(a) Each master wagering licensee or licensed online gaming operator, online gaming service provider or sports wagering retailer shall, on or before July 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, provide in writing, to the department a list of the key employees representing the licensee.

(b) A key employee of a master wagering licensee or licensed online gaming operator, online gaming service provider or sports wagering retailer shall obtain a key employee license from the department pursuant to this section. The commissioner may establish, through regulations adopted pursuant to § 12-865, criteria to exercise discretion to determine that an individual who is a key employee is not required to be licensed as a key employee in order to protect the integrity of gaming.

(c) (1) A key employee shall apply for a license on a form and in a manner prescribed by the commissioner. Such form may require the applicant to: (A) Submit to a state and national criminal history records check conducted in accordance with § 29-17a, which may include a financial history check if requested by the commissioner, to determine the character and fitness of the applicant for the license, (B) provide information related to other business affiliations, and (C) provide or allow the department to obtain such other information as the department determines is consistent with the requirements of this section in order to determine the fitness of the applicant to hold a license.

(2) In place of the criminal history records check described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the commissioner may accept from an applicant for an initial key employee license the submission of a third-party local and national criminal background check that includes a multistate and multijurisdictional criminal record locator or other similar commercial nation-wide database with validation, and other such background screening as the commissioner may require. Any such third-party criminal background check shall be conducted by a third-party consumer reporting agency or background screening company that is in compliance with the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act and accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.

(d) A key employee license shall be renewed annually. The initial license application fee for a key employee licensee shall be two hundred dollars and the annual renewal fee shall be two hundred dollars. The initial application fee shall be waived for a key employee who holds an active occupational gaming license issued by the department.

(e) The department shall transfer any licensing fee collected pursuant to subsection (a) of this section for a key employee of the holder of a master wagering license under § 12-852, or of an online gaming operator or an online gaming service provider that is affiliated with such a holder of a master wagering license, to the State Sports Wagering and Online Gaming Regulatory Fund established under § 12-869.