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S4034Senate2019-2020 SessionSame asA635

Let Employees Run Charity Games

Official title

“Permits employees of authorized organizations to operate games of chance”

Sponsor James SkoufisSD-39Affects Economy
Status
In Assembly Committee
Racing And Wagering
Impact
3/10
Low
Passage
0%

Bill progress

Step 5 of 7

In Assembly · Racing And Wagering

What's happening

This bill allows employees, in addition to members, of authorized organizations to manage and operate games of chance.

Why it matters

  1. Expands the pool of people who can legally manage or operate games of chance. by allowing not just members, but also employees of authorized organizations, to participate directly—potentially making it easier for organizations to staff and run these activities.

  2. Clarifies who can be compensated. for working at these games by specifying that only employees (not volunteer members or others) can receive payment or remuneration, which may help prevent abuse and ensure compliance with nonprofit gaming laws.

  3. May increase operational efficiency and professionalism. in gaming events, as employees (rather than only members, who may be volunteers) can be hired, trained, and held accountable, leading to smoother, more reliable events.

  4. Could impact the financial and compliance responsibilities. of authorized organizations by introducing payroll or employment considerations, and by requiring organizations to certify the employment status and background of those involved in managing and operating games.

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Who cares

Headline styles

Let Employees Run Charity Games

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
James Skoufis

Senator · Senate District 39

Chair, Investigations And Government Operations

No co-sponsors yet.

History

  1. Referred to racing and wagering
  2. Delivered to assembly
  3. Passed senateVote 60–1
  4. Advanced to third reading
  5. 2nd report cal.
  6. 1st report cal.49
  7. Referred to racing, gaming and wagering
  8. Returned to senate
  9. Died in assembly
  10. Referred to racing and wagering
  11. Delivered to assembly
  12. Passed senateVote 61–0
Show 4 earlier actions
  1. Advanced to third reading
  2. 2nd report cal.
  3. 1st report cal.377
  4. Referred to racing, gaming and wagering

Companion bill

The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.

A635Assembly

Let Employees Run Charity Games

In Assembly Committee · Racing And Wagering · Sponsor Albert A. Stirpe

Impact 3 · Low0% to pass

Full text

2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

4034

2019-2020 Regular Sessions

IN SENATE

February 25, 2019

Introduced by Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering

AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to employees of authorized organizations operating games of chance

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Subdivisions 10 and 11 of section 189 of the general municipal law, as amended by chapter 574 of the laws of 1978, are amended to read as follows:

10. No person except a bona fide member or employee of the licensed authorized organization shall participate in the management of such games; no person except a bona fide member or employee of the licensed authorized organization, its auxiliary or affiliated organization, shall participate in the operation of such game, as set forth in section one hundred ninety-five-c of this article.

11. No person other than an employee shall receive any remuneration for participating in the management or operation of any such game.

§ 2. Section 195-c of the general municipal law, as amended by chapter 252 of the laws of 1998, is amended to read as follows:

§ 195-c. [1.] Persons operating games; equipment; expenses; compensation. 1. No person shall operate any game of chance under any license issued under this article except a bona fide member or employee of the authorized organization to which the license is issued, or a bona fide member or employee of an organization or association which is an auxiliary to the licensee or a bona fide member or employee of an organization or association of which such licensee is an auxiliary or a bona fide member or employee of an organization or association which is affiliated with the licensee by being, with it, auxiliary to another organization or association. Nothing herein shall be construed to limit the number of games of chance licensees for whom such persons may oper-

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD00542-01-9

S. 4034 2

ate games of chance nor to prevent non-members or non-employees from assisting the licensee in any activity other than managing or operating games. No game of chance shall be conducted with any equipment except such as shall be owned or leased by the authorized organization so licensed or used without payment of any compensation therefor by the licensee. However, in no event shall bell jar tickets be transferred from one authorized organization to another, with or without payment of any compensation thereof. The head or heads of the authorized organization shall upon request certify, under oath, that the persons operating any game of chance are bona fide members or employees of such authorized organization, auxiliary or affiliated organization. Upon request by an officer or the department any such person involved in such games of chance shall certify that he or she has no criminal record. No items of expense shall be incurred or paid in connection with the conducting of any game of chance pursuant to any license issued under this article except those that are reasonable and are necessarily expended for games of chance supplies and equipment, prizes, security personnel, stated rental if any, bookkeeping or accounting services according to a schedule of compensation prescribed by the board, janitorial services and utility supplies if any, and license fees, and the cost of bus transportation, if authorized by such clerk or department. No commission, salary, compensation, reward or recompense shall be paid or given to any person other than an employee for the sale or assisting with the sale of raffle tickets.

2. For the purpose of the sale of tickets for the game of raffle, the term "operate" shall not include the sale of such tickets by persons of lineal or collateral consanguinity to members of an authorized organization licensed to conduct a raffle.

§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.

Sponsor's memo

Title of bill

An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to employees of authorized organizations operating games of chance

Purpose or general idea of bill

To allow employees of authorized organizations such as the American Legion to participate in the management of games of chance.

Summary of provisions

Currently only members of the American Legion or members of the Auxilia- ry or Sons of American Legion if they have their ID numbers, can sell tickets for games of chance. This legislation would allow employees of the licensed authorized organization, its auxiliary or affiliated organ- ization to participate in the operation of such game. No person other than an employee would receive any remuneration for participating in the management or operation of any such game. The head or heads of the authorized organization shall, upon request, certify, under oath, that the persons operating any game of chance are bona fide members or employees of such authorized organization, auxiliary or affiliated organization.

Justification

The age of the average member of organizations such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars has increased dramatically in recent years. This has necessitated the hiring of employees who are not members to assist in the daily running of these organizations to perform jobs such as bartending. Tickets for games of chance are regularly sold at such organizations as a means of fundraising and since only members are allowed to sell these tickets, when a member is not available they cannot be sold.

Prior legislative history

2016-2017: A.335/S.8175 referred to race and wagering 2017-2018: A.335 referred to race and wagering

Fiscal implications

None

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.