SB 857

This bill changes some of the requirements for applying for and maintaining a

license to operate bingo games, changes the financial recordkeeping and reporting

requirements for bingo operations, and removes the gross receipts tax for bingo

operations.

Under current law, a “bingo occasion,” defined as a single gathering or session

at which a series of successive bingo games is played, can only be run by a nonprofit

organization that obtains a license from the Department of Administration's

Division of Gaming. This bill removes the current requirement for an organization

applying for a bingo license to specify the date and place of each bingo occasion that

will be held under the license, and allows a licensed organization to operate an

unlimited number of bingo occasions during the license period. This bill also removes

the current requirement for the organization to license a member to be responsible

for the proper utilization of the gross receipts of the bingo occasions under the license.

Current law requires an applicant to pay a license fee that includes a fee of $10

per bingo occasion that will be held under the license and a $5 fee per member who

is responsible for the proper utilization of gross receipts under the license. This bill

changes the fee structure so that an applicant pays a flat fee of $100 for an annual

bingo license.

This bill removes the bookkeeping and accounts requirements for bingo

operations under current law. Current law requires licensed organizations to submit

semiannual reports of bingo operations to DOA along with payment of a gross

receipts tax, and to provide an annual report to the membership of the organization

on bingo operations. This bill removes the requirement to submit the semiannual

report to DOA, eliminates the gross receipts tax, and removes the requirement for

the organization to report to its membership. This bill also removes the current

prohibition on receiving payment for participating in the management or operation

of a bingo game and the prohibition on awarding alcohol or fermented malt beverages

as a prize in a bingo game.

Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be

referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed

as an appendix to the bill.