Section 50-27-15. Investigation of vendors; disclosure requirements; restrictions on entry into procurement contracts

   (a) The corporation shall investigate the financial responsibility, security, and integrity of any lottery system vendor who is a finalist in submitting a bid, proposal, or offer as part of a major procurement. At the time of submitting such bid, proposal, or offer to the corporation, the corporation may require the following items:

   (1) A disclosure of the vendor's name and address and, as applicable, the names and addresses of the following:

      (A) If the vendor is a corporation, the officers, directors, and each stockholder in such corporation; provided, however, that in the case of owners of equity securities of a publicly traded corporation, only the names and addresses of those known to the corporation to own beneficially 5 percent or more of such securities need be disclosed;

      (B) If the vendor is a trust, the trustee and all persons entitled to receive income or benefits from the trust;

      (C) If the vendor is an association, the members, officers, and directors; and

      (D) If the vendor is a partnership or joint venture, all of the general partners, limited partners, or joint venturers;

   (2) A disclosure of all the states and jurisdictions in which the vendor does business and the nature of the business for each such state or jurisdiction;

   (3) A disclosure of all the states and jurisdictions in which the vendor has contracts to supply gaming goods or services, including, but not limited to, lottery goods and services, and the nature of the goods or services involved for each such state or jurisdiction;

   (4) A disclosure of all the states and jurisdictions in which the vendor has applied for, has sought renewal of, has received, has been denied, has pending, or has had revoked a lottery or gaming license of any kind or had fines or penalties assessed to his license, contract, or operation and the disposition of such in each such state or jurisdiction. If any lottery or gaming license or contract has been revoked or has not been renewed or any lottery or gaming license or application has been either denied or is pending and has remained pending for more than six months, all of the facts and circumstances underlying the failure to receive such a license shall be disclosed;

   (5) A disclosure of the details of any finding or plea, conviction, or adjudication of guilt in a state or federal court of the vendor for any felony or any other criminal offense other than a traffic violation;

   (6) A disclosure of the details of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or corporate or individual purchase or takeover of another corporation, including bonded indebtedness, or any pending litigation of the vendor; and

   (7) Such additional disclosures and information as the corporation may determine to be appropriate for the procurement involved.

If at least 25 percent of the cost of a vendor's contract is subcontracted, the vendor shall disclose all of the information required by this Code section for the subcontractor as if the subcontractor were itself a vendor.

(b) A lottery procurement contract shall not be entered into with any lottery system vendor who has not complied with the disclosure requirements described in subsection (a) of this Code section, and any contract with such a vendor is voidable at the option of the corporation. Any contract with a vendor who does not comply with such requirements for periodically updating such disclosures during the tenure of contract as may be specified in such contract may be terminated by the corporation. The provisions of this Code section shall be construed broadly and liberally to achieve the ends of full disclosure of all information necessary to allow for a full and complete evaluation by the corporation of the competence, integrity, background, and character of vendors for major procurements.

(c) A major procurement contract shall not be entered into with any vendor who has been found guilty of a felony related to the security or integrity of the lottery in this or any other jurisdiction.

(d) A major procurement contract shall not be entered into with any vendor if such vendor has an ownership interest in an entity that had supplied consultation services under contract to the corporation regarding the request for proposals pertaining to those particular goods or services.

(e) No lottery system vendor nor any applicant for a major procurement contract may pay, give, or make any economic opportunity, gift, loan, gratuity, special discount, favor, hospitality, or service, excluding food and beverages having an aggregate value not exceeding $100.00 in any calendar year, to the chief executive officer, any board member, or any employee of the corporation or to a member of the immediate family residing in the same household as any such person.

Code 1981, § 50-27-15, enacted by Ga. L. 1992, p. 3173, § 2.