§ 18 — Objectives to be advanced in determining granting of license; statement of findings

Section 18. In determining whether an applicant shall receive a gaming license, the commission shall evaluate and issue a statement of findings of how each applicant proposes to advance the following objectives:(1) protecting the lottery from any adverse impacts due to expanded gaming including, but not limited to, developing cross-marketing strategies with the lottery and increasing ticket sales to out-of-state residents;(2) promoting local businesses in host and surrounding communities, including developing cross-marketing strategies with local restaurants, small businesses, hotels, retail outlets and impacted live entertainment venues;(3) realizing maximum capital investment exclusive of land acquisition and infrastructure improvements;(4) implementing a workforce development plan that utilizes the existing labor force, including the estimated number of construction jobs a proposed gaming establishment will generate, the development of workforce training programs that serve the unemployed and methods for accessing employment at the gaming establishment;(5) building a gaming establishment of high caliber with a variety of quality amenities to be included as part of the gaming establishment and operated in partnership with local hotels and dining, retail and entertainment facilities so that patrons experience the diversified regional tourism industry;(6) taking additional measures to address problem gambling including, but not limited to, training of gaming employees to identify patrons exhibiting problems with gambling and prevention programs targeted toward vulnerable populations;(7) providing a market analysis detailing the benefits of the site location of the gaming establishment and the estimated recapture rate of gaming-related spending by residents travelling to out-of-state gaming establishments;(8) utilizing sustainable development principles including, but not limited to: (i) being certified as gold or higher under the appropriate certification category in the Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design program created by the United States Green Building Council; (ii) meeting or exceeding the stretch energy code requirements contained in Appendix 120AA of the Massachusetts building energy code or equivalent commitment to advanced energy efficiency as determined by the secretary of energy and environmental affairs; (iii) efforts to mitigate vehicle trips; (iv) efforts to conserve water and manage storm water; (v) demonstrating that electrical and HVAC equipment and appliances will be EnergyStar labeled where available; (vi) procuring or generating on-site 10 per cent of its annual electricity consumption from renewable sources qualified by the department of energy resources under section 11F of chapter 25A; and (vii) developing an ongoing plan to submeter and monitor all major sources of energy consumption and undertake regular efforts to maintain and improve energy efficiency of buildings in their systems;(9) establishing, funding and maintaining human resource hiring and training practices that promote the development of a skilled and diverse workforce and access to promotion opportunities through a workforce training program that: (i) establishes transparent career paths with measurable criteria within the gaming establishment that lead to increased responsibility and higher pay grades that are designed to allow employees to pursue career advancement and promotion; (ii) provides employee access to additional resources, such as tuition reimbursement or stipend policies, to enable employees to acquire the education or job training needed to advance career paths based on increased responsibility and pay grades; and (iii) establishes an on-site child day-care program;(10) contracting with local business owners for the provision of goods and services to the gaming establishment, including developing plans designed to assist businesses in the commonwealth in identifying the needs for goods and services to the establishment;(11) maximizing revenues received by the commonwealth;(12) providing a high number of quality jobs in the gaming establishment;(13) offering the highest and best value to create a secure and robust gaming market in the region and the commonwealth;(14) mitigating potential impacts on host and surrounding communities which might result from the development or operation of the gaming establishment;(15) purchasing, whenever possible, domestically manufactured slot machines for installation in the gaming establishment;(16) implementing a marketing program that identifies specific goals, expressed as an overall program goal applicable to the total dollar amount of contracts, for the utilization of: (i) minority business enterprises, women business enterprises and veteran business enterprises to participate as contractors in the design of the gaming establishment; (ii) minority business enterprises, women business enterprises and veteran business enterprises to participate as contractors in the construction of the gaming establishment; and (iii) minority business enterprises, women business enterprises and veteran business enterprises to participate as vendors in the provision of goods and services procured by the gaming establishment and any businesses operated as part of the gaming establishment;(17) implementing a workforce development plan that: (i) incorporates an affirmative action program of equal opportunity by which the applicant guarantees to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees qualified for licensure in all employment categories, including persons with disabilities; (ii) utilizes the existing labor force in the commonwealth; (iii) estimates the number of construction jobs a gaming establishment will generate and provides for equal employment opportunities and which includes specific goals for the utilization of minorities, women and veterans on those construction jobs; (iv) identifies workforce training programs offered by the gaming establishment; and (v) identifies the methods for accessing employment at the gaming establishment;(18) whether the applicant has a contract with organized labor, including hospitality services, and has the support of organized labor for its application, which specifies: (i) the number of employees to be employed at the gaming establishment, including detailed information on the pay rate and benefits for employees and contractors; (ii) the total amount of investment by the applicant in the gaming establishment and all infrastructure improvements related to the project; (iii) completed studies and reports as required by the commission, which shall include, but need not be limited to, an economic benefit study, both for the commonwealth and the region; and (iv) whether the applicant has included detailed plans for assuring labor harmony during all phases of the construction, reconstruction, renovation, development and operation of the gaming establishment; and(19) gaining public support in the host and surrounding communities which may be demonstrated through public comment received by the commission or gaming applicant.