HARRISBURG -- Sen. Jeffrey Piccola today proposed a number of changes, which he called reforms, to the slots casino law enacted in 2004.

The major one would be to transfer the Bureau of Investigations and Enforcement from the state gaming control board to the state attorney general's office.

Doing so, the Dauphin County Republican told a Spectrum Gaming Group meeting here today, would permit the investigations bureau to have access to criminal investigation information, which is currently denied to it.

The gaming board and its investigation bureau have been under severe criticism recently for granting a slots license to businessman Louis DeNaples. When it did so in December 2006, it didn't know the Pennsylvania State Police were investigating Mr. DeNaples for perjury -- allegedly lying under oath about his history with reputed organized crime figures.

The Dauphin County district attorney recently charged Mr. DeNaples with four counts of perjury. The gaming board recently suspended Mr. DeNaples' license but his casino, Mount Airy Resort Casino in the Poconos, remains open.

Mr. Piccola has been one of the Legislature's leading critics of slots casinos. He voted against the measure when it was enacted in July 2004.

But he told the gaming industry meeting that he realizes slots are in Pennsylvania to stay and he wants to make sure the industry is properly regulated.

He is currently seeking co-sponsors for his reform bill, which will be introduced in a couple weeks but doesn't have a bill number yet.

Other key provisions are:

• Lowering the number of Gaming Control Board members from seven to five and having them all nominated by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. Currently, the governor names three and the top four legislative leaders each name one, but there is no confirmation by the Senate.

• Empowering the attorney general to do "a thorough background investigation'' of each appointee before the Senate votes. Now, the board's investigation bureau and state police do the background checks.

• Ending what is called a "qualified majority veto'' provision. Now, all four legislative appointees and at least one of the governor's appointees must approve any slots license; this, in effect, gives each of the four legislative leaders a veto power over any slots license.

• Ban gaming board members from having any outside employment while they are on the board.

• Ban anyone who has ever had a felony conviction from getting a slots license. Currently, the ban goes back for only 15 years before the license is issued. Such a provision would have prevented Mr. DeNaples from getting a license because he had a conviction in 1978.

• With agreement by the attorney general, permit the gaming board to grant immunity from criminal prosecution if needed to get a witness to provide necessary background information about a casino applicant.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.