Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Commerce & Labor Committee

HB 1446

Brief Description:  Authorizing bona fide charitable and nonprofit organizations to conduct electronic bingo.

Sponsors:  Representatives Wood, Clements, Conway, B. Chandler, Kenney, Lisk and Eickmeyer.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Expands the definition of bingo to include electronic bingo games.

$Permits nonprofit organizations to conduct electronic bingo games seven days per week.

Hearing Date:  2/6/01

Staff:  Sydney Forrester (786‑7120).

Background: 

The Legislature has declared fund-raising by bona fide charitable organizations to be in the public interest.  In addition to specific fund-raising events, charitable organizations may conduct bingo games up to three times per week, or they may allow their facility to by used for conducting 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.

Summary of Bill: 

Nonprofit charitable organizations are permitted to conduct electronic bingo games using approved linked electronic bingo terminals.  The gambling commission must adopt rules for the testing, regulation, approval, and licensing of electronic bingo games and terminals.  Bingo games would be permitted seven days per week.  Up to 200 terminals per location would be permitted.  Stand-alone gambling devices would not be permitted.

Rules Authority:  The bill does not contain provisions addressing the rule-making powers of an agency.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 5, 2001.

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