It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 42-61-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-61 entitled "State Lottery" is hereby amended to read as follows:

{ADD 42-61-5. Sales agents -- ADD} (a) For the purpose of this chapter, the term "person" shall be construed to mean and include an individual, association, partnership, corporation, trust, estate, company, receiver, trustee, referee, or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, whether appointed by a court or otherwise, and any combination of individuals. "Person" shall be construed to mean all departments, commissions, agencies and instrumentalities of the state, including counties and municipalities and agencies, and instrumentalities thereof.

(b) The director of the state lottery commission may license any person as a lottery sales agent as provided in this chapter. No license shall be issued to any person to engage in the sale of lottery tickets as his or her sole occupation or business.

(c) Before issuing any license to a lottery sales agent the director shall consider:

(1) The financial responsibility and security of the person and his or her business or activity;

(2) The accessibility of his or her place of business or activity to the public;

(3) The sufficiency of existing licensed agents to serve the public interest;

(4) The volume of expected sales by the applicant;

(5) Any other factors pertaining to the public interest, convenience or trust.

(d) The director shall refuse to grant or shall suspend, pending a hearing before the commission, or recommend a revocation of a license if the applicant or licensee:

(1) Has been convicted of a felony, or any crime involving moral turpitude;

(2) Has been engaging in gambling as a significant source of income;

(3) Has been convicted of violating any gambling statutes;

(4) Has been convicted of fraud or misrepresentation in any connection;

(5) Has been found to have violated any rule, regulation or order of the state lottery commission.

The license of an agent heretofore issued shall be suspended by the director for any charge which may result in a conviction for conduct prescribed in subdivisions (d)(1) through (d)(5) above; which suspension shall be effective until a final judicial determination.

(e) The director shall refuse to grant, or shall suspend, pending a hearing before the commission, or recommend revocation of a license if the applicant or licensee is a corporation:

(1) Any of whose directors, officers, or controlling shareholders have been found guilty of any of the activities specified in subsection (d) above.

(2) In which it appears to the director of the state lottery commission that due to the experience, character, or general fitness of any director, officer, or controlling shareholder, the granting of a license as a lottery sales agent would be inconsistent with the public interest, convenience or trust.

(3) Not the owner or lessee of the business at which it will conduct a lottery sales agency pursuant to the license applied for, or that any person, firm, association, or corporation other than the applicant shares or will share in the profits of the applicant, other than receiving dividends as a shareholder, or will participate in the management of the affairs of the applicant.

(f) Every holder of a license as a lottery sales agent shall renew such license annually pursuant to the rules and regulations of the commission. Licensees shall pay to the commission a fee to be determined by the commission upon receipt or renewal of a license.

(g) Whenever requested by the director, the division of criminal identification of the department of the attorney general, the superintendent of state police, and superintendent or chief of police or town sergeant of any city or town, shall furnish all information on convictions, arrests and present investigations concerning any person who is an applicant for a license or who is a licensee of the state lottery.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person licensed as provided in this chapter is authorized and empowered to act as a lottery sales agent.

{ADD (i) Every licensed sales agent authorized pursuant to this section and every licensed video lottery retailer authorized by chapter 42-61.2 shall keep conspicuously posted on his premises the name and telephone number of a council on problem gambling recognized by an appropriate authority within state government or within the professional field of addiction disorders and a statement of its availability to offer assistance. The lottery commission shall supply each licensee with the required notice. ADD}

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.