Legislature(2021 - 2022)ADAMS 519
05/03/2022 09:00 AM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB283 | |
| HB413 | |
| HB358 | |
| SB201 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 413 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 358 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 201 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 283 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SENATE BILL NO. 201 am
"An Act relating to charitable gaming online ticket
sales and activities; relating to charitable gaming
proceeds; and providing for an effective date."
10:35:43 AM
SENATOR MIA COSTELLO, CHAIR, SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE
COMMITTEE, explained that the legislation would allow
charitable gaming to be conducted online and for the ticket
sales to be conducted electronically. The Senate had
amended Section 3 of the bill to allow for online
fundraisers to be conducted for the benefit of any country
being invaded by another country. The change had been made
in order to make it possible to hold online fundraisers for
the people of Ukraine.
Representative Wool recalled that there was another piece
of legislation related to raffles and lotteries [HB 128]
that had passed the House. He wondered how the two bills
differed.
Senator Costello responded that the two bills were
identical apart from the aforementioned amendment in
Section 3.
Representative Wool understood that the amendment would
apply to any country that was being invaded by another
country and not just Ukraine.
Representative Carpenter wondered if the states that
bordered Mexico could be considered invaded and asked if a
raffle could be held in Alaska for Arizona, for example.
Co-Chair Merrick understood that HB 128 and SB 201 were
identical apart from the amended Section 3.
Senator Costello responded that she did not know the answer
to Representative Carpenter's question.
Co-Chair Merrick OPENED public testimony.
10:40:06 AM
DEB MOORE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA PROFESSIONAL HUNTERS
ASSOCIATION, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in
support of SB 201. The bill would modernize the state's
charitable gaming program and allow for more funds to flow
into the state to support the non-profit sector. She
highlighted that non-Alaskans would be able to participate
in online raffles and would increase the likelihood of
donations. The Alaska Professional Hunters Association
(APHA) had attempted to organize a fundraiser to benefit
Ukraine, however it was not permitted because statute
prevented charitable funds from being used outside of the
state. She indicated that the amended Section 3 of the bill
would have allowed for the funds to be distributed to
Ukraine. She was concerned about what would happen if the
bill did not pass.
10:42:19 AM
JOSHUA LEWIS, CHARITABLE GAMING OPERATOR, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), explained that he assisted non-profits in
the state to raise funds for their missions. He spoke in
support of the bill with the amended Section 3 but did not
support any other amendments. He highlighted the important
work of non-profits in the state and thought the bill would
allow Alaskans to offer support to the organizations. He
did not think the state and local governments could afford
to support non-profit organizations. He thought online
raffles and fundraisers were working.
Representative Carpenter asked whether Mr. Lewis supported
the amended Section 3 of the bill.
Mr. Lewis responded that he supported Section 3 and the
applicable amendment.
10:44:39 AM
LOUIS CUSACK, SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL ALASKA CHAPTER,
CHUGACH (via teleconference), spoke in support of the bill.
He relayed that a significant portion of Safari Club
International Alaska Chapter's (SCIAC) funding came from
charitable gaming in the form of raffle ticket sales.
Alaska was often bombarded with interest groups from out-
of-state and the bill would allow external groups to
contribute to Alaska's economy through raffles. He relayed
that SCIAC had organized a fundraiser that contributed over
$291,000 of out-of-state fundraising dollars to the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game. The money had also qualified
for federal matching dollars through the Pittman-Robertson
Act. He thought that the bill leveled the playing field. He
reiterated SCIAC's support of the legislation.
10:47:44 AM
DAVID LAMBERT, CHARITABLE GAMING OPERATOR, FAIRBANKS (via
teleconference), spoke in support of the bill. He supported
about 35 non-profit organizations and emphasized how
important the legislation was for the non-profit sector. He
did not think the bill was controversial as written but was
concerned that someone might "hijack" it and add
controversial elements to it.
10:48:35 AM
Co-Chair Merrick CLOSED public testimony.
Co-Chair Merrick asked Ms. Colleen Glover to review the
fiscal note.
10:48:58 AM
COLLEEN GLOVER, DIRECTOR, TAX DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF
REVENUE (via teleconference), reviewed the fiscal note from
the Department of Revenue with control code QYqML. She
indicated the note was changed from indeterminant to zero
because it was difficult to discern whether the bill would
change the amount of raffle activity. The raffle activity
was a small component of state revenue but was significant
for non-profits.
Co-Chair Merrick invited Senator Costello to the table.
10:50:40 AM
Representative Wool noted he had amended the companion bill
HB 128 on the House floor. The amendment limited the number
of raffle tickets available to prevent organizations from
adding additional tickets to decrease individual odds and
increase revenue. He wondered if the change would be
amenable.
Senator Costello deferred to her staff.
10:51:44 AM
MELODIE WILTERDINK, STAFF, SENATOR MIA COSTELLO (via
teleconference), understood that all of the existing raffle
rules would apply to online raffle sales as well. She did
not know if the amendment was necessary but did not see a
problem with it as long as the non-profits were open to it.
Representative Wool relayed that he had proposed the
amendment specifically because the operation of online
raffle sales was new and he felt the amendment was
necessary for clarity. He asked if there were limits as to
what a non-profit could spend the proceeds of a raffle on.
He wondered if limits needed to be in statute.
Senator Costello indicated that Section 3 as amended would
sunset on July 1, 2024. She deferred to Ms. Glover for
Representative Wool's question regarding spending limits.
Ms. Glover responded that the acceptable uses for proceeds
were listed in statute. The bill would change one of the
existing limits that only permitted the proceeds to be used
in-state to allow for out-of-state spending.
10:55:26 AM
Representative Wool understood the intent to support
Ukraine. He wondered what type of reassurance would be
offered to prove that money raised to benefit Ukraine would
actually be received by Ukraine. He asked if there were
limits as to what the proceeds could be spent on or if it
was at the discretion of the non-profit.
Ms. Wilterdink noted that the language in Section 3
specifically required that the money be used to benefit the
people of the affected country. She offered reassurance
that the money would go to refugee causes and not for
things like munition.
Representative Wool thought the language seemed more open
than Ms. Wilterdink's interpretation, but he would look at
it more closely.
Co-Chair Merrick reviewed the agenda for the following
meeting.
SB 201 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.