cited as the “Public Confidence
   27  in Gaming Act.”
   28         Section 2. Political activity and employment restrictions;
   29  pari-mutuel applicants and permitholders and specified
   30  department officials.—
   31         (1) A person or entity who applies to the Division of Pari
   32  mutuel Wagering within the Department of Business and
   33  Professional Regulation for a permit to conduct pari-mutuel
   34  operations or who holds a permit to conduct such operations
   35  pursuant to chapter 550, Florida Statutes, may not make a
   36  contribution to the campaign account of an officeholder of, or a
   37  candidate for, the office of Governor, Attorney General, Chief
   38  Financial Officer, Commissioner of Agriculture, state senator,
   39  or state representative. In addition, such person or entity may
   40  not make a contribution to a political committee of which such
   41  officeholder or candidate is a member.
   42         (2)(a) As used in this subsection, the term “department
   43  officials” refers to the following positions within the
   44  Department of Business and Professional Regulation:
   45         1. The Secretary of Business and Professional Regulation.
   46         2. The chief of staff.
   47         3. The general counsel.
   48         4. The division director, deputy director, chief of
   49  auditing, chief of operations, chief of investigations, chief of
   50  slot operations, revenue program administrator, licensing
   51  administrator, administrator of the state compliance agency, and
   52  regional program administrators of the Division of Pari-mutuel
   53  Wagering.
   54         (b) Department officials are prohibited from:
   55         1. Holding, or being a candidate for, public office or
   56  taking an active part in a political campaign while employed by
   57  the department.
   58         2. Holding other employment, including receiving
   59  compensation or other remuneration for speaking at or attending
   60  an event associated with the gaming or pari-mutuel industry.
   61         3. Accepting employment from or entering into a contractual
   62  relationship with an entity of the gaming or pari-mutuel
   63  industry for 4 years after termination of his or her employment
   64  with the department.
   65         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.