In the near future, I will be introducing legislation to reduce barriers for those seeking employment in convenience stores of licensed Video Gaming Terminal (VGT) establishments. Current law makes it unnecessarily difficult for individuals to access employment at regulated truck stops.
 
Under current law, these establishments are required to have a licensed “gaming employee” on premise to monitor the heavily camera surveilled VGT area. To receive this license, the employee must complete an arduous background investigation, including disclosure of bank account information, civil litigation, family member information, a 15-year employment history, 10-year residential history, IRS paperwork, and fingerprinting.  
 
In reality, these employees are tasked with service to customers, running a register, food preparation and fuel transactions. While they may monitor the video gaming area, these employees are NOT handling VGT money. They cannot manipulate the software within a VGT, alter denominations, or reach the cash inside of a VGT or the redemption machines, which are all connected to the central control system to account for every dollar in and out.
 
The state does not require such an arduous process for employees of lottery retailers or clerks who directly handle other highly regulated items (e.g. tobacco and alcohol products) and the corresponding cash transactions.
 
These unnecessarily cumbersome requirements are keeping people from employment and making it difficult for these establishments to hire in an already-challenging labor shortage.  
 
Modeled after Illinois, my legislation eliminates unnecessary barriers and provides workforce flexibility, while also ensuring that each VGT establishment has oversight from one or more individuals fully vetted and qualified as a “gaming employee.”
 
Please join me in cosponsoring this legislation.  
 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 0946: 4-3102