Section 313.004

Title XXI PUBLIC SAFETY AND MORALS

Chapter 313

Effective - 20 May 1994, 2 histories, see footnote   

  313.004.  Gaming commission, established, members, appointment — meetings — powers, duties — assigned to department of public safety — compensation, expenses — restricted activities — contracts, permissible — criminal records of applicants open to commission. — 1.  There is hereby created the "Missouri Gaming Commission" consisting of five members appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate.  Each member of the Missouri gaming commission shall be a resident of this state.  No member shall have pled guilty to or shall have been convicted of a felony or gambling-related offense.  Not more than three members shall be affiliated with the same political party.  No member of the commission shall be an elected official.  The overall membership of the commission shall reflect experience in law enforcement, civil and criminal investigation and financial principles.

  2.  The initial members of the commission shall be appointed within thirty days of April 29, 1993.  Of the members first appointed, one shall be appointed for a one-year term, two shall be appointed for a two-year term and two shall be appointed for a three-year term.  Thereafter, all members appointed shall serve for a three-year term.  No person shall serve as a member more than six years.  The governor shall designate one of the members as the chair.  The governor may remove any member of the commission from office for malfeasance or neglect of duty in office.  The governor may also replace any member of the commission, with the advice and consent of the senate, when any responsibility concerning the state lottery, pari-mutuel wagering or any other form of gaming is placed under the jurisdiction of the commission.

  3.  The commission shall meet at least quarterly in accordance with its rules.  In addition, special meetings may be called by the chair or any two members of the commission upon twenty-four-hour written notice to each member.  No action of the commission shall be binding unless taken at a meeting at which at least three of the five members are present and shall vote in favor thereof.

  4.  The commission shall perform all duties and have all the powers and responsibilities conferred and imposed upon it relating to excursion gambling boats and, after June 30, 1994, the lawful operation of the game of bingo under this chapter.  Within the commission, there shall be established a division of gambling and after June 30, 1994, the division of bingo.  Subject to appropriations, the commission may hire an executive director and any employees as it may deem necessary to carry out the commission's duties.  The commission shall have authority to require investigations of any employee or applicant for employment as deemed necessary and use such information or any other information in the determination of employment.  The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations establishing a code of ethics for its employees which shall include, but not be limited to, restrictions on which employees shall be prohibited from participating in or wagering on any game or gaming operation subject to the jurisdiction of the commission.  The commission shall determine if any other employees of the commission or any licensee of the commission shall participate or wager in any operation under the jurisdiction of the commission.

  5.  On April 29, 1993, all the authority, powers, duties, functions, records, personnel, property, matters pending and all other pertinent vestiges of the state tourism commission relating to the regulation of excursion gambling boats and, after June 30, 1994, of the department of revenue relating to the regulation of the game of bingo shall be transferred to the Missouri gaming commission.

  6.  The commission shall be assigned to the department of public safety as a type III division, but the director of the department of public safety has no supervision, authority or control over the actions or decisions of the commission.

  7.  Members of the Missouri gaming commission shall receive as compensation, the amount of one hundred dollars for every day in which the commission holds a meeting, when such meeting is subject to the recording of minutes as provided in chapter 610, and shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.  The chair shall receive as additional compensation one hundred dollars for each month such person serves on the commission in that capacity.

  8.  No member or employee of the commission shall be appointed or continue to be a member or employee who is licensed by the commission as an excursion gambling boat operator or supplier and no member or employee of the commission shall be appointed or continue to be a member or employee who is related to any person within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity who is licensed by the commission as an excursion gambling boat operator or supplier.  The commission shall determine by rule and regulation appropriate restrictions on the relationship of members and employees of the commission to persons holding or applying for occupational licenses from the commission or to employees of any licensee of the commission.  No peace officer, as defined by section 590.010, who is designated to have direct regulator authority related to excursion gambling boats shall be employed by any excursion gambling boat or supplier licensed by the commission while employed as a peace officer.  No member or employee of the commission or any employee of the state attorney general's office or the state highway patrol who has direct authority over the regulation or investigation of any applicant or licensee of the commission or any peace officer of any city or county which has approved excursion boat gambling shall accept any gift or gratuity from an applicant or licensee while serving as a member or while under such employment.  Any person knowingly in violation of the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.  Any such member, officer or employee who personally or whose prohibited relative knowingly violates the provisions of this subsection, in addition to the foregoing penalty, shall, upon conviction, immediately and thereupon forfeit his office or employment.  

  9.  The commission may enter into agreements with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Internal Revenue Service, the state attorney general or any state, federal or local agency the commission deems necessary to carry out the duties of the commission.  No state agency shall count employees used in any agreements entered into with the commission against any personnel cap authorized by any statute.  Any consideration paid by the commission for the purpose of entering into, or to carry out, any agreement shall be considered an administrative expense of the commission.  When such agreements are entered into for responsibilities relating to excursion gambling boats, the commission shall require excursion gambling boat licensees to pay for such services under rules and regulations of the commission.  The commission may provide by rules and regulations for the offset of any prize or winnings won by any person making a wager subject to the jurisdiction of the commission, when practical, when such person has an outstanding debt owed the state of Missouri.

  10.  No person who has served as a member or employee of the commission, as a member of the general assembly, as an elected or appointed official of the state or of any city or county of this state in which the licensing of excursion gambling boats has been approved in either the city or county or both or any employee of the state highway patrol designated by the superintendent of the highway patrol or any employee of the state attorney general's office designated by the state attorney general to have direct regulatory authority related to excursion gambling boats shall, while in such office or during such employment and during the first two years after termination of his office or position, obtain direct ownership interest in or be employed by any excursion gambling boat licensed by the commission or which has applied for a license to the commission or enter into a contractual relationship related to direct gaming activity.  A "direct ownership interest" shall be defined as any financial interest, equitable interest, beneficial interest, or ownership control held by the public official or employee, or such person's family member related within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity, in any excursion gambling boat operation or any parent or subsidiary company which owns or operates an excursion gambling boat or as a supplier to any excursion gambling boat which has applied for or been granted a license by the commission, provided that a direct ownership interest shall not include any equity interest purchased at fair market value or equity interest received as consideration for goods and services provided at fair market value of less than one percent of the total outstanding shares of stock of any publicly traded corporation or certificates of partnership of any limited partnership which is listed on a regulated stock exchange or automated quotation system.  Any person who knowingly violates the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a class E felony.  Any such member, officer or employee who personally and knowingly violates the provisions of this subsection, in addition to the foregoing penalty, shall, upon conviction, immediately and thereupon forfeit his office or employment.  For purposes of this subsection, "appointed official" shall mean any official of this state or of any city or county authorized under subsection 10 of section 313.812 appointed to a position which has discretionary powers over the operations of any licensee or applicant for licensure by the commission.  This shall only apply if the appointed official has a direct ownership interest in an excursion gambling boat licensed by the commission or which has applied for a license to the commission to be docked within the jurisdiction of his or her appointment.  No elected or appointed official, his or her spouse or dependent child shall, while in such office or within two years after termination of his or her office or position, be employed by an applicant for an excursion gambling boat license or an excursion gambling boat licensed by the commission.  Any other person related to an elected or appointed official within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity employed by an applicant for an excursion gambling boat license or excursion gambling boat licensed by the commission shall disclose this relationship to the commission.  Such disclosure shall be in writing and shall include who is employing such individual, that person's relationship to the elected or appointed official, and a job description for which the person is being employed.  The commission may require additional information as it may determine necessary.

  11.  The commission may enter into contracts with any private entity the commission deems necessary to carry out the duties of the commission, other than criminal law enforcement, provision of legal counsel before the courts and other agencies of this state, and the enforcement of liquor laws.  The commission may require provisions for special auditing requirements, investigations and restrictions on the employees of any private entity with which a contract is entered into by the commission.

  12.  Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 610 to the contrary, all criminal justice records shall be available to any agency or commission responsible for licensing or investigating applicants or licensees applying to any gaming commission of this state.

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(L. 1993 S.B. 10 & 11, A.L. 1994 S.B. 740, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491)

Effective 1-01-17