[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 2638

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED JANUARY 9, 1997

 

 

By Assemblyman AZZOLINA

 

 

An Act concerning the conduct of raffles and amending and supplementing P.L.1954, c.5.

 

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

    1. (New section) The Legislature finds and declares that it is the purpose of this act to assist charitable, civic and service organizations, including volunteer fire companies, first-aid squads, church organizations, school groups, veterans' organizations and senior citizen clubs, in conducting raffles to raise funds for educational, charitable, patriotic, religious and public-spirited purposes.

 

    2. Section 10 of P.L.1954, c.5 (C.5:8-59) is amended to read as follows:

    10. a. No person under the age of 18 years shall be permitted to participate in any manner in any game or games of chance not conducted by a drawing, except that a person under the age of 18 years shall be permitted to play a game of chance not conducted by a drawing when the prize offered and awarded consists of merchandise [only and does not include] 1[or consists of ] only and does not include1 cash or money 1[in an amount not in excess of $20]1.

    b. No person under the age of 18 years shall be permitted to participate in any manner in any game or games of chance conducted by a drawing, held, operated or conducted pursuant to any license issued under this act, except that a person under the age of 18 years shall be permitted to play an on-premises draw raffle, including a 1[Chinese] Penny1 auction, when any prize offered and awarded consists of merchandise only.

(cf: P.L.1994, c.63, s.16)


    1[3. (New section) A qualified organization which is authorized and licensed to conduct raffles pursuant to the "Raffles Licensing Law," P.L.1954, c.5 (C.5:8-50 et seq.), may conduct a Chinese auction on up to two occasions in each calendar year, except that the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission may provide, by regulation, that such organizations may conduct Chinese auctions on more than two occasions per calendar year.]1

 

    1[4.] 3.1 (New section) As used in P.L.1954, c.5 (C.5:8-50 et seq.), as amended and supplemented, "1[Chinese] Penny1 auction" means an event at which multiple items of merchandise, or gift certificates therefor, but not cash, are raffled by drawing the winning ticket from a container designated for each item into which players seeking to win that item have placed tickets, with all tickets having been sold for the same price or different prices and each ticket placed in a container having an equal chance of winning.

 

    1[5.] 4.1 (New section) The Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission shall promulgate regulations allowing qualified organizations to:

    a. offer as a raffle prize any personal or professional service, or a gift certificate for any personal or professional service, which is a lawful activity and which the commission determines to be an appropriate raffle prize1, and the value of which is within the limits set by the commission for raffle prizes1;

    b. offer as a raffle prize 1[any live animal the possession of which does not require a permit issued by the Department of Environmental Protection] a gift certificate redeemable for live, edible seafood the value of which is within the limits set by the commission for raffle prizes1;

    c. offer a discount to any person purchasing two or more tickets for a draw raffle; and

    d. use 1 a big six wheel,1 a big eight wheel 1or other wheel1 to determine the winner of a non-draw raffle.

 

    1[6.] 5.1 (New section) The Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission shall prepare, publish and make available to any qualified organization, upon request, a pamphlet which describes in plain and simple language the rights, duties and responsibilities of organizations conducting raffles and the exact manner in which games of chance are to be conducted.

 

    1[7.] 6.1 (New section) Prior to initiating administrative action or bringing charges against an organization qualified to conduct raffles for a violation which relates to the conduct of games or the awarding of prizes, the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission shall first issue a verbal or written warning and offer the organization the opportunity to cease the conduct which constitutes the violation.

 

    1[8.] 7.1 This act shall take effect immediately.

 

                             

Makes various changes to the laws governing the conduct of raffles.