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2004 SESSION


CHAPTER 555
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 58.1-4008 and 58.1-4009 of the Code of Virginia, relating to background investigations of lottery vendors and sales agents.
[H 1028]
Approved April 12, 2004

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 58.1-4008 and 58.1-4009 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 58.1-4008. Employees of the Department; background investigations of employees.

All persons employed by the Department shall be fingerprinted before, and as a condition of, employment. These fingerprints shall be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a National Criminal Records search and to the Department of State Police for a Virginia Criminal History Records search. All board members, officers and employees of any vendor to the State Lottery Department of lottery on-line or instant ticket goods or services working directly on a contract with the Lottery Department for such goods or services shall be subject to fingerprinted, and such fingerprints shall be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a National Criminal Records search conducted by the chief security officer of the State Lottery Department. A background investigation shall be conducted by the chief security officer of the State Lottery Department on every applicant prior to employment by the Department. However, all division directors of the State Lottery Department and employees of the State Lottery Department performing duties primarily related to security matters shall be subject to a background investigation report conducted by the Department of State Police prior to employment by the Department. The Department of State Police shall be reimbursed by the State Lottery Department for the cost of investigations conducted pursuant to this section or § 58.1-4005. No person who has been convicted of a felony, bookmaking or other forms of illegal gambling, or of a crime involving moral turpitude shall be employed by the Department or on contracts with vendors described in this section.

§ 58.1-4009. Licensing of lottery sales agents; penalty.

A. No license as an agent to sell lottery tickets or shares shall be issued to any person to engage in business primarily as a lottery sales agent. Before issuing such license the Director shall consider such factors as (i) the financial responsibility and security of the person and his business or activity; (ii) the accessibility of his place of business or activity to the public; (iii) the sufficiency of existing licensees to serve the public convenience; and (iv) the volume of expected sales.

B. For the purposes of this section, the term "person" means an individual, association, partnership, corporation, club, trust, estate, society, company, joint stock company, receiver, trustee, assignee, referee, or any other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, whether appointed by a court or otherwise, and any combination of individuals. "Person" also means all departments, commissions, agencies and instrumentalities of the Commonwealth, including counties, cities, municipalities, agencies and instrumentalities thereof.

C. The chief security officer of the State Lottery Department shall conduct a background investigation, to include a National Criminal Records search and a Virginia Criminal History Records search, and fingerprints that shall be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation if the Director deems a National Criminal Records search necessary, on applicants for licensure as lottery sales agents. The Director may refuse to issue a license to operate as an agent to sell lottery tickets or shares to any person who has been (i) convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, (ii) convicted of bookmaking or other forms of illegal gambling, (iii) found guilty of any fraud or misrepresentation in any connection, or (iv) convicted of a felony. The Director may refuse to grant a license or may suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a license issued pursuant to this chapter to a partnership or corporation, if he determines that any general or limited partner, or officer or director of such partnership or corporation has been (i) convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, (ii) convicted of bookmaking or other forms of illegal gambling, (iii) found guilty of any fraud or misrepresentation in any connection or (iv) convicted of a felony. Whoever knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals or misrepresents a material fact or knowingly and willfully makes a false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or representation in any application for licensure to the State Lottery Department for lottery sales agent, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

D. Prior to issuance of a license, every lottery sales agent shall be bonded by a surety company entitled to do business in this Commonwealth in such amount and penalty as may be prescribed by the regulations of the Department, payable to the State Lottery Department and conditioned upon the faithful performance of his duties.

E. Every licensed agent shall prominently display his license, or a copy thereof, as provided in the regulations of the Department.