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Michigan Casinos Consider Loosening Hiring Law

"Under a harsh Michigan law, individuals with theft-related convictions, even misdemeanors that occurred decades ago, can't so much as get a job picking up cigarette butts near slot machines in Detroit's three casinos.

"If the city was going to have casinos, most voters and legislators agreed, the laws governing them had to be unyielding to keep out the criminal element. As a result, 16 percent of those initially hired to work on and around the casino floor haven't been able to get a state-issued license.

"…At least publicly, Michigan regulators haven't second-guessed the strict law that gives them no discretion in approving licenses -- until now.

"…[A] new committee, formed to review laws and rules governing the Detroit casino industry and to make possible recommendations to Michigan lawmakers, is chaired by board member Geraldine Bledsoe Ford, a retired judge for Michigan's Third Judicial Circuit Court.

"…But there's a downside to giving the board discretion.

"`Having a law with no flexibility makes our job very easy. It's either black or white," [board Chairman Tom] Denomme said. `As soon as we introduce flexibility, we begin to agonize over precedent and comparison of cases.'…"

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