|
Senate Interim Committee on Charitable
Bingo
Charges
Study whether the Texas Lottery Commission has sufficient legal
authority to exercise strict control and close supervision over
all facets of charitable bingo and make recommendations to ensure
the commission has the regulatory tools to fulfill that responsibility.
Study the existence of or potential for unfair or anti-competitive
practices in the charitable bingo industry and make recommendations
for preventing or eliminating such practices.
Determine whether additional resources are needed by the Texas
Lottery Commission to ensure that charitable bingo gaming is conducted
for the purposes authorized by the voters and by statute.
Oversee implementation of House Bill 3021, 74th Legislature,
Regular Session, and make recommendations for changes in the legislation,
if needed.
Propose to the 75th Legislature a recodification of the Bingo
Enabling Act, if necessary.
Recommendations
PRIZES
Modify prize levels by raising
the $2,500 per occasion level to $5,000; eliminate the $500 per
game provision and allow charities to conduct progressive games
on a weekly basis.
Allow the awarding of door
prizes; the door prizes must be donated and their cash value
should not exceed $1,000.
Allow charitable raffles during
bingo occasions.
FEES AND TAXES
Submit taxes on a bi-weekly
basis with a three-day grace period but maintain quarterly distribution
reports.
Reduce the rental cap from
$600 to $450.
Collect taxes only on prize
amounts that exceed $250.
REGULATIONS
Eliminate restrictions on
advertising to allow charities, commercial lessors, manufacturers,
and distributors to advertise. Commercial lessors, manufacturers,
and distributors cannot pass on advertising expenses to charities.
Allow authorized charitable
organizations to amend times and dates by telephone or fax for
a minimal charge.
Lift the restrictions on symbols
used on a pull-tab and provide a clear definition of a pull-tab
to exclude bar coding.
Require mandatory training
of a designated bingo operator.
Transfer regulatory functions
of bingo from the Texas Lottery Commission to the Texas Department
of Licensing and Regulation.
Require a pre-hearing process
before action is taken to suspend or revoke a charity license.
Allow the parent of an umbrella
organization chartered in Texas to verify that a charity is in
good standing for the purpose of obtaining a bingo license.
Include a statement of intent
in the Bingo Enabling Act.
Provide a nonsubstantive recodification
of the Bingo Enabling Act.
Provide that charity lessors
can only lease a facility that it owns or that it leases directly
from a building owner. Require charity lessors to also show proof
of financial capability to furnish, provide utilities, and cost
of renovation or purchase.
Require charity lessors to
conduct bingo games in the halls or locations they lease to other
charities.
|
|
