| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to games and drawings; amending s. |
| 3 | 849.0931, F.S.; authorizing the use of electronics or |
| 4 | other technology in lieu of vocal verification for bingo |
| 5 | games; amending s. 849.0935, F.S.; revising the definition |
| 6 | of "organization" to include chambers of commerce; |
| 7 | exempting chambers of commerce from provisions prohibiting |
| 8 | drawings by chance; providing an effective date. |
| 9 |
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| 10 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 11 |
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| 12 | Section 1. Paragraph (g) of subsection (12) of section |
| 13 | 849.0931, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 14 | 849.0931 Bingo authorized; conditions for conduct; |
| 15 | permitted uses of proceeds; limitations.-- |
| 16 | (12) Each bingo game shall be conducted in accordance with |
| 17 | the following rules: |
| 18 | (g) Numbers on the winning cards or sheets shall be |
| 19 | announced and verified in the presence of another player. Any |
| 20 | player shall be entitled at the time the winner is determined to |
| 21 | call for a verification of numbers drawn. The verification shall |
| 22 | be in the presence of the member designated to be in charge of |
| 23 | the occasion or, if such person is also the caller, in the |
| 24 | presence of an officer of the licensee. Verification may also be |
| 25 | provided through the use of electronic or other commercially |
| 26 | available technology in lieu of vocal verification. Verification |
| 27 | by other than vocal means must be confined to the premises at |
| 28 | which the bingo session is held and may not be transmitted to |
| 29 | any other location. |
| 30 | Section 2. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and subsection |
| 31 | (2) of section 849.0935, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 32 | 849.0935 Charitable, nonprofit organizations; drawings by |
| 33 | chance; required disclosures; unlawful acts and practices; |
| 34 | penalties.-- |
| 35 | (1) As used in this section, the term: |
| 36 | (b) "Organization" means an organization which is exempt |
| 37 | from federal income taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. s. 501(c)(3), |
| 38 | (4), (7), (8), (10), or (19), or a chamber of commerce pursuant |
| 39 | to 26 U.S.C. s. 501(c)(6), and which has a current determination |
| 40 | letter from the Internal Revenue Service, and its bona fide |
| 41 | members or officers. |
| 42 | (2) The provisions of s. 849.09 shall not be construed to |
| 43 | prohibit an organization qualified under 26 U.S.C. s. 501(c)(3), |
| 44 | (4), (7), (8), (10), or (19), or a chamber of commerce qualified |
| 45 | under 26 U.S.C. s. 501(c)(6), from conducting drawings by chance |
| 46 | pursuant to the authority granted by this section, provided the |
| 47 | organization has complied with all applicable provisions of |
| 48 | chapter 496. |
| 49 | Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2005. |