Gambling Control Act.

Existing law, the Gambling Control Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of various legalized gambling activities and establishments by the California Gambling Control Commission and the investigation and enforcement of those activities and establishments by the Department of Justice. Existing law requires specified employees of a gambling enterprise to apply for and obtain from the commission a valid key employee license or a work permit. Existing law defines "gambling enterprise employee" for purposes of the act to mean a natural person employed in the operation of a gambling enterprise, including, among others, dealers, floor personnel, security employees, and waiters and waitresses, or any other natural person whose employment duties require or authorize access to restricted gambling establishment areas. This bill would exclude from the definition of "gambling enterprise employee" a natural person employed solely to serve or prepare food or beverages if those duties are performed only in areas of the establishment in which gambling is not authorized. Existing law defines "key employee" for purposes of the act to mean any natural person employed in the operation of a gambling enterprise in a supervisory capacity or empowered to make discretionary decisions that regulate gambling operations, including, among others, pit bosses, shift bosses, and gambling operation managers and assistant managers, or any other natural person designated as a key employee by the department for reasons consistent with the act. This bill would exclude from the definition of "key employee" a natural person who is employed solely to supervise employees whose duties are solely to serve or prepare food or beverages if the supervisor and the employees perform their duties only in areas of the establishment in which gambling is not authorized. Existing law requires a license issued by the commission to be renewed biennially, and provides a process for license renewal. Existing law authorizes the commission to extend a license held by an owner licensee for up to 180 days if the commission is unable to act on the application for renewal before its expiration. This bill instead would authorize the commission to extend a license held by any applicant for up to 180 days if the commission is unable to act on the application for renewal before its expiration. The bill would enact similar provisions for work permits and findings of suitability, allowing for extension by the commission beyond the expiration date. Existing law authorizes the department to issue any emergency orders against an owner licensee of a gambling establishment, or any person involved in a transaction requiring prior approval, that the department deems reasonably necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare. Existing law requires the emergency order to remain effective until further order of the commission or final disposition of a proceeding, as specified. This bill would require the further order of the commission to occur at a meeting. Existing law allows a gambling enterprise to contract with a third party for the purpose of providing proposition player services, subject to specified conditions. Existing law requires those employed by a third-party provider of proposition player services, including owners, supervisors, observers, and players, to wear a badge that clearly identifies them as proposition players whenever they are present within a gambling establishment. This bill would instead require a person who owns or is employed by a third-party provider of proposition player services, including, but not limited to, an owner, supervisor, observer, or player, to wear a badge that clearly identifies them as providing proposition player services, in a location that allows for public view, at all times while in a gambling establishment for which their third-party proposition player services company has a current contract.