Section 849.0931, Florida Statutes (1993), authorizes the conduct of bingo games by charitable, non-profit and veterans' organizations engaged in charitable, civic, community, benevolent, religious or scholastic works and other similar activities, (hereinafter referred to as "charitable organizations") provided the entire proceeds derived from the conduct of the bingo games are donated to such endeavors, less actual business expenses for articles designed for and essential to the operation, conduct, and playing of bingo.
Section 849.0931(2)(a), Florida Statutes (1993), prohibits the net proceeds from bingo games from being used for any purpose other than charitable, non-profit and veterans' organizations engaged in charitable, civic, community, benevolent, religious or scholastic works and other similar activities.
Section 849.0931(2)(b), Florida Statutes (1993), provides that, "It is the express intent of the Legislature that no charitable, non-profit or veterans' organization serve as a sponsor of a bingo game conducted by another, but such organization may only be directly involved in the conduct of such a game as provided in this act."
Section 849.0931, Florida Statutes (1993), contains various other provisions intended to assure that the primary benefactors of the authorized bingo games are actually the charitable, non-profit and veterans' organizations, and not private persons. These include requirements that the operators must be bona fide members of the organization conducting the bingo game, must not be compensated for the operation of the bingo game, and must be residents of the community where the organization is located. The protective statutory provisions also include requirements that the property upon which the bingo games are held must either be owned by the worthy organizations or leased by worthy organizations for not less than one year, provided that the rent is not unreasonable for the location.
This grand jury has considered and recommends the following additional suggestions for effective regulation of bingo operations: (1) all proceeds from the operation of bingo shall be deposited into a bank account bearing the name of the charitable organization conducting the bingo, and which shall be limited to the proceeds and expenses pertaining to the operation of bingo; and (2) all
expenses including prizes shall be paid out of this account. This grand jury also recommends that consideration be given to a requirement that the charitable organizations acknowledge an understanding of their obligations to operate bingo as prescribed by law.
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