19900904 1990-24ORDINANCE NO. 1990- 24
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 14-5.1,
14-5.4 AND 14-5.6 THROUGH 14-5.8 OF
CHAPTER 14 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA CONCERNING BINGO AND
RAFFLES.
BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council for the City of
Fairfax, Virginia, that Sections 14-5.1, 14-5.4 and Sections
14-5.6 through 14-5.8 of Chapter 14 of the Code of the City
of Fairfax, Virginia, are hereby amended to read as follows:
Sec. 14-5.1. Binqo and raffles-Definitions
For the purposes of sections 14-5.2 through 14-5.13 the
following words and phrases shall have the meanings
respectively ascribed to them by this section:
(a) "Bingo" means a specific game of chance played
with individual cards having randomly numbered
squares ranging from one to seventy-five (75), in
which prizes are awarded on the basis of
designated numbers on such cards conforming to a
predetermined pattern of numbers selected at
random. Such cards shall have five (5) vertical
rows headed respectively by the letters B.I.N.G.O,
with each row having five (5) randomly numbered
squares.
(b) "Instant Bingo" means a specific game of chance
played by the random selection of one or more
individual prepacked cards, tickets or other
pieces of paper, with winners being determined by
the preprinted appearance of the letters
B.I.N.G.0. in any prescribed order on the reverse
side of such card.
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(C) "Organization" means any one of the following:
(1) A volunteer fire department or rescue squad
or auxiliary unit thereof which has been
recognized by an ordinance or resolution of
the city council as being a part of the
safety program of the city.
(2) An organization operated exclusively for
religious, charitable, community or
educational purposes; an association of war
veterans or auxiliary units thereof organized
in the United States, or a fraternal
association operating under the lodge system.
(d) "Raffle" means a lottery in which the prize is won
by a random drawing of the name or prearranged
number of one or more persons purchasing chances.
For the purpose of this definition, using the
official Virqinia pick three number will not be
adverse to this definition of a Raffle.
(e) "Jackpot" means a bingo card played as a part of a
bingo game defined in section 14-5.1(1) (a) in
which all numbers on the card are covered, each
number being selected at random, and with no free
or "wild" numbers.
Sec. 14-5.4 Same-Conduct of bingo games.
No organization may hold bingo games more frequently
than two (2) calendar days in any one calendar week; except,
that a special permit may be granted an organization which
entitles the organization to conduct more frequent
operations during carnivals, fairs, and other similar events
at its principal meeting place or any other site selected by
such organization which is located in the city and which is
not in violation of Chapter 26 of this Code. The
organization shall accept only cash or, at its option,
checks in payment of any charges or assessments for players
to participate in bingo games.
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Sec. 14-5.6 Same-Reports of gross receipts and
disbursements required.
(a) Complete records of all receipts and disbursements
shall be kept and shall be filed annually under oath with
the city's director of finance. The annual or quarterly
financial report and other items required to be filed under
this section shall be a matter of public record. All
accountings shall be made on or before ~ December 1
of each calendar year for which a permit has been issued.
The accounting shall include a record of the gross receipts
and disbursements of an organization for the year period
which commenced on October 1 of the previous year and a
record of all money in the possession of the organization
that was derived from bingo or instant bingo, regardless of
when the money was received. However, any organization
whose gross receipts exceed fifty thousand dollars
($50,000.00) during any calendar quarter shall be required
to file an additional accounting of its receipts and
disbursements during each quarter, no later than sixty (60)
days following the last day of the quarter. "Gross
receipts," as used in this section, shall mean the total
amount of money received from bingo and "instant bingo"
operations and raffles before the deduction of expenses or
prizes.
(b) All reports of receipts and disbursements shall be
made on the form provided in the Code of Virginia, Section
18.2-340.6 and shall be acknowledge in the presence of a
duly authorized notary public. This form may be expanded to
include any other information desired by the director of
finance. The failure to file such reports when due shall
cause the automatic revocation of the permit and no
organization shall conduct any bingo game or raffle
thereafter until the report is properly filed and a new
permit is obtained.
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The financial report shall be accompanied by a
certificate, verified under oath, by the board of directors
that the proceeds of bingo games or raffles have been used
for those lawful religious, charitable, community or
educational purposes for which the organization is
specifically chartered or organized and that the operation
of bingo games or raffles has been in accordance with the
provisions of article 1.1 of chapter 8 of title 18.2
(Section 18.2-340.1 et seq.) of the Code of Virginia and in
accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(c) Any organization having annual gross receipts from
bingo games or raffles in excess of two hundred thousand
dollars ($200,000.00) as shown on its annual financial
report, shall attach to such report an opinion executed ~--
of a licensed independent certified public accountant that:
(1)
~ ~..~ correct; annual financial report presents
fairly, in all material respects, beginning cash,
receipts, operating cost, use of proceeds, and
ending cash;
(2) The proceeds of any bingo games or raffles have
been used, in all respects, for those lawful,
religious, charitable, community or educational
purposes for which the organization is
specifically chartered or organized; and
(3) The gross receipts have been used in all material
respects in accordance with the provisions of this
article. The failure to file the opinion of a
licensed independent certified public accountant,
when required, shall cause the automatic
revocation of the permit and no organization shall
conduct any bingo game or raffle thereafter until
the opinion required by this subsection is
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property filed with the report and a new permit is
obtained. The opinion required by this section is
in addition to the audit and audit fee required by
section 14-5.7.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions herein requiring an
annual audit, the provisions of this section shall not be
construed to prohibit the director of finance or his
designee from performing unannounced audits or restrict any
right of the director of finance or his designee from
performing unannounced audits or restrict any right of the
director of finance or his designee to secure records
required to be maintained by the provisions of sections 14-
5.2 to 14-5.9 of this chapter. The director of finance or
his designee shall have the authority to go upon the
premises on which any organization is conducting a bingo
game for the purpose of carrying out the duties imposed by
sections 14-5.2 to 14-5.9 of this chapter. The application
for the bingo permit shall constitute permission from, and
authority granted by, such organization to any law
enforcement officer or to the director of finance or his
designee to enter the premises.
(e) The organization shall maintain a written record
for three (3) years of the dates on which bingo is played,
the number of people in attendance on each date and the
amount of the receipts and prizes paid on each day. The
organization shall also maintain a record of the name and
address of each individual to whom a door prize, regular or
special bingo game prize or jackpot from the playing of
bingo is awarded, as well as the amount of the award. The
organization playing bingo shall also maintain an itemized
record of all receipts and disbursements, including
operating costs incurred and the use of proceeds incurred in
operating bingo games.
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Sec. 14-5.7 Same-Same-Audit required; fee.
(a) All reports filed pursuant to section 14-5.6 shall
be audited under the direction of the director of finance or
his designee. All reports shall be a matter of public
record.
(b) An audit fee shall be payable in an amount
equalling the reasonable cost of the audit, as conducted by
an independent auditor or accountant retained by the city.
All such fees shall be made payable to the city, and shall
accompany each annual report. However, if the gross
receipts of an organization are less than two thousand
dollars ($2,000.00) for the designated reporting period, the
audit fee may be waived by the city council.
(c) All audit fees received shall be separately
accounted for and shall be used only for the purposes of
auditing and regulating bingo games and raffles.
Sec. 14-5.8. Same-Other prohibited practices.
In addition to those practices prohibited in sections
14-5.2 to 14-5.7 and section 14-5.9, the following acts or
practices shall be prohibited:
(a) Except for reasonable and proper operating costs
and prizes, including costs associated with
providing clerical assistance in the conduct o__f
bingo games or raffles for organizations composed
of o__r for deaf or blind persons, publicizing the
time and place of bingo games and raffles, no part
of the gross receipts derived by an organization
permitted to conduct bingo games or raffles may be
used for any purpose other than (i) those lawful
religious, charitable, community or educational
purposes for which the organization is
specifically chartered or organized and (ii)
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expenses relating to the acquisition,
construction, maintenance, or repair of any
interest in the real property involving the
operation of the organization and used for lawful
religious, charitable, community or educational
purposes.
(b) No organization shall enter into a contract with,
or otherwise employ for compensation, any person,
firm, association, organization, partnership, or
corporation of any classification whatsoever for
the purpose of organizing, managing or conducting
bingo games or raffles. However, this subsection
shall not prohibit the joint operation of bingo
games under section 14-5.9.
(c) No person, firm, association, organization,
partnership, or corporation shall pay or receive
for the use of any premises devoted in whole or in
part to the conduct of bingo games or raffles, any
consideration in excess of the current fair market
rental value of such property. For purposes of
this subsection, no fair market rental value shall
be based upon or determined by reference to a
percentage of the proceeds derived from the
operation of bingo games or raffles, nor shall
such consideration be based upon or determined by
any reference to the number of people in
attendance at such bingo games or raffles. Each
day in violation of such subsection shall
constitute a separate class 1 misdemeanor as set
forth in section 14-5.10.
(d) No building or other premises shall be utilized in
whole or in part for the purpose of conducting
bingo games more frequently than two (2) calendar
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(e)
days in any one calendar week; provided, however,
the provisions of this subsection shall not apply
to the playing of bingo pursuant to a special
permit issued in accordance with section 14-5.4.
No building or other premises owned by an
organization as defined in section 14-5.1 and
qualified as a tax exempt organization pursuant to
Section 501c of the Internal Revenue Code shall be
utilized in whole or in part for the purpose of
conducting bingo games more frequently than four
(4) calendar days in any one calendar week. One
building or premises owned by the city shall be
exempt from the provisions of this subsection.
Except for persons employed as clerical assistants
by orqanizations composed of or for deaf or blind
persons, only nc person, ~xc~pt a bona fide ~
members of any such organization who he~ have been
~ ~ .... .LL~,~-- members for at least ninety (90)
days prior to such participation, shall
participate in the management, operation or
conduct of any bingo game or raffle; provided,
however, that the following persons may so
participate if a bona fide member is present:
(1) The spouse of any bona fide member, or
(2) A salaried or compensated firefighter or
rescue squad member who is both employed by
the city and associated with a volunteer fire
department or rescue squad meeting the
requirements of section 14-5.1.
No person shall receive any remuneration for
participating in the management, operation or
conduct of any such game or raffle. Persons
employed by orqanizations composed of or for deaf
or blind persons may receiv~ remuneration not to
exceed thirty dollars ¢$30.00) per event for
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(f)
(g)
providing clerical assistance in the conduct of
bingo qames or raffles only for such
organizations.
No organization shall enter into any contract with
or otherwise employ or compensate any member of
that organization regarding the sale of bingo
supplies or equipment.
No organization shall award any bingo prize money
or any merchandise valued in excess of the
following amounts:
(1) No bingo door prize shall exceed twenty-five
dollars ($25.00); and
(2) No regular bingo or special bingo game prize
shall exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00);
and
(3) No bingo jackpot of any nature whatsoever
shall exceed one thousand dollars
($1,000.00), nor shall the total amount of
bingo jackpot prizes awarded in any one
calendar day exceed one thousand dollars
($1,000.00); and
(4) Except as provided herein, no organization
shall award any raffle prize or prizes valued
at more than one hundred thousand dollars
($100,000.00) during any calendar year. The
one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00)
limitation shall not apply to a raffle
conducted no more than once per year calendar
year by an organization qualified as a tax-
exempt organization pursuant to Section
501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code for a
prize consisting of a lot improved by a
residential dwelling where one hundred (100)
per cent of the moneys received from such a
raffle, less deductions for the fair market
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(h)
(i)
value for the cost of acquisition of the land
and materials, are donated to a lawful
religious, charitable, community, or
educational organizations specifically
chartered or organized under the laws of the
Commonwealth and qualified as a Section
501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
The award of any bingo or raffle prize money shall
not be deemed to be part of a gaming contract
within the purview of section 11-14 of the Code of
Virginia.
Any bingo game in which all the gross receipts
from the players for that game are paid as prize
money back to the players shall not be subject to
the limitations of subsection (g) of this section,
but there shall not be more than one such game per
calendar day of play and the prize money from any
such game shall not exceed one thousand dollars
($1,000.00).
Any organization composed of or for deaf or blind
persons that employs ~ person not a member to
provide clerical assistance in the conduct of
bingo games or raffles shall have in force
fidelity insurance, as defined i_Rn Section 38.2-
120 of the Code of Virginia, written by an insurer
licensed to do business in the Commonwealth.
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INTRODUCED :
PUBLIC HEARING :
ADOPTED :
This ordinance shall become effective as provided by
law.
July 24, 1990
September 4, 1990
ATTEST:
C~ ~q~ erk
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