H. B. 4559

         (By Delegates Morgan, Craig, T. Campbell and                             C. Miller)

         [Introduced February 16, 2012; referred to the

         Committee on Government Organization then the Judiciary.]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §29-22-30, relating to authority of Lottery Commission; permitting limited charity fundraising events; defining terms and providing rule-making authority.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §29-22-30, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 22. STATE LOTTERY ACT.

§29-22-30. Charitable Gaming.

    (a) Notwithstanding any section of this code to the contrary, the Lottery Commission shall authorize and regulate limited charity fundraising events.

    (b) The following terms have the following meanings:

    (1) "Charitable game" means roulette, blackjack, poker, money wheel, baccarat, pusher-type games, a dice game where the player competes against the house and any other game of chance as identified, defined and approved by legislative rule of the commission;

    (2) “Charitable organization" has the meaning as that term is defined in subdivision two, section two, article nineteen, chapter twenty-nine of this code; and

    (3) "Limited charity fundraising event" means any type of charity fundraising event that are commonly known as a "casino night," "Las Vegas night," or "Monte Carlo night", at which the predominant number or types of games offered for play are charitable games;

    (c) The Lottery Commission shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to authorize and regulate limited charity fundraising events.

    NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to permit the Lottery Commission to authorize and regulate limited charity fundraising events and authorize rule-making authority towards this end.

    This section is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.