§718. Licensure
A.(1) Any organization or person seeking licensure as a charitable gaming organization, as a manufacturer or distributor of gaming supplies or equipment, or as a commercial lessor shall submit an application to the office on forms provided for such purposes. Such application shall contain such information as may be reasonably required by rules of the office. The application shall be accompanied by the fee established pursuant to R.S. 4:705(2).
(2) The office shall review all applications for licensure and, in addition to the information required on the application, may require the applicant to furnish such additional information reasonably necessary.
B. The office shall not issue a license of any type to:
(1) Any person who has been convicted of certain related offenses as established by the office within the last five years or who presently has such a charge pending in any state or federal court.
(2) Any person who has ever been convicted of a gambling-related offense in any state or federal court.
(3) Any person who is or has ever been a professional gambler.
(4) Any firm, organization, or corporation in which any person specified in Paragraphs (1) through (3) of this Subsection is an officer or director, whether compensated or not, or in which such person has a direct or indirect financial interest.
C. Except as otherwise provided in R.S. 4:720, the office may issue a license for a period not exceeding one year to applicants meeting the requirements of this Chapter and rules and regulations adopted pursuant to it.
D.(1) The office may deny an application for licensure, refuse to renew a license, or restrict, suspend, or revoke a license for any reason consistent with the purposes of this Chapter which it deems to be in the interest of the public. However, policies regarding such denial, suspension, revocation, restriction, or refusal to renew shall be established by rule, and all proceedings with regard to such actions shall be in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter to the contrary, the office shall not deny a license to or suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew the license of any organization defined in R.S. 4:707(C) solely on the basis that such organization has not qualified with the Internal Revenue Service for an exemption from federal income tax as specified by R.S. 4:703(1), provided that the organization demonstrates or establishes, by a preponderance of the evidence, that it is a legitimate nonprofit organization eligible under R.S. 4:707 and is not otherwise eligible for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3), (4), (7), (8), (10), or (19) of the Internal Revenue Code.
E. Any significant change in the information submitted on its application for licensure shall be filed by a licensee with the office within ten days of the change. A significant change shall include but not be limited to any change in the officers, directors, managers, proprietors, or persons having a direct or indirect financial interest in any licensed organization or entity.
F. Any license, permit, approval, or thing obtained or issued pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter is expressly declared by the legislature to be a pure and absolute revocable privilege and not a right, property or otherwise, under the constitution of the United States or of the state of Louisiana. The legislature declares that no holder of any license or permit acquires any vested interest or right therein or thereunder.
G. Consent agreements or other agreements by which a license applicant is bound by certain rules, mandates, or other restrictions as a condition for licensing shall be absolutely null. This Subsection shall not apply to consent agreements executed as a result of a notice of violation. Notwithstanding any provision of this Chapter to the contrary, any consent agreement entered into by the division of charitable gaming, office of state police, Department of Public Safety and Corrections, and a manufacturer of electronic bingo dabber card devices prior to May 1, 1999, which approves and authorizes the use of electronic bingo dabber card devices as a charitable gaming supply, subject to certain conditions and requirements shall remain valid until January 1, 2000, provided that all conditions and requirements in such agreement are complied with until such date.
Acts 1999, No. 568, §3, eff. June 30, 1999.