House Bill 325 – Sponsored by Representative Nancy Hollister (R-Marietta)

HB 325 was introduced on November 6, 2003. This legislation is a direct result of HB 512, passed during the previous General Assembly, which made major revisions to gaming law.

Generally, HB 325 makes changes relative to the conduct of bingo, instant bingo at a bingo session, and instant bingo other than at a bingo session by a charitable organization, and to other charitable gambling related matters. The bill passed out of the House on March 24, 2004 by a vote of 91-6. HB 325 is currently being heard in the Senate Agriculture Committee. Specific provisions of this legislation are listed below.

The following highlight the major changes to the current law which are being proposed in HB 325:

• Creates a short-term bingo license to be issued to certain charitable organizations to conduct bingo at a specific event, but for not more than 72 hours from the event's beginning.

• Changes the definitions of various charitable organizations and other terms used in the Charitable Bingo Law; i.e., service organization need not be exclusively operated as a service organization.

• Includes social clubs within the definition of a charitable organization.

• Authorizes charitable organizations to purchase, lease, and use instantbingo ticket dispensers.

• Authorizes most charitable organizations to conduct games of chance and instant bingo at festivals they conduct.

• Authorizes charitable organizations that conduct instant bingo,other than at a bingo session, to sell instant bingo tickets to persons under age 18.

• Allows more charitable organizations to conduct raffles without having to obtain a bingo license.

• Changes the number of days and hours during which social clubs and veteran's, fraternal, and sporting organizations may conduct instant bingo other than at a bingo session. Allows instant bingo, other than at a bingo session, up to 12 hours during any day, and this provision also applies to social clubs.

• Requires a charitable organization to keep a separate account in a financial institution for the deposit of the net profit from the proceeds of the instant bingo it conducts, and to keep a record of deposits in to and withdrawals from the account.

• Provides that a bartender who commits certain gambling offenses while working at a liquor permit premises, for which the permit has been issued to a charitable organization, is guilty of no more than a misdemeanor of the first degree.

• Requires the Attorney General to grant a temporary bingo license to initial applicants if the issuance of their regular license is delayed.

• Broadens the definition of expenses so that veteran’s and fraternal organizations will be able to use more of the proceeds of instant bingo for the maintenance and up keep of the facilities.

• Authorizes the Attorney General to enter into a contract with any other state agency to delegate administrative duties to such agency regarding the bingo licensing process.
  (*The Attorney General's office has indicated that it is in the process of finalizing an agreement with the Lottery Commission giving the Lottery Commission responsibility for the application review and licensing process.)