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Senate file 1891 would clarify and narrow lottery background checks for responsible officials; committee accepts technical fixes
Summary
Senate File 1891 would clarify that expanded annual FBI background checks apply to officers, directors and owners who have direct oversight of Minnesota Lottery retail operations and tightens conflict‑of‑interest contract language; the committee adopted a technical amendment and laid the bill over.
Senate File 1891, presented March 13 to the Minnesota Senate Committee on State and Local Government, would revise the Minnesota Lottery's authority regarding annual background checks for responsible retail officials and clarify conflict‑of‑interest language for contracts.
Senator Lang introduced the measure as a "fix‑it" bill responding to findings from a recent Office of the Legislative Auditor audit of the Minnesota Lottery. Adam Prock, executive director of the Minnesota Lottery, told the committee that the agency "strongly supports Senate file 18 91" and said the bill provides clarity about annual expanded nationwide FBI background checks for "officers, directors, and owners who with direct oversight referred to as responsible lottery officials." He said the change will enhance the thoroughness of checks for those officials while reducing administrative burdens for retail partners.
The committee discussed eligibility provisions and language to prevent contracting with entities whose responsible officials meet disqualifying criteria (felony convictions in the previous five years, substantial delinquent taxes, etc.). Senator Maquade proposed an oral amendment to exclude individuals pardoned for federal sedition or insurrection from contracting; that oral amendment failed on a 6–5 roll call. Senator Barr offered a clarifying technical A1 amendment to tighten language around who is considered an immediate family member or household member for the conflict‑of‑interest sections; the committee accepted that amendment by voice vote.
Action: After adopting the technical amendment, the committee laid Senate File 1891 over for possible further action; the author said the bill "is a good governance bill" addressing audit findings and the lottery director thanked the committee for time and support.
Next steps: The bill was laid over and will remain in committee for possible inclusion in future packages; the Lottery said it will use the bill's clarifications to implement clearer annual background‑check procedures for retailers and their responsible officials.
