TITLE 16.ECONOMIC REGULATION

Part 9. TEXAS LOTTERY COMMISSION

Chapter 402. BINGO REGULATION AND TAX

16 TAC §402.598

The Texas Lottery Commission proposes new section 16 TAC §402.598 relating to the charitable use of proceeds. Specifically, the new section identifies records relating to an organization's charitable purpose which must be maintained by each organization, the information related to an organization's charitable purpose which must be submitted when an organization applies for a license to conduct bingo, and the guidelines used by the Commission to determine if a distribution is charitable, as described by Occupations Code, §2001.454.

Fiscal Impact

Lee Deviney, Financial Administration Director, has determined for the first five year period the new rule is in effect, there will be no significant fiscal impact for state or local government as a result of enforcing this rule. Any costs to the State could be absorbed by current resources. For each year of the first five years the section will be in effect, the fiscal impact is the following: FY 04, $0; FY 05, $0; FY 06, $0; FY 07, $0 and FY 08, $0. Additionally, there will be no effect on small businesses, micro businesses or local or state employment.

William L. Atkins, Director, Charitable Bingo Operations Division, has determined that for each of the first five years the section as proposed is in effect, licensees will benefit from the adoption of the section. The anticipated benefit as a result of the proposed new section is to provide licensees with additional information regarding the types of records an organization conducting Charitable Bingo must maintain. Additionally, the proposed new section will assist organizations conducting Charitable Bingo in making appropriate charitable distributions.

Written comments on the proposed new rule may be submitted to Kevin Oldham, Assistant General Counsel, Texas Lottery Commission, P.O. Box 16630, Austin, Texas 78761-6630.

The proposed new rule is proposed under Occupations Code, §2001.054 which authorizes the Commission to adopt rules to enforce and administer the Bingo Enabling Act, under Government Code, §467.102 which authorizes the Commission to adopt rules for the enforcement and administration of the laws under the Commission's jurisdiction, under Occupations Code, §2001.051(b) which grants the Commission broad authority to exercise strict control and close supervision over all bingo conducted in Texas so that bingo is fairly conducted and the proceeds derived from bingo are used for an authorized purpose, and under Occupations Code, §2001.454 which provides the standard by which an organization's use of net proceeds from the conduct of bingo may be considered dedicated to the charitable purpose of the organization.

The new rule implements Occupations Code, Chapter 2001.

§402.598.Charitable Use of Proceeds.

(a) An organization must maintain and make available to a representative of the commission or designee:

(1) a complete copy of the application for exemption, either I.R.S. Form 1023 for 501(c)(3) organizations or I.R.S. Form 1024 for other non-profits, which provides a full description of the purposes and the activities of the organization in relation to the exempt status filed with the Internal Revenue Service;

(2) a letter of good standing from the parent organization, if applicable, copy of the organization's Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Association, Trust Indenture, Constitution; or

(3) other enabling document and any amendments and any adopted bylaws which provide in writing the specific cause, deed or activity that is consistent with the organization's purposes and objectives for which bingo net proceeds will be used.

(b) Organizations Licensed After May 1, 2004 must furnish with their application to conduct bingo:

(1) a copy of the application for exemption, I.R.S. Form 1023 for 501(c)(3) or I.R.S. Form 1024 for non-profits;

(2) a conformed copy of the organization's Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Association, Trust Indenture, Constitution; or

(3) other enabling documents and any amendments and any adopted bylaws and provide in writing the specific cause, deed or activity that is consistent with the organization's purposes and objectives for which bingo net proceeds will be used.

(c) Nothing in this rule precludes the commission from requesting supplemental information in order to substantiate compliance with Occupations Code, Chapter 2001.

(d) Record Keeping:

(1) All distributions for charitable purposes must be made from the bingo checking account. A distribution made from the bingo checking account into another account maintained by the organization must be substantiated with documentation and used for a cause, deed, or activity dedicated to the charitable purposes of the organization consistent with the 26 U.S.C. Section 501 tax exemption of the organization or the purposes or objective for which the organization qualifies as an authorized organization

(2) A licensed authorized organization must submit quarterly, on a form prescribed by the commission, a list of the charitable distributions made by the organization during the quarter.

(3) All records to substantiate the use of net proceeds must be maintained for a period of four years.

(4) Records required by the commission as supporting documentation of use of net proceeds made by the licensed authorized organization may include one or more of the following: annual reports; treasurers reports; historian records; balance sheets; accountants work papers; time cards; meeting minutes; committee minutes; canceled checks; letters of acknowledgment; newspaper articles; publications; invoices; receipts; correspondence file; reports to governing parent organizations; flyers, pamphlets, brochures; advertisement; log, schedule or calendar; licensed authorized organizations monthly bulletins; criteria for soliciting applicants awarding scholarships; IRS Form 990; IRS Form 940 and 941; and IRS examination reports.

(e) A use of net proceeds, which would not be considered as a cause, deed, or activity dedicated to the charitable purposes of the organization and not consistent with the 26 U.S.C. Section 501 tax exemption of the organization or the purposes or objective for which the organization qualifies as an authorized organization, are any use of proceeds which:

(1) inures to the benefit of any private shareholder, individual, officers, governing body or member other than as reasonable compensation for services rendered;

(2) has no documentation to substantiate the use of net proceeds; or

(3) does not further the organization's cause, deed or activity consistent with the federal tax exempt application or written purpose provided with their application.

(f) Reimbursement or direct payment for member or employee travel expenses. Reimbursement or direct payment for member or employee travel expenses will only be considered a cause, deed, or activity dedicated to the charitable purposes and consistent with the 26 U.S.C. Section 501 tax exemption of the organization or the purposes or objective for which the organization qualifies as an authorized organization if the following records are provided to the commission upon request:

(1) the itinerary of the seminar, convention, or retreat showing that the purpose of the seminar, convention, or retreat was primarily to discuss the charitable functions and purposes consistent with the 26 U.S.C. Section 501 tax exemption of the organization or the purposes or objective for which the organization qualifies as an authorized organization; and

(2) the original receipts and cancelled checks, or true and correct copies of the same, showing the date and amount of the contribution for actual out-of-pocket reasonable and necessary expenses such as hotel, airline tickets, meals, etc. and the corresponding request for payment or reimbursement maintained by the organization.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on March 5, 2004.

TRD-200401748

Kimberly L. Kiplin

General Counsel

Texas Lottery Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: April 18, 2004

For further information, please call: (512) 344-5113


16 TAC §402.601

The Texas Lottery Commission proposes new section 16 TAC §402.601 relating to Unit Managers. Specifically, the new section identifies the process by which a person may become a unit manager, including the steps necessary to properly notify the commission, the applicable bond amount or security which must be posted, and the annual license fee.

Fiscal Impact

Lee Deviney, Financial Administration Director, has determined for the first five year period the new rule is in effect, there will be no significant fiscal impact for state or local government as a result of enforcing this rule. Any costs to the State could be absorbed by current resources. For each year of the first five years the section will be in effect, the fiscal impact is the following: FY 04, $0; FY 05, $0; FY 06, $0; FY 07, $0 and FY 08, $0. Additionally, there will be no effect on small businesses, micro businesses or local or state employment.

William L. Atkins, Director, Charitable Bingo Operations Division, has determined that for each of the first five years the section as proposed is in effect, licensees will benefit from the adoption of the section. The anticipated benefit as a result of the proposed new section is to provide interested parties with a uniform standard for obtaining a license as a unit manager.

Written comments on the proposed new rule may be submitted to Kevin Oldham, Assistant General Counsel, Texas Lottery Commission, P.O. Box 16630, Austin, Texas 78761-6630.

The proposed new rule is proposed under Occupations Code, §2001.054 which authorizes the Commission to adopt rules to enforce and administer the Bingo Enabling Act, under Government Code, §467.102 which authorizes the Commission to adopt rules for the enforcement and administration of the laws under the Commission's jurisdiction, under Occupations Code, §2001.051(b) which grants the Commission broad authority to exercise strict control and close supervision over all bingo conducted in Texas so that bingo is fairly conducted and the proceeds derived from bingo are used for an authorized purpose, and under Occupations Code, §2001.437 which authorizes the Commission to issue and regulate the licenses of unit managers.

The new rule implements Occupations Code, Chapter 2001.

§402.601.Unit Manager.

(a) Notification.

(1) An individual shall not provide services as a unit manager to licensed authorized organizations that have formed a unit until the following occurs:

(A) the commission receives the unit accounting agreement executed by all members of the unit with the name of the unit manager designated therein;

(B) the individual holds a unit manager license issued by the commission;

(C) the individual posts a bond or security, for each unit, in the form prescribed by §402.583(b) of this chapter; and

(D) the individual provides information to the commission relating to the location where the unit manager services will be performed and where the records will be maintained.

(2) Bond. The required initial bond amount for a unit manager shall not exceed $30,000.00 for each unit. The unit manager's required initial bond amount will be determined by identifying the license class of each member of the unit and adding the corresponding dollar amounts for each member as follows:

(A) Classes A-D $1000

(B) Classes E-H $3000

(C) Classes I-J $6000

(3) A unit manager shall provide written notification to the commission of any change in the information in the unit manager's most recent application for a unit manager license or renewal. The unit manager shall notify the commission of the change in the information not later than the 15th day after the date of the change.

(b) Annual License Fee for a Unit Manager. The non refundable annual license fee for a unit manager may not exceed $250.00.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on March 5, 2004.

TRD-200401749

Kimberly L. Kiplin

General Counsel

Texas Lottery Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: April 18, 2004

For further information, please call: (512) 344-5113