(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the commissioner shall have power to enforce the provisions of this chapter and chapter 226b, and shall adopt all necessary regulations for that purpose and for carrying out, enforcing and preventing violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, for the inspection of licensed premises, enterprises or casino gaming facilities, for insuring proper, safe and orderly conduct of licensed premises, enterprises or casino gaming facilities and for protecting the public against fraud or overcharge. The commissioner shall have power generally to do whatever is reasonably necessary for the carrying out of the intent of this chapter; and may call upon other administrative departments of the state government and of municipal governments for such information and assistance as he or she deems necessary to the performance of his or her duties. The commissioner shall set racing and jai alai meeting dates, except that the commissioner may delegate to designated staff the authority for setting make-up performance dates. The commissioner shall, as far as practicable, avoid conflicts in the dates assigned for racing or the exhibition of the game of jai alai in the state.

(b) The special policemen in the Department of Consumer Protection and the legalized gambling investigative unit in the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall be responsible for the criminal enforcement of the provisions of sections 7-169 to 7-186, inclusive, this chapter and chapters 226b and 229a. They shall have the powers and duties specified in section 29-7c.

(1971, P.A. 865, S. 6; P.A. 77-543, S. 3, 7; P.A. 79-404, S. 13, 45; P.A. 86-419, S. 24; P.A. 08-70, S. 2; P.A. 11-51, S. 134, 190; P.A. 13-299, S. 61; P.A. 17-89, S. 8.)

History: P.A. 77-573 added enforcement powers in chapter 226b; P.A. 79-404 gave executive director powers formerly held by commission on special revenue and required advice and consent of gaming policy board for regulations; P.A. 86-419 divided the section into Subsecs., adding Subsec. (b), requiring the special policemen in the division of special revenue and legalized gambling investigative unit to be responsible for criminal enforcement of chapters 226 and 226b and amended Subsec. (a) for consistency with Subsec. (b); P.A. 08-70 amended Subsec. (b) to add references to Secs. 7-169 to 7-186 and Ch. 229a, effective May 27, 2008; P.A. 11-51 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “executive director” with “commissioner” and making technical changes and amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “Division of Special Revenue” with “Department of Consumer Protection”, effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, “Department of Public Safety” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection” in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-299 amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to adopting regulations with advice and consent of the Gaming Policy Board and to add provisions re setting of racing and jai alai meeting dates, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 17-89 amended Subsec. (a) by adding references to casino gaming facilities and making technical changes, effective June 27, 2017.