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General and specific powers - 4 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1202

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     § 1202.  General and specific powers.
        (a)  General powers.--
            (1)  The board shall have general and sole regulatory
        authority over the conduct of gaming or related activities as
        described in this part. The board shall ensure the integrity
        of the acquisition and operation of slot machines and
        associated equipment and shall have sole regulatory authority
        over every aspect of the authorization and operation of slot
        machines.
            (2)  The board shall employ individuals as necessary to
        carry out the powers and duties of the board, who shall serve
        at the board's pleasure. An employee of the board shall be
        considered a State employee for purposes of 71 Pa.C.S. Pt.
        XXV (relating to retirement for State employees and
        officers). For the purposes of this paragraph, the board
        shall not be considered an executive or independent agency
        under the act of October 15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164), known as
        the Commonwealth Attorneys Act.
            (3)  In addition to employees authorized by the board,
        each member may employ one special assistant whose
        classification and compensation shall be established by the
        board. A special assistant shall be a State employee for
        purposes of 71 Pa.C.S. Pt. XXV, shall serve at the pleasure
        of the member and may only be removed by the board for cause.
            (4)  The board shall establish a system of classification
        and compensation of its employees and shall not be subject to
        the provisions of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175),
        known as The Administrative Code of 1929, as to
        classification and compensation for its employees and conduct
        its activities consistent with the practices and procedures
        of Commonwealth agencies.
            (5)  Within 90 days of the effective date of this
        paragraph, the board shall publish in the Pennsylvania
        Bulletin and on the board's Internet website the
        classification system for all employees of the board.
            (6)  A request for proposal to conduct investigations of
        employees and applicants under this part shall include a
        requirement that an offeror provide the number of employees
        of the offeror who will be engaged in the conduct of
        investigations and who are residents of this Commonwealth and
        annuitants of a Federal, State or local law enforcement
        agency. Preference shall be given to an offeror with a
        substantial number of employees who will be engaged in the
        conduct of investigations and who are residents of this
        Commonwealth and annuitants of a Federal, State or local law
        enforcement agency.
        (b)  Specific powers.--The board shall have the specific
     power and duty:
            (1)  To adopt, use and alter a corporate seal.
            (2)  To pay or satisfy obligations of the board.
            (3)  To sue or be sued, implead and be impleaded, or
        interplead.
            (4)  To contract and execute instruments as necessary to
        carry out the powers and duties of the board. Contracts for
        the purchase of supplies, services and construction shall be
        for a term not to exceed two years.
            (5)  To sell, transfer, convey and dispose of tangible or
        intangible property owned by the board.
            (6)  To establish, charge and collect fees and fines as
        authorized by this part.
            (7)  To administer oaths, examine witnesses and issue
        subpoenas compelling the attendance of witnesses or the
        production of documents and records or other evidence. The
        provisions of this paragraph shall apply to designated
        officers and employees.
            (8)  To purchase insurance against a loss related to the
        board's property or assets.
            (8.1)  To retain attorneys, accountants, auditors and
        financial and other experts to render services as necessary.
        For the purposes of this paragraph, the board shall be
        considered an independent agency for purposes of the
        Commonwealth Attorneys Act.
            (9)  To require background investigations on applicants,
        licensees, principals, key employees or permittees under the
        jurisdiction of the board.
            (10)  To enter into an agreement with the Pennsylvania
        State Police for the reimbursement of actual costs as
        approved by the board to the Pennsylvania State Police for
        the investigations. Investigations shall include information
        in the possession of the Attorney General.
            (11)  For purposes of licensing and enforcement and for
        purposes of the background investigation, to receive
        information otherwise protected by 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 91
        (relating to criminal history record information).
            (12)  At its discretion, to issue, approve, renew,
        revoke, suspend, condition or deny issuance or renewal of
        slot machine licenses.
            (13)  At its discretion, to issue, approve, renew,
        revoke, suspend, condition or deny issuance or renewal of
        supplier and manufacturer licenses.
            (14)  At its discretion, to issue, approve, renew,
        revoke, suspend, condition or deny issuance or renewal of a
        license or permit for various classes of employees as
        required under this part.
            (15)  At its discretion, to issue, approve, renew,
        revoke, suspend, condition or deny issuance or renewal of any
        additional licenses or permits which may be required by the
        board under this part.
            (16)  At its discretion, to suspend, condition or deny
        the issuance or renewal of any license or permit or levy
        fines or other sanctions for any violation of this part.
            (17)  To require prospective and existing employees,
        independent contractors, applicants, licensees and permittees
        to submit to fingerprinting by the Pennsylvania State Police.
        The Pennsylvania State Police shall submit the fingerprints
        to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for purposes of
        verifying the identity of the individual and obtaining
        records of criminal arrests and convictions.
            (18)  To require prospective and existing employees,
        independent contractors, applicants, licensees and permittees
        to submit photographs consistent with the standards of the
        Commonwealth Photo Imaging Network.
            (19)  To levy fines or other sanctions against an
        applicant, licensed entity or other licensee, permittee or
        employee of the board who possesses, uses, sells or offers
        for sale any device, equipment or material subject to this
        part in a manner which constitutes a violation of this part.
            (20)  In addition to the power of the board regarding
        license and permit applicants, to determine at its discretion
        the suitability of any person who furnishes or seeks to
        furnish to a slot machine licensee directly or indirectly any
        services or property related to slot machines or associated
        equipment or through any arrangements under which that person
        receives payment based directly or indirectly on earnings,
        profits or receipts from the slot machines and associated
        equipment. The board may require any such person to comply
        with the requirements of this part and the regulations of the
        board and may prohibit the person from furnishing the
        services or property.
            (21)  Within six months after the effective date of this
        part, in a manner that does not impede the immediate
        implementation of the duties and responsibilities of the
        board under this part during the immediate two years after
        the effective date of this part, to develop and implement an
        affirmative action plan to assure that all persons are
        accorded equality of opportunity in employment and
        contracting by the board, its contractors, subcontractors,
        assignees, lessees, agents, vendors and suppliers.
            (22)  Except for contracts related to the central control
        computer, all contracts entered into by the board during the
        two-year period following the effective date of this part
        shall not exceed a term of two years.
            (23)  The board shall not issue or renew a license or
        permit unless it is satisfied that the applicant is a person
        of good character, honesty and integrity and is a person
        whose prior activities, criminal record, if any, reputation,
        habits and associations do not pose a threat to the public
        interest or the effective regulation and control of slot
        machine operations or create or enhance the danger of
        unsuitable, unfair or illegal practices, methods and
        activities in the conduct of slot machine operations or the
        carrying on of the business and financial arrangements
        incidental thereto.
            (24)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, to
        sell, in whole or in part, the Commonwealth's right, title
        and interest in State gaming receipts to the authority. The
        sale shall be subject to the terms and conditions contained
        in agreements between the board and the authority. Proceeds
        from the sale of State gaming receipts shall be allocated and
        used in the manner otherwise provided by this part for the
        distribution of State gaming receipts. The authority is
        authorized to purchase State gaming receipts upon terms and
        conditions agreed to by the board and to issue bonds to fund
        the purchase of State gaming receipts in the manner provided
        for the issuance of authority indebtedness in the law
        establishing the authority. The State Treasurer is authorized
        and directed to enter into any agreements with the board and
        the authority and establish accounts and funds, that shall
        not be in the State Treasury, as the authority may direct as
        being necessary or appropriate to effect the sale of State
        gaming receipts to the authority and the collection and
        transfer of the State gaming receipts sold to the authority.
        State gaming receipts sold to the authority shall be the
        property of the authority and shall not be the property of
        the Commonwealth.
            (25)  To promulgate regulations pertaining to the
        operation of the bureau to insure separation of functions
        between the bureau and the board. The board shall provide the
        employees necessary to the bureau for enforcement of this
        part.
            (26)  To enter into an agreement with the district
        attorneys of the counties wherein licensed facilities are
        located and the Office of Attorney General for the
        reimbursement of actual costs for prosecutions of criminal
        violations and for investigating a person applying for a
        determination that an individual has been rehabilitated under
        this part.
            (27)  To publish each January in the Pennsylvania
        Bulletin and on the board's Internet website a complete list
        of all persons or entities who applied for or held a slot
        machine license, manufacturer license, supplier license or
        racetrack license at any time during the preceding calendar
        year and all affiliates, intermediaries, subsidiaries and
        holding companies thereof and the status of the application
        or license.
            (28)  To prepare and, through the Governor, submit
        annually to the General Assembly an itemized budget
        consistent with Article VI of the act of April 9, 1929
        (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929,
        consisting of the amounts necessary to be appropriated by the
        General Assembly out of the accounts established under
        section 1401 (relating to slot machine licensee deposits)
        required to meet the obligations accruing during the fiscal
        period beginning July 1 of the following year. The budget
        shall include itemized recommendations for the Attorney
        General, the department and the Pennsylvania State Police as
        to the amount needed to meet their obligations under this
        part.
            (29)  In the event that, in any year, appropriations for
        the administration of this part are not enacted by June 30,
        any funds appropriated for the administration of this part
        which are unexpended, uncommitted and unencumbered at the end
        of a fiscal year shall remain available for expenditure by
        the board or other agency to which they were appropriated
        until the enactment of appropriation for the ensuing fiscal
        year.
            (30)  To promulgate rules and regulations necessary for
        the administration and enforcement of this part, including
        regulations in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Liquor
        Control Board and regulations relating to the sale and
        service of liquor and malt and brewed beverages by licensees.
        Except as provided in section 1203 (relating to temporary
        regulations), regulations shall be adopted pursuant to the
        act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.769, No.240), referred to as the
        Commonwealth Documents Law, and the act of June 25, 1982
        (P.L.633, No.181), known as the Regulatory Review Act.
     (Nov. 1, 2006, P.L.1243, No.135, eff. imd.)

        Cross References.  Section 1202 is referred to in sections
     1103, 1209, 1512, 1517 of this title.
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Last modified: November 27, 2007