February 20, 2020 - Introduced by Senators LeMahieu, Craig and Nass,
cosponsored by Representatives Magnafici, Quinn, Petryk, Plumer,
Felzkowski, Spiros, Horlacher, Vorpagel, Wichgers and Gundrum.
Referred to Committee on Public Benefits, Licensing and State-Federal
Relations.

SB857,1,7 1An Act to repeal 563.04 (6) (b), 563.12 (4), 563.12 (9), 563.51 (12), subchapter
2V (title) of chapter 563 [precedes 563.61], 563.61, 563.62, 563.63, 563.64,
3563.66, 563.68, 563.69 and subchapter VII of chapter 563 [precedes 563.80]; to
4consolidate, renumber and amend 563.04 (6) (intro.) and (a); and to amend
520.505 (8) (jm), 125.06 (10), 563.12 (7), 563.13 (2), 563.13 (4), 563.14 (2), 563.15
6(1), 563.16, 563.51 (10) (a), 563.72 and 563.73 (1) of the statutes; relating to:
7bingo licenses.

This bill changes some of the requirements for applying for and maintaining a
license to operate bingo games, changes the financial recordkeeping and reporting
requirements for bingo operations, and removes the gross receipts tax for bingo
operations.

Under current law, a “bingo occasion,” defined as a single gathering or session
at which a series of successive bingo games is played, can only be run by a nonprofit
organization that obtains a license from the Department of Administration's
Division of Gaming. This bill removes the current requirement for an organization
applying for a bingo license to specify the date and place of each bingo occasion that
will be held under the license, and allows a licensed organization to operate an
unlimited number of bingo occasions during the license period. This bill also removes

the current requirement for the organization to license a member to be responsible
for the proper utilization of the gross receipts of the bingo occasions under the license.

Current law requires an applicant to pay a license fee that includes a fee of $10
per bingo occasion that will be held under the license and a $5 fee per member who
is responsible for the proper utilization of gross receipts under the license. This bill
changes the fee structure so that an applicant pays a flat fee of $100 for an annual
bingo license.

This bill removes the bookkeeping and accounts requirements for bingo
operations under current law. Current law requires licensed organizations to submit
semiannual reports of bingo operations to DOA along with payment of a gross
receipts tax, and to provide an annual report to the membership of the organization
on bingo operations. This bill removes the requirement to submit the semiannual
report to DOA, eliminates the gross receipts tax, and removes the requirement for
the organization to report to its membership. This bill also removes the current
prohibition on receiving payment for participating in the management or operation
of a bingo game and the prohibition on awarding alcohol or fermented malt beverages
as a prize in a bingo game.

Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be
referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed
as an appendix to the bill.