(a) Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this section, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) Bingo Chairperson--an individual named in accordance with Texas Occupations Code §2001.002(4-a) and §2001.102(b)(6).
(2) Bookkeeper--an individual ultimately responsible for the preparation of any financial records for information reported on the Texas Bingo Conductor's Quarterly Report or for preparation and maintenance of bingo inventory records for a licensed authorized organization.
(3) Caller--an individual who operates the bingo ball selection device and announces the balls selected.
(4) Cashier--an individual who sells and records bingo card and pull-tab sales to bingo players and/or pays winners the appropriate prize.
(5) Completed Application--A registry application or renewal form prescribed by the Commission which is legible and lists at a minimum the applicant's complete legal name, address, social security number or registry number, date of birth, race, gender and signature.
(6) Manager--an individual who oversees the day-to-day operation of the bingo premises.
(7) Operator--means an active bona fide member of a licensed authorized organization that has been designated on a form prescribed by the Commission prior to acting in the capacity as the organization's operator.
(8) Provisional Employee--an individual who is employed by a licensed authorized organization as an operator, manager, cashier, usher, caller, or salesperson while awaiting the results of a background check, whether paid or not.
(9) Salesperson--an individual who monitors bingo players, sells bingo cards and pull-tabs, verifies winning cards and pull-tabs and/or delivers the prize money to the winners; may be referred to as an usher, floor worker, or runner.
(10) Usher--an individual who monitors bingo players, sells bingo cards and pull-tabs, verifies winning cards and pull-tabs and/or delivers the prize money to the winners; may be referred to as a salesperson, floor worker or runner.
(b) Who must be listed on the Registry of Approved Bingo Workers. Any individual who carries out or performs the functions of a caller, cashier, manager, operator, usher, salesperson, bookkeeper, or bingo chairperson as defined in subsection (a) of this section must be listed on the Registry of Approved Bingo Workers prior to being involved in the conduct of bingo.
(c) Each individual must submit a completed Texas Application for Registry of Approved Bingo Workers as prescribed by the Commission to remain on the Registry of Approved Bingo Workers.
(d) The registrant will be added to the registry as soon as possible after the Commission has determined that the individual is eligible to be involved in the conduct of bingo or act as an operator.
(e) For purposes of the Registry of Approved Bingo Workers, each operator, bookkeeper, and bingo chairperson must be designated on the licensed authorized organization's license to conduct bingo application.
(f) A licensed authorized organization must submit the name of a registered operator, bookkeeper, or bingo chairperson on a form prescribed by the Commission prior to the individual's acting in that capacity.
(g) A registered worker who fails to timely submit the prescribed form to renew listing on the registry may not be involved in the conduct of bingo until the individual is again added to the registry. It is the responsibility of the licensed authorized organization to review the registry to confirm that the individual's registration is current.
(h) How to be listed on the Registry of Approved Bingo Workers. For an individual to be listed on the Registry of Approved Bingo Workers, an individual must:
(1) submit a completed Texas Application for Registry of Approved Bingo Workers form as prescribed by the Commission;
(2) submit a verifiable FBI or DPS fingerprint card if at the time of registration:
(3) be determined by the Commission to not be ineligible under Texas Occupations Code, §2001.105(a)(6) or the Commission's Rules.
(i) Incomplete Applications. The Commission will notify the applicant at the address provided if the registry application or renewal form submitted is not complete and will identify what is missing. The original application will be returned to the applicant for correction and resubmission. It is the responsibility of the registry applicant to resubmit a completed application before it may be processed. Failure to submit an FBI or DPS fingerprint card, if required, is grounds for denial or removal of the registration.
(j) An individual listed on the registry must notify the Commission of any changes to information contained on the Texas Application for Registry of Approved Bingo Workers on file with the Commission within 30 days of the change in information. Such notification shall be in writing or other approved electronic means.
(k) Identification Card for Approved Bingo Worker.
(1) The Commission will issue an identification card indicating that the individual is listed on the registry. A registered worker and operator must wear his/her identification card while on duty.
(2) The identification card worn by the registered worker or operator while on duty must be visible.
(3) The identification card shall list the individual's name, unique registration number and registry expiration date as issued by the Commission. An individual may obtain the unique registration number and registry expiration date from the Registry of Approved Bingo Workers on the Commission's website or by requesting the registration number and registry expiration date from the Commission.
(4) An identification card is not transferable and may be worn only by the individual identified on the card.
(5) Upon request by a Commission employee, an individual described in subsection (a) of this section shall present personal photo identification in order to verify the identification card is that individual's card.
(l) How to Obtain Additional Approved Identification Cards.
(1) A completed identification card may be obtained from the Commission by submitting the required form.
(2) An individual who has been approved to work in charitable bingo may complete an identification card form provided by the Commission for use while on duty. Blank identification card forms may be obtained from the Commission. The individual requesting the identification card form(s) must submit any required fee and the required form for the blank identification card form.
(3) The identification card prepared by the individual may only be on a prescribed Commission card form and must be legible and include the individual's name, unique registration number, and registry expiration date.
(m) A licensed authorized organization which is reporting conduct where there is a substantial basis for believing that the conduct would constitute grounds for removal or refusal to list on the registry shall make the report in writing to: Bingo Registry, Texas Lottery Commission, P.O. Box 16630, Austin, Texas 78761-6630.
(n) The provisions of the Texas Occupations Code §2001.313, related to the registry of bingo workers, do not apply to an authorized organization that does not have a regular license to conduct bingo who receives a temporary license to conduct bingo.
(o) If the Commission proposes to refuse to add or proposes to remove the individual from the Registry of Approved Bingo Workers consistent with Texas Occupations Code §2001.313, the Commission will give notice of the proposed action as provided by Government Code, Chapter 2001.
(p) An individual receiving notice that the Commission intends to refuse to add to or intends to remove the individual from the Registry of Approved Bingo Workers may request a hearing. Failure to submit a written request for a hearing within 30 calendar days of the date of the notice will result in the denial of the application or removal of the registered worker from the registry.
(q) An individual who has been denied or removed from the registry because of a conviction for an offense listed under Occupations Code §2001.105(b) will not be eligible to reapply to be listed. An individual who has been denied or removed from the registry because of a disqualifying criminal conviction not listed under Occupations Code §2001.105(b) may reapply to be listed no earlier than five years after the commission of the offense, or as otherwise allowed under the Commission's Rules.
(r) A provisional employee must:
(1) immediately stop working:
(2) wear an identification card while on duty with the registry applicant's name, "Provisional Employment" as the unique registration number, and the submission date of the registry application as the expiration date.
(s) A licensed authorized organization who employs a provisional employee must maintain a copy of the registry applicant's completed Texas Application for Registry of Approved Bingo Workers form submitted to the Commission until the individual is listed on the registry or the licensed authorized organization is notified that the individual is not eligible to be listed. Payment for the employment of a provisional employee as outlined in subsection (a)(8) of this section is an authorized bingo expense; however, payment for non-registered workers is not an authorized bingo expense.
Source Note: The provisions of this §402.402 adopted to be effective March 21, 2005, 30 TexReg 163; amended to be effective June 7, 2009, 34 TexReg 3389; amended to be effective March 9, 2010, 35 TexReg 2001; amended to be effective January 1, 2014, 38 TexReg 9535; amended to be effective December 31, 2017, 42 TexReg 7392; amended to be effective July 12, 2018, 43 TexReg 4556; amended to be effective January 2, 2020, 44 TexReg 8292