2003 Legislation
Print Friendly

HOUSE BILL NO. 41 – Bingo supplies, confiscation

HOUSE BILL NO. 41

View Daily Data Tracking History

View Bill Text

View Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact



Text to be added within a bill has been marked with Bold and
Underline. Text to be removed has been marked with
Strikethrough and Italic. How these codes are actually displayed will
vary based on the browser software you are using.

This sentence is marked with bold and underline to show added text.

This sentence is marked with strikethrough and italic, indicating
text to be removed.

Daily Data Tracking History



H0041...........................................................by MR. SPEAKER
                 Requested by: Idaho State Lottery Commission
BINGO - Amends existing law to provide for seizure, without warrant, of
contraband bingo supplies, bingo equipment or any other gaming device; to
provide for the return of confiscated items; to provide for the destruction of
confiscated items; and to provide that government authorities shall not be
responsible for any negligence in seizing or confiscating any bingo supplies,
bingo equipment or any other gaming device.
                                                                        
01/06    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
    Rpt prt - to St Aff

Bill Text


                                                                        
  ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
 Fifty-seventh Legislature                 First Regular Session - 2003
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                                     HOUSE BILL NO. 41
                                                                        
                                       BY MR. SPEAKER
                        Requested by: Idaho State Lottery Commission
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO BINGO AND RAFFLES; AMENDING SECTION 67-7707, IDAHO CODE,  TO  PRO-
  3        VIDE  FOR  SEIZURE,  WITHOUT  WARRANT, OF CONTRABAND BINGO SUPPLIES, BINGO
  4        EQUIPMENT OR ANY OTHER GAMING DEVICE, TO PROVIDE FOR RETURN OF CONFISCATED
  5        ITEMS, TO PROVIDE FOR DESTRUCTION OF CONFISCATED ITEMS,  TO  PROVIDE  THAT
  6        GOVERNMENT  AUTHORITIES  SHALL  NOT  BE  RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY NEGLIGENCE IN
  7        SEIZING OR CONFISCATING ANY BINGO SUPPLIES, BINGO EQUIPMENT OR  ANY  OTHER
  8        GAMING DEVICE AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
                                                                        
  9    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
 10        SECTION  1.  That  Section 67-7707, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 11    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 12        67-7707.  BINGO BY CHARITABLE OR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. (1) It is lawful
 13    for a charitable or nonprofit organization to conduct bingo sessions or  games
 14    in  accordance  with the provisions of this chapter and the rules of the state
 15    lottery commission. Any charitable or nonprofit organization, any member of  a
 16    charitable or nonprofit organization, or any person that conducts a bingo ses-
 17    sion or game in violation of any provision of this chapter or the rules of the
 18    state  lottery commission may be assessed a civil penalty not in excess of ten
 19    thousand dollars ($10,000). Additionally, any person  knowingly  conducting  a
 20    bingo  session  or  game in violation of the provisions of this chapter or the
 21    rules of the state lottery commission may be charged under the  gambling  laws
 22    contained  in  chapter 38, title 18, Idaho Code. Violations will be prosecuted
 23    by the county prosecuting attorney.
 24        (2)  No person under the age of eighteen (18)  years  may  play  bingo  in
 25    games  where  a  cash  prize is offered or where the prize exceeds twenty-five
 26    dollars ($25.00) in value for merchandise. No person under the age of eighteen
 27    (18) years may play bingo in any game operated by  a  licensed  charitable  or
 28    nonprofit organization.
 29        (3)  The Idaho state lottery, attorney general or any peace officer of the
 30    state  may  seize, without a warrant, the following contraband goods found any
 31    place in this state:
 32        (a)  Any bingo supplies, bingo equipment or any other gaming device  which
 33        does  not conform in all respects to specifications imposed by Idaho stat-
 34        utes or rules;
 35        (b)  Any bingo equipment or any other gaming device purchased by an  orga-
 36        nization from any source other than a licensed vendor; or
 37        (c)  Any  bingo  equipment  or  any other gaming device furnished, sold or
 38        rented for use in a bingo occasion which is not in conformance with  Idaho
 39        gaming laws and rules.
 40    Upon  satisfactory proof of compliance, such confiscated bingo supplies, bingo
 41    equipment or any other gaming device may be returned as  directed.  Any  bingo
 42    supplies,  bingo  equipment  or  any  other  gaming  device confiscated may be
 43    destroyed. The seizure and destruction of bingo supplies, bingo  equipment  or
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1    any other gaming device shall not relieve any person from a fine, imprisonment
  2    or  other  penalty  for  violation of Idaho statutes or rules. The Idaho state
  3    lottery, attorney general or any peace officer of  this  state  shall  not  be
  4    responsible  in  any court for negligence in seizing or confiscating any bingo
  5    supplies, bingo equipment or any other gaming device pursuant to this section.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


                     STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

                             RS 12407

The Idaho State Lottery Commission has the responsibility for
licensing and enforcement of  bingo and raffle legislation as
provide for  in Title 67, Chapter 77, Idaho Code.   Idaho statutes
and administrative rules and regulations prescribe that licensed
bingo facilities use only authorized bingo supplies and equipment
acquired from a licensed distributor.  This provision is necessary
to insure that equipment and supplies conform to the statues and
regulations.  

Presently, the Idaho Lottery Commission Enforcement Division, the
Attorney General's Office, as well as other state and local law
enforcement lack specific seizure authority for contraband, i.e.,
illegal equipment and supplies.  This legislation would allow for
the seizure of contraband, pending legal  or administrative
disposition of  any charges brought under the act.   

                         FISCAL IMPACT

It is anticipated that any single seizure of  contraband would
result in less than $500 in transportation and storage costs, and
that such seizures would occur on average once every two years. 
These costs would be paid from funds appropriated to the Idaho
State Lottery.

CONTACT
Name:        Steve Woodall
Agency:      Lottery Commission
Phone:       334-2600

Statement of Purpose/Fiscal Impact                   H 4