Torres
Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians
CLASS
III GAMING ORDINANCE
I. Purpose
The Torres-Martinez
Desert Cahuilla Indians empowered by the Tribe's Constitution to enact
ordinances, hereby enacts this ordinance in order to set the terms for
Class III gaming operations on tribal lands.
II. Gaming Authorized
Class
III gaming as defined in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, P.L. 100-447,
25 U.S.C. Section 2703 (8) (A) ("IGRA") and by the regulations promulgated
by the National Indian Gaming Commission 25 C.F.R § 502.3 (as published
in the Federal Register at 57 FR 12382-12393, April 9, 1992) is hereby
authorized.
III. Ownership of Gaming
The Tribe
shall have the sole propriety interest in and responsibility for the
conduct of any gaming operation authorized by this ordinance (unless
the Tribe elects to allow individually owned gaming).
IV. Use of Gaming Revenue
A.
Net revenues from Class III gaming shall be used only for the following
purposes: to fund tribal government operations and programs; provide
for the general welfare of the Tribe and its members; promote tribal
economic development; donate to charitable organizations, or help
fund operations of local government agencies.
B. If the Tribe elects to make per capita payments to tribal
members, it shall authorize such payments only upon approval of a
plan submitted to the Secretary of the Interior under 25 U.S.C. §
2710 (b) (3).
V. Audit
A.
The Tribe shall cause to be conducted annually an independent audit
of gaming operations and shall submit the resulting audit reports
to the National Indian Gaming Commission.
B. All gaming related contracts that result in the purchase
of supplies, service, or concessions in excess of $25,000.00 annually,
except contracts for professional legal and accounting services, shall
be specifically included within the scope of the audit that is described
in subsection A. above.
VI. Protection of the Environment and Public Health and Safety
Class III gaming facilities shall be constructed, maintained and operated
in a manner that adequately protects the environment and the public
health and safety.
VII. Licenses for Key Employees and Primary Management Officials
The Tribe shall ensure that the policies and procedures set out in this
section are implemented with respect to key employees and primary management
officials employed at any Class III gaming enterprise operated on Indian
lands:
A.
Definitions
For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
1.
Key employee means
(a)
A person who performs one or more of the following functions:
(1)
Bingo caller;
(2) Counting room supervisor
(3) Chief of security;
(4) Custodian of gaming supplies or cash
(5) Floor manager;
(6) Pit boss,
(7) Dealer;
(8) Croupier;
(9) Approver of credit; or
(10) Custodian of gambling devices including persons
with access to cash and accounting records within such devices,
(b)
If not otherwise included, any other person whose total cash
compensation is in excess of $50,000 per year; or
(c) If not otherwise included, the four most highly compensated
persons in the gaming operation.
2.
Primary management official means
(a)
The person having management Responsibility for a management contract;
(b)
Any person whose authority:
(1)
To hire and fire employees; or
(2) To set up working policy for the gaming; or
(c)
The chief financial officer or other person who has financial
management responsibility.
B.
Application Forms
1.
The following notice shall be placed on the application form for
a key employee or a primary management official before that form
is filled out by an applicant:
In compliance
with the Privacy Act of 1974, the following information is provided:
Solicitation of the information on this form is authorized by 25 U.S.C.
2701 et seq. The purpose of the requested information is to determine
the eligibility of individuals to be employed in a gaming operation.
The information will be used by National Indian Gaming Commission
members and staff who have need for the information in the performance
of their official duties. The information may be disclosed to appropriate
Federal, Tribal, State, local or foreign law enforcement and regulatory
agencies when relevant to civil, criminal or regulatory investigations
or prosecutions or when pursuant to a requirement by a tribe or the
National Indian Gaming Commission in connection with hiring or firing
of an employee, the issuance or revocation of a gaming license, or
investigations of activities while associated with a tribe or a gaming
operation. Failure to consent to the disclosures indicated in this
notice will result in a tribe's being unable to hire you in a primary
management official or key employee position.
The disclosure of your Social Security Number (SSN) is voluntary.
However, failure to supply a SSN may result in errors in processing
your application.
2.
Existing key employees and primary management officials shall be
notified in writing that they shall either:
a.
Complete a new application form that contains a Privacy Act notice;
or
b. Sign a statement that contains the Privacy Act notice
and consent to the routine uses described in that notice.
3.
The following notice shall be placed on the application form for
a key employee or a primary official before that form is filled
out by an applicant.
A false
statement on any part of your application may be grounds for not
hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. Also, you may
be punished by fine or imprisonment. (U.S. Code, title 18, section
1001.)
4. The Tribe shall notify in writing existing key employees
and primary management officials that they shall either:
a.
Complete a new application form that contains a notice regarding
false statements; or
b. Sign a statement that contains the notice regarding
false statements.
C.
Background Investigations
1.
The Tribe shall request from each primary management official and
from each key employee all of the following information:
a.
Full name, other name used (oral or written), social security
number(s), birth date, place of birth, citizenship, gender, all
languages (spoken or written);
b. Currently and for the previous 5 years: business and
employment positions held, ownership interests in those businesses,
business and residence addresses, and drivers license numbers;
c. The names and current addresses of at least three personal
references, including one personal reference who was acquainted
with the applicant during each period of residence listed under
paragraph (1) (b) of this section;
d. Current business and residence telephone numbers;
e. A description of any existing and previous business
relationship with Indian tribes, including ownership interests
in those businesses;
f. A description of any existing and pervious business
relationships with the gaming industry generally, including ownership
interests in those businesses;
g.
The name and address ofany licensing or regulatory agency with
which the person has filed an application for a license or permit
related to gaming, whether or not such license or permit was granted;
h. For each felony for which there is an ongoing prosecution
or a conviction, the charge, the name and address of the court
involved, and the date and disposition if any;
i. For each misdemeanor conviction or ongoing misdemeanor
prosecution (excluding minor traffic violations), within 10 years
of the date of the application, the name and address of the court
involved and the date and disposition;
j. For each criminal charge (excluding minor traffic charges),
whether or not there is a conviction, if such criminal charge
is within 10 years of the date of the application and is not otherwise
listed pursuant to paragraph (1) (h) or (1) (i) of this section,
the criminal charge, the name and address of the court involved
and the date and disposition:
k. The name and address of any licensing or regulatory
agency with which the person has filed an application for an occupational
license or permit, whether or not such license was granted;
l. A current photograph;
m. Any other information the Tribe deems relevant; and
n. Fingerprints consistent with procedures adopted by the
Tribe according to 25 C.F.R. § 522.2(h).
2.
The Tribe shall conduct an investigation sufficient to make a determination
under subsection D. below. In conducting a background investigation,
the Tribe or its agent shall promise to keep confidential the identity
of each person interviewed in the course of the investigation.
D.
Eligibility Determination
The Tribe shall review a person's prior activities, criminal record,
if any, and reputation, habits and associations to make a finding
concerning the eligibility of a key employee or primary management
official for employment in a gaming operation. If the Tribe determines
that employment of the person poses a threat to the public interest
or to the effective regulation of gaming, or creates or enhances dangers
of unsuitable, unfair, or illegal practices and methods and activities
in the conduct of gaming, a tribal gaming operation shall not employ
that person in a key employee or primary management Official position.
E.
Procedures for Forwarding Applications and Reports for Key Employees
and Primary Management Officials to the National Indian Gaming Commission
1.
When a key employee or primary management official begins work at
a gaming operation authorized by this ordinance, the Tribe shall
forward to the National Indian Gaming Commission a completed application
for employment and conduct the background investigation and make
the determination referred to in subsection D of this section.
2. The Tribe shall forward the report referred to in subsection
F of this section to the National Indian Gaming Commission within
60 days after an employee begins work or within 60 days of the approval
of this ordinance by the chairman of the national Indian Gaming
Commission.
3. The gaming operation shall not employ as a key employee
or primary management official a person who does not have a license
after 90 days.
F.
Report to the National Indian Gaming Commission
1.
Pursuant to the procedures set out in subsection E of this section,
the Tribe shall prepare and forward to the National Indian Gaming
Commission an investigative report on each background investigation.
An investigative report shall include all of the following:
a.
Steps taken in conducting a background investigation;
b. Results obtained;
c. Conclusions reached; and
d. The bases for those conclusions.
2.
The Tribe shall submit, with the report, a copy of the eligibility
determination made under subsection D of this section.
3. If a license is not issued to an applicant, the Tribe:
a.
Shall notify the National Indian Gaming Commission; and
b. May forward copies of its eligibility determination
and
c. investigative report (if any) to the National Indian
Gaming Commission for inclusion in the Indian Gaming Individuals
Records System.
4.
With respect to key employees and primary management officials,
the Tribe shall retain applications for inspection by the Chairman
of the National Indian Gaming Commission or his or her designee
for no less than three (3) years from the date of termination of
employment.
G.
Granting a Gaming License
1.
If, within a thirty (30) day period after the National Indian Gaming
Commission receives a report, the National Indian Commission notifies
the tribe that it has no objection to the issuance of a license
pursuant to a license application filed by a key employee or a primary
management official for whom the tribe has provided an application
and investigative report to the National Indian Gaming Commission,
the Tribe may issue a license to such applicant.
2. The Tribe shall respond to a request for additional information
from the Chairman of National Indian Gaming Commission concerning
a key employee or a primary management official who is the subject
of a report. Such a request shall suspend the 30-day period under
paragraph G.1. of this section until the Chairman of the National
Indian Gaming Commission receives the additional information.
3. If, within the thirty (30) day period described above,
the National Indian Gaming commission provides the Tribe with a
statement itemizing objections to the issuance of a license to a
key employee or to a primary management official for whom the Tribe
has provided an application and investigative report to the National
Indian Gaming Commission, this Tribe shall reconsider the application,
taking into account the objections itemized by the National Indian
Gaming Commission. The Tribe shall make the final decision whether
to issue a license to such applicant.
H.
License Suspension
1.
If, after the issuance of a gaming license, the Tribe receives from
the National Indian Gaming Commission reliable information indicating
that a key employee or a primary management official is not eligible
for employment under subsection D. above, the Tribe shall suspend
such license and shall notify in writing the licensee of the suspension
and the proposed revocation.
2. The Tribe shall notify the licensee of a time and a place
for a hearing on the proposed revocation of a license.
3. After a revocation hearing the Tribe shall decide to revoke
or to reinstate a gaming license. The Tribe shall notify the National
Indian Gaming Commission of its decision.
VIII. License Locations
The Tribe shall issue a separate license to each place, facility, or
location on Indian lands where Class III gaming is conducted under this
ordinance.
IX. Renewal
To the extent that they are inconsistent with this ordinance, all prior
gaming ordinances are hereby repealed.
ADDITIONAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
In addition
to an ordinance, under 25 C.F.R. § 522 or § 523, a tribe must
submit the following:
1.
Description of procedures for conducting background Investigations;
2. Description of procedure to issue tribal licenses to Primary
management officials and key employees;
3. Description of procedures for resolving disputes between
the gaming public and the Tribe or the management contractor (if any);
4. Designation of an agent for service
5. Identification of a law enforcement agency that will take
finger prints and describe procedures for conducting a criminal history
check by a law enforcement agency; and
6. Copies of all tribal gaming regulations.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS OF
KEY EMPLOYEES AND PRIMARY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS
"DESCRIPTION
OF PROCEDURES"
I. Section 522.2(b) requires A description of procedures to conduct
or cause to be conducted background investigations on key employees
and primary management officials.
II. Such description of procedure should include, as a minimum,
the following:
A.
A clear statement that the Tribe is responsible for the conduct of
the background investigations and suitability determinations.
B. An organization chart or statement showing the positions
or people
responsible for:
1.
conducting and causing to be conducted the background investigations;
2. reviewing and approving the investigative work done;
3. reporting the results of the background investigation
to the National Indian Gaming Commission;
4.
obtaining and processing fingerprints; and
5. making the suitability determinations.
C.
An explanation of how the positions and people identified above were
selected.
D. A listing of the minimum investigative procedures to be
performed, including the following:
1.
Verify by written or oral communication information submitted by
applicant.
2. Inquire into the applicant's prior activities, criminal
record, if any, and reputation, habits and associations; interview
a sufficient number of knowledgeable people such as former employers,
personal references, and others to whom referred in order to
3. Provide a basis for the tribe to make a finding concerning
the eligibility for employment in a gaming operation.
4. Document the disposition of all potential problem areas
noted and disqualifying information obtained.
E.
An investigative report setting forth the following:
1.
Steps taken in conducting the background investigation;
2. Results obtained;
3. Conclusions reached; and
4. The basis for those conclusions.
CERTIFICATION
We, the undersigned, as duly elected officials of the Torres Martinez
Desert Cahuilla Indians Tribe, we do hereby certify that at a General
Council Meeting held on April 10, 1999, this ordinance was reviewed
and approved, by a vote of 25 in favor, 7 opposed and 1 abstaining.
We the members of the Tribal Council do hereby certify that this foregoing
resolution has not been amended or rescinded in any way.
/s/
Mary E. Belardo, Tribal Chairwoman
/s/
Pauline Duro, Tribal Vice-Chairperson
/s/
Mary L. Resyaloso, Tribal Secretary/Treasurer
/s/
Derlene Auclair, Tribal Council Member
/s/
Gabriel Ward, Tribal Council Member
/s/
Phillip Morreo, Tribal Council Member
/s/
Elaine M. Penaloza, Tribal Council Member
Approved
April 10, 1999
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