Florida Senate - 2014                                     SB 848
       
       
        
       By Senator Margolis
       
       
       
       
       
       35-00815-14                                            2014848__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to gaming; providing a short title;
    3         prohibiting applicants 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 conduct
    7         or employment by department officials; providing an
    8         effective date.
    9  
   10         WHEREAS, public confidence of the residents of this state
   11  is important to ensure success of the gaming industry in the
   12  State of Florida, and
   13         WHEREAS, the public has greater confidence with the
   14  assurance of increased controls restricting the ability of the
   15  gaming industry to directly influence the political process, and
   16         WHEREAS, public confidence is increased by transparency and
   17  accountability in the regulation of the gaming industry, and
   18         WHEREAS, it is imperative that regulators of the gaming
   19  industry be held to a high standard of conduct, NOW, THEREFORE,
   20  
   21  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   22  
   23         Section 1. This act may be cited as the “Public Confidence
   24  in Gaming Act.”
   25         Section 2. Employment and political activity restrictions;
   26  pari-mutuel applicants and permitholders and specified
   27  department officials.—
   28         (1) A person or entity who applies to the Division of Pari
   29  mutuel Wagering within the Department of Business and
   30  Professional Regulation for a permit to conduct pari-mutuel
   31  operations or who holds a permit to conduct such operations
   32  pursuant to chapter 550, Florida Statutes, may not make a
   33  contribution to the campaign account of an officeholder of, or a
   34  candidate for, the office of Governor, Attorney General, Chief
   35  Financial Officer, Commissioner of Agriculture, state senator,
   36  or state representative. In addition, such person or entity may
   37  not make a contribution to a political committee of which such
   38  officeholder or candidate is a member.
   39         (2)(a) As used in this subsection, the term “department
   40  officials” refers to the following positions within the
   41  Department of Business and Professional Regulation:
   42         1. The Secretary of Business and Professional Regulation.
   43         2. The chief of staff.
   44         3. The general counsel.
   45         4. The division director, deputy director, chief of
   46  auditing, chief of operations, chief of investigations, chief of
   47  slot operations, revenue program administrator, licensing
   48  administrator, administrator of the state compliance agency, and
   49  regional program administrators of the Division of Pari-mutuel
   50  Wagering.
   51         (b) Department officials are prohibited from:
   52         1. Holding, or being a candidate for, public office or
   53  taking an active part in a political campaign while employed by
   54  the department.
   55         2. Holding other employment, including receiving
   56  compensation or other remuneration for speaking at or attending
   57  an event associated with the gaming or pari-mutuel industry.
   58         3. Accepting employment from or entering into a contractual
   59  relationship with an entity of the gaming or pari-mutuel
   60  industry for 4 years after termination of his or her employment
   61  with the department.
   62         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2014.