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SB 1349

director; gaming; technical correction

57th Legislature - Second Regular Session Introduced by Sally Gonzales

The bill prohibits the director and department employees from having financial interests in Arizona gambling during tenure and adds relatives’ gambling-related interests as grounds

Senate First Reading
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Bill Summary · SB 1349

Summary of SB 1349 (57th-2nd Regular Session, Arizona)

Purpose

SB 1349 proposes technical corrections to the statutes governing the Arizona Department of Gaming, specifically relating to the director’s qualifications, appointment, compensation, and grounds for dismissal. The bill clarifies and reinforces restrictions on conflicts of interest for the director and department employees.

Key Provisions

  • Establishment and governance

    • Reaffirms the existence of the Arizona Department of Gaming (the department) and that the governor appoints the director.

  • Appointment and term

    • The director is appointed by the governor pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-211 and serves at the pleasure of the governor (i.e., can be removed by the governor).

  • Qualifications for director

    • To be eligible for appointment as director, a person must not have a financial interest in a gambling operation or in the gambling industry in Arizona during the term of appointment.

  • Acting director

    • The governor may appoint an acting director if there is a vacancy in the office.

  • Employment and compensation

    • The director and all other department employees are subject to Arizona’s public employment ethics and personnel laws (Title 41, Chapter 4, Article 4).
    • The director is eligible to receive compensation as provided by A.R.S. § 38-611.

  • Grounds for dismissal (conflict of interest related)

    • The employment or financial interest of any relative (within the first degree of consanguinity or affinity) to the director or any other department employee in the gambling industry in Arizona constitutes grounds for dismissal.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Director of the Department of Gaming and the department’s other employees.
  • Individuals with relatives who have a financial interest in the Arizona gambling industry (as such interests could lead to dismissal).

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Appointment process: The governor appoints the director (and may appoint an acting director during vacancies) in accordance with existing statutory framework (A.R.S. § 38-211).
  • Effective scope: The provisions apply to the term of the director’s appointment and govern ethics, conflicts of interest, and employment standards under Title 41, Chapter 4, Article 4, plus compensation rules under § 38-611.
  • Action history: Introduced and moved through the Senate; first reading occurred on June 12, 2026.

Practical Impact

  • Strengthens conflict-of-interest safeguards for the department’s leadership and staff by prohibiting financial interests in gambling operations during tenure.
  • Establishes clear grounds for dismissal based on familial financial interests in the gaming industry.
  • Ensures consistency with state personnel and ethics laws for department operations and compensation.
  • Allows for continuity of leadership via acting director authority during vacancies.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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