SENATE DOCKET, NO. 759        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2035

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act to study and expand charitable gaming..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 10 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, by inserting after section 39A the following:-

Section 39B.    The commission shall by July 31 of each year complete a report which reviews the effectiveness of the commonwealth’s charitable gaming program, which includes, but is not limited to, beano, bazaars, pull tabs, poker, Texas hold’em, so-called, and raffles; provided, that, said study and review shall include information about the number and types of organizations that conduct charitable gaming, the number of the different types of charitable gaming authorized, the amount and types of prizes awarded on each type of charitable gaming, the amount of revenue the commonwealth receives from charitable gaming, the types and amounts collected in charitable gaming in surrounding states, the impact charitable gaming has on charitable organizations and the communities they are located in, the impact of out of state gaming on in-state charitable gaming, the impact on compulsive gaming or other possible negative community effects, and provide regulatory and legislative recommendations on whether to improve and expand the program.  The commission may implement rules and regulations to modify the current charitable gaming program under the law, which may include, but is not limited to, the licensure process, changing the prize structure, establishing days and hours of operation, defining and setting rules for the charitable games, establishing a licensure system for individuals operating charitable games, promulgating information to charitable organizations and municipal licensing boards, providing technical assistance to charitable organizations, setting licensing fees and establishing penalties for violations of the rules and regulations.   The commission shall submit said report, changes to the rules and regulations, and recommendations for legislative changes to the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means and Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure by August 15 of each year.