SF 986

2nd Engrossment - 82nd Legislature (2001 - 2002) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to gambling; making changes to card club 
  1.3             provisions; defining terms; adjusting gross receipt 
  1.4             amounts for purposes of audits; modifying provisions 
  1.5             relating to expenditure of profits from lawful 
  1.6             gambling; amending requirements for illegal gambling 
  1.7             enforcement; authorizing noon hour bingo; permitting 
  1.8             checks for raffle purchases; making clarifying 
  1.9             changes; amending Minnesota Statutes 2000, sections 
  1.10            240.01, subdivision 26, by adding a subdivision; 
  1.11            240.30, subdivision 8, by adding a subdivision; 
  1.12            297E.06, subdivision 4; 349.12, subdivision 25; 
  1.13            349.15, subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 
  1.14            349.155, subdivision 4a; 349.168, subdivision 1; 
  1.15            349.17, by adding a subdivision; 349.2127, subdivision 
  1.16            7; 349.213. 
  1.17  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.18     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 240.01, 
  1.19  subdivision 26, is amended to read: 
  1.20     Subd. 26.  [UNBANKED.] "Unbanked" means a wagering system 
  1.21  or game where the individual participants compete against each 
  1.22  other and not against the sponsor or house.  In an unbanked 
  1.23  system or game, the sponsor or house may deduct a percentage 
  1.24  from the accumulated wagers and impose other charges for hosting 
  1.25  the activity but does not have an interest in the outcome of a 
  1.26  game.  The sponsor or house may add additional prizes, awards, 
  1.27  or money to any game for promotional purposes.  Unbanked games 
  1.28  include those games that involve a player pool. 
  1.29     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 240.01, is 
  1.30  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.31     Subd. 27.  [PLAYER POOL.] "Player pool" means a wagering 
  2.1   system or game where wagers lost in a number of card games may 
  2.2   be accumulated into a pool for purposes of enhancing the total 
  2.3   amount paid back to players in any other card game.  In such 
  2.4   instances, the sponsor or house may only serve as custodian of 
  2.5   the player pool and may not have an active interest in any card 
  2.6   game. 
  2.7      Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 240.30, 
  2.8   subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
  2.9      Subd. 8.  [LIMITATIONS.] The commission may not approve any 
  2.10  plan of operation under subdivision 6 that exceeds any of the 
  2.11  following limitations: 
  2.12     (1) the maximum number of tables used for card playing at 
  2.13  the card club at any one time, other than tables used for 
  2.14  instruction, demonstrations, or tournament play, may not exceed 
  2.15  50.  The table limit exception for tournament play is allowed 
  2.16  for only one tournament per year that lasts for no longer than 
  2.17  14 days; 
  2.18     (2) the opening wager by any player in any card game may 
  2.19  not exceed $15; and 
  2.20     (3) except as provided in clause (3), no single wager that 
  2.21  increases the total amount staked in any card game may exceed 
  2.22  $30 $60; 
  2.23     (3) for games in which each player is allowed to make only 
  2.24  one wager or has a limited opportunity to change that wager, no 
  2.25  wager may exceed $300. 
  2.26     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 240.30, is 
  2.27  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  2.28     Subd. 10.  [REPORTING.] The class B licensee shall report 
  2.29  all income generated by the card club in an annual report to the 
  2.30  racing commission.  The report shall also account for all costs 
  2.31  of operation, taxes paid, amounts paid to the breeder's fund, 
  2.32  and net profits to the class B licensee. 
  2.33     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 297E.06, 
  2.34  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  2.35     Subd. 4.  [ANNUAL AUDIT.] (a) An organization licensed 
  2.36  under chapter 349 with gross receipts from lawful gambling of 
  3.1   more than $250,000 $300,000 in any year must have an annual 
  3.2   financial audit of its lawful gambling activities and funds for 
  3.3   that year.  An organization licensed under chapter 349 with 
  3.4   gross receipts from lawful gambling of more 
  3.5   than $50,000 $150,000 but not more than $250,000 $300,000 in any 
  3.6   year must have an annual financial review of its lawful gambling 
  3.7   activities and funds for that year. Audits and financial reviews 
  3.8   under this subdivision must be performed by an independent 
  3.9   accountant licensed by the state of Minnesota. 
  3.10     (b) The commissioner of revenue shall prescribe standards 
  3.11  for audits and financial review required under this 
  3.12  subdivision.  The standards may vary based on the gross receipts 
  3.13  of the organization.  The standards must incorporate and be 
  3.14  consistent with standards prescribed by the American institute 
  3.15  of certified public accountants.  A complete, true, and correct 
  3.16  copy of the audit report must be filed as prescribed by the 
  3.17  commissioner. 
  3.18     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 349.12, 
  3.19  subdivision 25, is amended to read: 
  3.20     Subd. 25.  [LAWFUL PURPOSE.] (a) "Lawful purpose" means one 
  3.21  or more of the following:  
  3.22     (1) any expenditure by or contribution to a 501(c)(3) or 
  3.23  festival organization, as defined in subdivision 15a, provided 
  3.24  that the organization and expenditure or contribution are in 
  3.25  conformity with standards prescribed by the board under section 
  3.26  349.154, which standards must apply to both types of 
  3.27  organizations in the same manner and to the same extent; 
  3.28     (2) a contribution to an individual or family suffering 
  3.29  from poverty, homelessness, or physical or mental disability, 
  3.30  which is used to relieve the effects of that poverty, 
  3.31  homelessness, or disability; 
  3.32     (3) a contribution to an individual for treatment for 
  3.33  delayed posttraumatic stress syndrome or a contribution to a 
  3.34  program recognized by the Minnesota department of human services 
  3.35  for the education, prevention, or treatment of compulsive 
  3.36  gambling; 
  4.1      (4) a contribution to or expenditure on a public or private 
  4.2   nonprofit educational institution registered with or accredited 
  4.3   by this state or any other state; 
  4.4      (5) a contribution to a scholarship fund for defraying the 
  4.5   cost of education to individuals where the funds are awarded 
  4.6   through an open and fair selection process; 
  4.7      (6) activities by an organization or a government entity 
  4.8   which recognize humanitarian or military service to the United 
  4.9   States, the state of Minnesota, or a community, subject to rules 
  4.10  of the board, provided that the rules must not include mileage 
  4.11  reimbursements in the computation of the per occasion 
  4.12  reimbursement limit and must impose no aggregate annual limit on 
  4.13  the amount of reasonable and necessary expenditures made to 
  4.14  support: 
  4.15     (i) members of a military marching or color guard unit for 
  4.16  activities conducted within the state; 
  4.17     (ii) members of an organization solely for services 
  4.18  performed by the members at funeral services; or 
  4.19     (iii) members of military marching, color guard, or honor 
  4.20  guard units may be reimbursed for participating in color guard, 
  4.21  honor guard, or marching unit events within the state or states 
  4.22  contiguous to Minnesota at a per participant rate of up to $35 
  4.23  per occasion; 
  4.24     (7) recreational, community, and athletic facilities and 
  4.25  activities intended primarily for persons under age 21, provided 
  4.26  that such facilities and activities do not discriminate on the 
  4.27  basis of gender and the organization complies with section 
  4.28  349.154; 
  4.29     (8) payment of local taxes authorized under this chapter, 
  4.30  taxes imposed by the United States on receipts from lawful 
  4.31  gambling, the taxes imposed by section 297E.02, subdivisions 1, 
  4.32  4, 5, and 6, and the tax imposed on unrelated business income by 
  4.33  section 290.05, subdivision 3; 
  4.34     (9) payment of real estate taxes and assessments on 
  4.35  permitted gambling premises wholly owned by the licensed 
  4.36  organization paying the taxes, not to exceed: 
  5.1      (i) for premises used for bingo, the amount that an 
  5.2   organization may expend under board rules on rent for bingo; and 
  5.3      (ii) $35,000 per year for premises used for other forms of 
  5.4   lawful gambling; 
  5.5      (10) a contribution to the United States, this state or any 
  5.6   of its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality 
  5.7   thereof other than a direct contribution to a law enforcement or 
  5.8   prosecutorial agency; 
  5.9      (11) a contribution to or expenditure by a nonprofit 
  5.10  organization which is a church or body of communicants gathered 
  5.11  in common membership for mutual support and edification in 
  5.12  piety, worship, or religious observances; 
  5.13     (12) payment of one-half of the reasonable costs of an 
  5.14  audit required in section 297E.06, subdivision 4, provided the 
  5.15  annual audit is filed in a timely manner with the department of 
  5.16  revenue; 
  5.17     (13) a contribution to or expenditure on a wildlife 
  5.18  management project that benefits the public at-large, provided 
  5.19  that the state agency with authority over that wildlife 
  5.20  management project approves the project before the contribution 
  5.21  or expenditure is made; 
  5.22     (14) expenditures, approved by the commissioner of natural 
  5.23  resources, by an organization for grooming and maintaining 
  5.24  snowmobile trails and all-terrain vehicle trails that are (1) 
  5.25  grant-in-aid trails established under section 85.019, or (2) 
  5.26  other trails open to public use, including purchase or lease of 
  5.27  equipment for this purpose; or 
  5.28     (15) conducting nutritional programs, food shelves, and 
  5.29  congregate dining programs primarily for persons who are age 62 
  5.30  or older or disabled; or 
  5.31     (16) a contribution to a community arts organization, or an 
  5.32  expenditure to sponsor arts programs in the community, including 
  5.33  but not limited to visual, literary, performing, or musical arts.
  5.34     (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), "lawful purpose" does 
  5.35  not include: 
  5.36     (1) any expenditure made or incurred for the purpose of 
  6.1   influencing the nomination or election of a candidate for public 
  6.2   office or for the purpose of promoting or defeating a ballot 
  6.3   question; 
  6.4      (2) any activity intended to influence an election or a 
  6.5   governmental decision-making process; 
  6.6      (3) the erection, acquisition, improvement, expansion, 
  6.7   repair, or maintenance of real property or capital assets owned 
  6.8   or leased by an organization, unless the board has first 
  6.9   specifically authorized the expenditures after finding that (i) 
  6.10  the real property or capital assets will be used exclusively for 
  6.11  one or more of the purposes in paragraph (a); (ii) with respect 
  6.12  to expenditures for repair or maintenance only, that the 
  6.13  property is or will be used extensively as a meeting place or 
  6.14  event location by other nonprofit organizations or community or 
  6.15  service groups and that no rental fee is charged for the use; 
  6.16  (iii) with respect to expenditures, including a mortgage payment 
  6.17  or other debt service payment, for erection or acquisition only, 
  6.18  that the erection or acquisition is necessary to replace with a 
  6.19  comparable building, a building owned by the organization and 
  6.20  destroyed or made uninhabitable by fire or natural disaster, 
  6.21  provided that the expenditure may be only for that part of the 
  6.22  replacement cost not reimbursed by insurance; (iv) with respect 
  6.23  to expenditures, including a mortgage payment or other debt 
  6.24  service payment, for erection or acquisition only, that the 
  6.25  erection or acquisition is necessary to replace with a 
  6.26  comparable building a building owned by the organization that 
  6.27  was acquired from the organization by eminent domain or sold by 
  6.28  the organization to a purchaser that the organization reasonably 
  6.29  believed would otherwise have acquired the building by eminent 
  6.30  domain, provided that the expenditure may be only for that part 
  6.31  of the replacement cost that exceeds the compensation received 
  6.32  by the organization for the building being replaced; or (v) with 
  6.33  respect to an expenditure to bring an existing building into 
  6.34  compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act under item 
  6.35  (ii), an organization has the option to apply the amount of the 
  6.36  board-approved expenditure to the erection or acquisition of a 
  7.1   replacement building that is in compliance with the Americans 
  7.2   with Disabilities Act; 
  7.3      (4) an expenditure by an organization which is a 
  7.4   contribution to a parent organization, foundation, or affiliate 
  7.5   of the contributing organization, if the parent organization, 
  7.6   foundation, or affiliate has provided to the contributing 
  7.7   organization within one year of the contribution any money, 
  7.8   grants, property, or other thing of value; 
  7.9      (5) a contribution by a licensed organization to another 
  7.10  licensed organization unless the board has specifically 
  7.11  authorized the contribution.  The board must authorize such a 
  7.12  contribution when requested to do so by the contributing 
  7.13  organization unless it makes an affirmative finding that the 
  7.14  contribution will not be used by the recipient organization for 
  7.15  one or more of the purposes in paragraph (a); or 
  7.16     (6) a contribution to a statutory or home rule charter 
  7.17  city, county, or town by a licensed organization with the 
  7.18  knowledge that the governmental unit intends to use the 
  7.19  contribution for a pension or retirement fund. 
  7.20     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 349.15, 
  7.21  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  7.22     Subdivision 1.  [EXPENDITURE RESTRICTIONS.] Gross profits 
  7.23  from lawful gambling may be expended only for lawful purposes or 
  7.24  allowable expenses as authorized by the membership of the 
  7.25  conducting organization at a monthly meeting of the 
  7.26  organization's membership.  Provided that no more than 65 70 
  7.27  percent of the gross profit less the tax imposed under section 
  7.28  297E.02, subdivision 1, from bingo, and no more than 55 percent 
  7.29  of the gross profit from other forms of lawful gambling, may be 
  7.30  expended for allowable expenses related to lawful gambling.  
  7.31     Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 349.15, is 
  7.32  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  7.33     Subd. 1a.  [NATURAL DISASTER RELIEF.] An organization may 
  7.34  expend net profits from lawful gambling to relieve the effects 
  7.35  of a natural disaster without the prior approval of its 
  7.36  membership if: 
  8.1      (1) the contribution is a lawful purpose under section 
  8.2   349.12, subdivision 25; 
  8.3      (2) the contribution is authorized by the organization's 
  8.4   chief executive officer and gambling manager; and 
  8.5      (3) the contribution is approved by the membership of the 
  8.6   organization at its next regularly scheduled monthly meeting. 
  8.7   If the contribution is not approved by the membership of the 
  8.8   organization at its next regularly scheduled monthly meeting, 
  8.9   the organization shall reimburse its gambling account in the 
  8.10  amount of the contribution. 
  8.11     Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 349.155, 
  8.12  subdivision 4a, is amended to read: 
  8.13     Subd. 4a.  [ILLEGAL GAMBLING.] (a) The board may not deny, 
  8.14  suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew an organization's premises 
  8.15  permit because illegal gambling occurred at the site for which 
  8.16  the premises permit was issued, unless the board determines that:
  8.17  (1) the organization knowingly participated in the illegal 
  8.18  gambling; or (2) the organization or any of its agents knew or 
  8.19  reasonably should have known of the illegal gambling and the 
  8.20  organization did not notify the lessor of the premises, in 
  8.21  writing and with specificity, that illegal gambling was being 
  8.22  conducted on the premises and requesting that the lessor take 
  8.23  appropriate action.  For purposes of this paragraph, "agent" 
  8.24  means any person, compensated or otherwise, who participates in 
  8.25  the conduct of the organization's lawful gambling. 
  8.26     (b) The board may not deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse to 
  8.27  renew an organization's license because illegal gambling 
  8.28  occurred at a site for which a premises permit was issued to the 
  8.29  organization unless the board determines that the organization's 
  8.30  chief executive officer, gambling manager, or one or more of its 
  8.31  assistant gambling managers participated in or authorized the 
  8.32  illegal gambling.  
  8.33     Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 349.168, 
  8.34  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  8.35     Subdivision 1.  [REGISTRATION OF EMPLOYEES.] A person may 
  8.36  not receive compensation for participating in the conduct of 
  9.1   lawful gambling as an employee of a licensed organization unless 
  9.2   the person has first registered with the board on a form the 
  9.3   board prescribes.  The form must require each registrant to 
  9.4   provide:  (1) the person's name, address, date of birth, and 
  9.5   social security number; (2) a current photograph; (3) the name, 
  9.6   address, and license number of the employing organization; 
  9.7   and (4) (3) a listing of all employment in the conduct of lawful 
  9.8   gambling within the previous three years, including the name and 
  9.9   address of each employing organization and the circumstances 
  9.10  under which the employment was terminated. 
  9.11     Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 349.17, is 
  9.12  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  9.13     Subd. 7.  [NOON HOUR BINGO.] Notwithstanding subdivisions 1 
  9.14  and 3, an organization may conduct bingo subject to the 
  9.15  following restrictions: 
  9.16     (1) the bingo is conducted only between the hours of 11:00 
  9.17  a.m. and 2:00 p.m.; 
  9.18     (2) the bingo is conducted at a site the organization owns 
  9.19  or leases and which has a license for the sale of intoxicating 
  9.20  beverages on the premises under chapter 340A; 
  9.21     (3) the bingo is limited to one progressive bingo game per 
  9.22  site as defined by section 349.211, subdivision 2; 
  9.23     (4) the bingo is conducted using only bingo paper sheets; 
  9.24  and 
  9.25     (5) if the premise is leased, the rent may not exceed $25 
  9.26  per day for each day bingo is conducted. 
  9.27     Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 349.2127, 
  9.28  subdivision 7, is amended to read: 
  9.29     Subd. 7.  [CHECKS FOR GAMBLING PURCHASES.] An organization 
  9.30  may not accept checks in payment for the purchase of any 
  9.31  gambling equipment or for the chance to participate in any form 
  9.32  of lawful gambling except a raffle.  If an organization accepts 
  9.33  a check, the payment of which is subsequently dishonored, the 
  9.34  organization shall reimburse its gambling account for the amount 
  9.35  of the dishonored check within 30 days of receiving notice of 
  9.36  the dishonor.  This subdivision does not apply to gaming 
 10.1   activities conducted pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory 
 10.2   Act, United States Code, title 25, section 2701 et seq. 
 10.3      Sec. 13.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 349.213, is 
 10.4   amended to read: 
 10.5      349.213 [LOCAL AUTHORITY.] 
 10.6      Subdivision 1.  [LOCAL REGULATION.] (a) A statutory or home 
 10.7   rule city or county has the authority to adopt more stringent 
 10.8   regulation of lawful gambling within its jurisdiction, including 
 10.9   the prohibition of lawful gambling, and may require a permit for 
 10.10  the conduct of gambling exempt from licensing under section 
 10.11  349.166.  The fee for a permit issued under this subdivision may 
 10.12  not exceed $100.  The authority granted by this subdivision does 
 10.13  not include the authority to require a license or permit to 
 10.14  conduct gambling by organizations or sales by distributors 
 10.15  licensed by the board.  The authority granted by this 
 10.16  subdivision does not include the authority to require an 
 10.17  organization to make specific expenditures of more than ten 
 10.18  percent per year from its net profits derived from lawful 
 10.19  gambling.  For the purposes of this subdivision, net profits are 
 10.20  gross profits less amounts expended for allowable expenses and 
 10.21  paid in taxes assessed on lawful gambling.  A statutory or home 
 10.22  rule charter city or a county may not require an organization 
 10.23  conducting lawful gambling within its jurisdiction to make an 
 10.24  expenditure to the city or county as a condition to operate 
 10.25  within that city or county, except as authorized under section 
 10.26  349.16, subdivision 8, or 297E.02; provided, however, that an 
 10.27  ordinance requirement that such organizations must contribute 
 10.28  ten percent per year of their net profits derived from lawful 
 10.29  gambling conducted at premises within the city's or county's 
 10.30  jurisdiction to a fund administered and regulated by the 
 10.31  responsible local unit of government without cost to such fund, 
 10.32  for disbursement by the responsible local unit of government of 
 10.33  the receipts for (i) lawful purposes, or (ii) police, fire, and 
 10.34  other emergency or public safety-related services, equipment, 
 10.35  and training, excluding pension obligations, is not considered 
 10.36  an expenditure to the city or county nor a tax under section 
 11.1   297E.02, and is valid and lawful.  A city or county making 
 11.2   expenditures authorized under this paragraph must by March 15 of 
 11.3   each year file a report with the board, on a form the board 
 11.4   prescribes, that lists all such revenues collected and 
 11.5   expenditures for the previous calendar year. 
 11.6      (b) A statutory or home rule city or county may by 
 11.7   ordinance require that a licensed organization conducting lawful 
 11.8   gambling within its jurisdiction expend all or a portion of its 
 11.9   expenditures for lawful purposes on lawful purposes conducted or 
 11.10  located within the city's or county's trade area.  Such an 
 11.11  ordinance must be limited to lawful purpose expenditures of 
 11.12  gross profits derived from lawful gambling conducted at premises 
 11.13  within the city's or county's jurisdiction, must define the 
 11.14  city's or county's trade area, and must specify the percentage 
 11.15  of lawful purpose expenditures which must be expended within the 
 11.16  trade area.  A trade area defined by a city under this 
 11.17  subdivision must include each city and township contiguous to 
 11.18  the defining city. 
 11.19     (c) A more stringent regulation or prohibition of lawful 
 11.20  gambling adopted by a political subdivision under this 
 11.21  subdivision must apply equally to all forms of lawful gambling 
 11.22  within the jurisdiction of the political subdivision, except a 
 11.23  political subdivision may prohibit the use of paddlewheels. 
 11.24     Subd. 2.  [LOCAL APPROVAL.] Before issuing or renewing a 
 11.25  premises permit or bingo hall license, the board must notify the 
 11.26  city council of the statutory or home rule city in which the 
 11.27  organization's premises or the bingo hall is located or, if the 
 11.28  premises or hall is located outside a city, the county board of 
 11.29  the county and the town board of the town where the premises or 
 11.30  hall is located.  The board may require organizations or bingo 
 11.31  halls to notify the appropriate local government at the time of 
 11.32  application.  This required notification is sufficient to 
 11.33  constitute the notice required by this subdivision.  The board 
 11.34  may not issue or renew a premises permit or bingo hall license 
 11.35  unless the organization submits a resolution from the city 
 11.36  council or county board approving the premises permit or bingo 
 12.1   hall license.  The resolution must have been adopted within 60 
 12.2   90 days of the date of application for the new or renewed permit 
 12.3   or license. 
 12.4      Subd. 3.  [LOCAL GAMBLING TAX.] A statutory or home rule 
 12.5   charter city that has one or more licensed organizations 
 12.6   operating lawful gambling, and a county that has one or more 
 12.7   licensed organizations outside incorporated areas operating 
 12.8   lawful gambling, may impose a local gambling tax on each 
 12.9   licensed organization within the city's or county's 
 12.10  jurisdiction.  The tax may be imposed only if the amount to be 
 12.11  received by the city or county is necessary to cover the costs 
 12.12  incurred by the city or county to regulate lawful gambling.  The 
 12.13  tax imposed by this subdivision may not exceed three percent per 
 12.14  year of the gross receipts of a licensed organization from all 
 12.15  lawful gambling less prizes actually paid out by the 
 12.16  organization.  A city or county may not use money collected 
 12.17  under this subdivision for any purpose other than to regulate 
 12.18  lawful gambling.  A tax imposed under this subdivision is in 
 12.19  lieu of all other local taxes and local investigation fees on 
 12.20  lawful gambling.  A city or county that imposes a tax under this 
 12.21  subdivision shall annually, by March 15, file a report with the 
 12.22  board in a form prescribed by the board showing (1) the amount 
 12.23  of revenue produced by the tax during the preceding calendar 
 12.24  year, and (2) the use of the proceeds of the tax.  
 12.25     Sec. 14.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
 12.26     Sections 5 to 13 are effective the day following final 
 12.27  enactment.