COSTA INTRODUCES PROPOSAL TO CREATE

INDEPENDENT GAMING ENFORCEMENT AGENCY

     HARRISBURG, August 6, 2008- -State Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) today introduced legislation (SB 1541) that would create the Pennsylvania Gaming Enforcement Agency (GEA), an independent law enforcement agency charged with enforcement responsibilities for the state’s gaming industry.

     Costa said the proposal would create an independent agency responsible for conducting criminal background investigations of gaming applicants and criminal investigations for violations of the Gaming Act.  The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) would remain responsible for all licensing and regulatory decisions.

     “It is important that the legislature address credibility and accountability within our blossoming gaming industry, and I believe this proposal would do just that,” Costa said. “Our bill would create a much-needed, independent and politically insulated agency to ensure that the provisions of the Gaming Act are being strictly followed and enforced.”

     Costa said the GEA would be a fully functional law enforcement agency authorized to receive protected criminal justice information for the purposes of performing complete criminal background investigations for licensing and prosecution of gaming violations.

     Additionally, the new agency would be funded from existing revenues paid by the operators of the gaming establishments as originally outlined in Act 71 of 2004.

     An Executive Director appointed by the Attorney General and confirmed by a two-thirds approval of the Senate would head the GEA. The Executive Director would be prohibited from making any campaign contributions and would be required to have twenty years experience in law enforcement or gaming regulation.  Further, the members of the agency would be required to meet the same training standards as municipal police officers.

     “In order for our gaming industry to thrive, we need to make sure the licensing process is beyond reproach and that the public has full confidence in its integrity top to bottom,” Costa said.  “I will seek bipartisan support for this proposal.”

Costa serves as a member of the Gaming Task Force and the Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee both of which have oversight of the states gaming industry.

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