SENATE BILL REPORT

EHB 2918

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions, February 28, 2002

Title:  An act relating to authorizing bona fide charitable and nonprofit organizations to conduct bingo.

Brief Description:  Authorizing certain organizations to conduct bingo.

Sponsors:  Representative Wood.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions:  2/26/02, 2/28/02 [DPA, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Keiser, Vice Chair; Benton, Deccio, Franklin, Gardner, Rasmussen, Regala and Winsley.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

Signed by Senator Hochstatter.

Staff:  Dave Cheal (786‑7576)

Background:  The Legislature has declared fund-raising by bona fide charitable and nonprofit organizations to be in the public interest.  In addition to specific fund-raising events, charitable and nonprofit organizations may conduct bingo games up to three times per week.  Bingo games are those in which prizes are awarded on the basis of matching numbers or symbols on a card to numbers or symbols selected at random.  Bingo cards may be sold only at the time and place where the game is conducted.

In 1999, bona fide charitable and nonprofit organizations began offering satellite bingo.  This game allows bingo halls to join together once or twice daily (during operating hours) to offer a large guaranteed prize to one winner within this state.

Summary of Amended Bill:  Provisions of the current law are deleted that limit charitable and nonprofit organizations from conducting bingo or using their premises to conduct bingo more than three days per week.  Charitable and nonprofit organizations licensed to conduct bingo may share bingo facilities.  An organization that conducts bingo more than three times per week must include a warning of the hazard of pathological gambling in any advertising or promotion of its gambling activities.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The Senate amendment removes the moratorium on the issuance of bingo licenses.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  More days of operation will allow many charitable organizations to continue their important work.  It will allow them to compete with the expanded industry.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Rep. Bill Eickmeyer; Steve Strand, T. K. Bentler, Rick Wickman, Wash. Charitable & Civic Gaming Assn.