BP BHEAD INT H [Atlas:Generic]

AN ACT Relating to charitable bingo games; and amending RCW 9.46.0205 and 9.46.120.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 9.46.0205 and 1987 c 4 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) "Bingo," as used in this chapter, means a game ((~~conducted only in the county within which the organization is principally located~~)) in which prizes are awarded on the basis of designated numbers or symbols on a card conforming to numbers or symbols selected at random and in which no cards are sold except at the time and place of ((~~said~~)) the game, ((~~when said~~)) except as authorized by the commission for joint bingo games.

(2) The game ((is)) shall be conducted only by:

(a) A bona fide charitable or nonprofit organization which does not conduct or allow its premises to be used for conducting bingo on more than three occasions per week and which does not conduct bingo in any location which is used for conducting bingo on more than three occasions per week((,)); or ((if))

(b) An agricultural fair authorized under chapters 15.76 and 36.37 RCW, which does not conduct bingo on more than twelve consecutive days in any calendar year((~~, and~~)).

(3) Except in the case of any agricultural fair as authorized under chapters 15.76 and 36.37 RCW, no person other than a bona fide member or an employee of ((~~said~~)) the organization ((~~takes~~)) may take any part in the management or operation of ((~~said~~)) the game unless approved by the commission, and no person who takes any part in the management or operation of ((~~said~~)) the game ((~~takes~~)) may take any part in the management or operation of any game conducted by any other organization or any other branch of the same organization((,)) unless approved by the commission((~~, and~~)).

(4) No part of the proceeds ((~~thereof~~)) from a bingo game may inure to the benefit of any person other than the organization conducting ((~~said~~)) the game.

(5) A bingo game must be conducted only in the county where the sponsoring organization is principally located, except as authorized by the commission for joint bingo games. For the purposes of this section, the organization shall be deemed to be principally located in the county within which it has its primary business office. If the organization has no business office, the organization shall be deemed to be located in the county of principal residence of its chief executive officer((~~: PROVIDED, That~~)). Any organization which is conducting any licensed and established bingo game in any locale as of January 1, 1981, shall be exempt from the requirement that such game be conducted in the county in which the organization is principally located.

(6) The commission may authorize joint bingo games conducted by two or more bona fide charitable or nonprofit organizations if the prizes are pooled and the games are conducted during each organization's normal period of operation. The commission may adopt rules for the operation, management, and location of the games.

Sec. 2. RCW 9.46.120 and 1987 c 4 s 40 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Except in the case of an agricultural fair as authorized under chapters 15.76 and 36.37 RCW, no person other than a member of a bona fide charitable or nonprofit organization (and their employees) or any other person, association or organization (and their employees) approved by the commission, shall take any part in the management or operation of any gambling activity authorized under this chapter((~~, and~~)) unless approved by the commission. No person who takes any part in the management or operation of any such gambling activity shall take any part in the management or operation of any gambling activity conducted by any other organization or any other branch of the same organization((,)) unless approved by the commission((~~, and~~)). No part of the proceeds ((~~thereof~~)) of the activity shall inure to the benefit of any person other than the organization conducting such gambling activities or if such gambling activities be for the charitable benefit of any specific persons designated in the application for a license, then only for such specific persons as so designated.

(2) No bona fide charitable or nonprofit organization or any other person, association or organization shall conduct any gambling activity authorized under this chapter in any leased premises if rental for such premises is unreasonable or to be paid, wholly or partly, on the basis of a percentage of the receipts or profits derived from such gambling activity.