The Nevada Senate voted unanimously Monday for a measure to eliminate county-issued work cards in favor of statewide registration for casino employees -- a sweeping change that would rely on casinos policing their workers.
Under SB432, workers in gambling-related positions would register through their jobs once every five years, and the state Gaming Control Board would run criminal background checks through federal and state law enforcement.
The statewide registration proposal comes just several months after the Nevada Gaming Commission implemented a statewide work card system approved by the 2001 Legislature.
That program was designed to save dealers, change-makers and other casino workers time and money, by eliminating the need for multiple cards if they change jobs.
Regulators now want to get rid of the cards altogether -- saving the state costs of issuing them and transferring responsibility to casinos themselves.
Though Nevada issues only a handful of permits per year, to workers in rural areas, the board is required by state law to issue cards if local governments cease doing so.
Clark County is ending its permit program by the end of the year. Washoe County and several others have suggested they may drop their programs due to cost increases.
Under the bill, now headed to the Assembly, registration prices would be limited to the cost of processing an application. Workers would likely eventually pay a bit more than the current $75 work card price, regulators said.
If approved by the full Legislature and signed into law, the changes would take effect Jan. 1.
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