DEFINE GAMING EMPLOYEES

REQUIRED TO BE LICENSED

House Bill 6527 with House committee amendment

Sponsor:  Rep. Steve Tobocman

Committee:  Government Operations

Complete to 12-07-06

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 6527 AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE 12-05-06

The bill would amend Section 2 of the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act (MCL 432.202) to do the following:

·                    Define "gaming employee," generally, as an individual connected directly with the operation of gaming.

·                    Specifically include the following in the definition of gaming employee:  (1) an individual who performs accounting or internal auditing services if the individual is directly involved in keeping or examining records associated with gaming revenue; (2) a boxman; (3) a cashier; (4) a change worker; (5) a counting room worker; (6) a dealer; (7) a floorman; (8) a host or other individual empowered to extend credit or complimentary services; (9) a keno runner; (10) a keno writer; (11) a machine mechanic; (12) an odds maker or line setter; (13) a security worker; (14) a shift or pit boss; (15) a shill; (16) a supervisor or manager; and (17) a ticket writer.

·                    Amend the definition of "occupational license" to mean a license issued by the Michigan Gaming Control Board "to a person to act as a gaming employee or to perform an occupation that the Board has identified as having the power to exercise a significant influence over the operation of gaming under this act." 

·                    The bill would make also make minor stylistic changes throughout Section 2. 

Section 8 of the act sets forth the requirements for obtaining an occupational license, including payment of fees and background checks.  By limiting the definition of a "gaming employee" to individuals connected directly with the operation of gaming and modifying the definition of "occupational license" to mean a license for a person to act as a "gaming employee," the bill would appear to exclude certain casino employees, including possibly food service or maintenance workers, who are not directly connected with the operation of gaming from the background check and licensing requirements of Section 8. In contrast, by specifically including certain employees in the definition of gaming employees, the bill would appear to make those employees subject to the requirements of Section 8. 

[Note:  The Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act is an initiated act and thus a three-fourths majority vote in each house is required for amendment.]

FISCAL IMPACT:

For FY 2006, total revenue for the State Services Fee Fund was about $30 million, and of that amount, applications for occupational licenses generated $132,250 in revenue and license fee renewals generated $460,200 in revenue.  To the extent that the bill no longer would require licenses for certain non-gaming related occupations, the bill would result in a small reduction in revenue.  

POSITIONS:

American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan supports the bill.  (12-05-06)

International Union, UAW supports the bill.  (12-05-06)

Michigan AFL-CIO supports the bill.  (12-05-06)

Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency supports the bill. (12-05-06) 

Michigan Gaming Control Board is opposed to the bill in its current form.  (12-07-06)

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Shannan Kane

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Mark Wolf

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.