Florida Senate - 2009 SB 400
By Senator Fasano
11-00333-09 2009400__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to bingo games; amending s. 849.0931,
3 F.S.; authorizing the use of electronics or other
4 technology in lieu of vocal verification for bingo
5 games; amending s. 849.0935, F.S.; redefining the term
6 “organization” to include chambers of commerce;
7 exempting chambers of commerce from provisions
8 prohibiting drawings by chance; authorizing an
9 organization to place signs at a bingo game event
10 disclosing certain required information; providing an
11 effective date.
12
13 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
14
15 Section 1. Paragraph (g) of subsection (12) of section
16 849.0931, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
17 849.0931 Bingo authorized; conditions for conduct;
18 permitted uses of proceeds; limitations.—
19 (12) Each bingo game shall be conducted in accordance with
20 the following rules:
21 (g) Numbers on the winning cards or sheets shall be
22 announced and verified in the presence of another player. Any
23 player is shall be entitled at the time the winner is determined
24 to call for a verification of numbers drawn. The verification
25 shall be in the presence of the member designated to be in
26 charge of the occasion or, if such person is also the caller, in
27 the presence of an officer of the licensee. Verification may
28 also be provided through the use of electronic or other
29 commercially available technology in lieu of vocal verification.
30 Verification by other than vocal means must be confined to the
31 premises at which the bingo session is held and may not be
32 transmitted to any other location.
33 Section 2. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and subsections
34 (2) and (3) of section 849.0935, Florida Statutes, are amended
35 to read:
36 849.0935 Charitable, nonprofit organizations; drawings by
37 chance; required disclosures; unlawful acts and practices;
38 penalties.—
39 (1) As used in this section, the term:
40 (b) “Organization” means an organization that which is
41 exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. s.
42 501(c)(3), (4), (7), (8), (10), or (19), or a chamber of
43 commerce that is exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to
44 26 U.S.C. s. 501(c)(6), and that which has a current
45 determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service, and
46 includes the organization's its bona fide members or officers.
47 (2) The provisions of s. 849.09 do shall not be construed
48 to prohibit an organization qualified under 26 U.S.C. s.
49 501(c)(3), (4), (7), (8), (10), or (19), or a chamber of
50 commerce qualified under 26 U.S.C. s. 501(c)(6), from conducting
51 drawings by chance pursuant to the authority granted by this
52 section if, provided the organization has complied with all
53 applicable provisions of chapter 496.
54 (3) All brochures, advertisements, notices, tickets, or
55 entry blanks used in connection with a drawing by chance shall
56 conspicuously disclose:
57 (a) The rules governing the conduct and operation of the
58 drawing.
59 (b) The full name of the organization and its principal
60 place of business.
61 (c) The source of the funds used to award cash prizes or to
62 purchase prizes.
63 (d) The date, hour, and place where the winner will be
64 chosen and the prizes will be awarded, unless the brochures,
65 advertisements, notices, tickets, or entry blanks are not
66 offered to the public more than 3 days prior to the drawing.
67 (e) That no purchase or contribution is necessary.
68 When an organization is conducting a drawing by chance and the
69 tickets are offered only at the location where prizes are to be
70 awarded and are offered 3 hours or less before the awarding of
71 prizes, the organization may, in lieu of printing the
72 requirements of paragraphs (a)-(e) on all items relating to the
73 drawing, place at least three signs conspicuously disclosing the
74 information required in paragraphs (a)-(e) at the event
75 location.
76 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.