Texas Senate Bill SB898

Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Caption

Relating to charitable raffles conducted by certain professional sports team charitable foundations; providing penalties.

Impact

The introduction of SB898 is expected to create new opportunities for professional sports team foundations to raise funds for charitable purposes. By enabling them to host raffles at games, these foundations can generate significant revenue, which must primarily be used for charitable initiatives. Furthermore, the bill adds a layer of oversight by defining acceptable practices and clarifying the use of raffle proceeds, thereby helping to ensure transparency in fundraising efforts and protecting participants' interests.

Summary

Senate Bill 898, known as the Professional Sports Team Charitable Foundation Raffle Enabling Act, aims to regulate and authorize charitable raffles conducted by professional sports teams in Texas. The bill establishes a legal framework for such raffles, allowing designated charitable foundations associated with major professional sports teams to hold raffles during their games. This legislation provides specific qualifications that these foundations must meet in order to be eligible to conduct raffles, including a requirement that they have been in existence for at least three years and do not distribute profits to members or engage in political activities.

Sentiment

The general sentiment surrounding SB898 appears to be supportive, particularly among the professional sports community and nonprofits that rely on funding from such activities. Proponents argue that the bill will facilitate greater fundraising potential for charities affiliated with sports teams, thereby benefiting local communities. However, there may be concerns from critics regarding the potential normalization of gambling-related activities associated with sports, especially if youth are involved in any fundraising efforts connected to gambling interfaces.

Contention

Some noteworthy points of contention focus on the restrictions placed on ticket sales and the penalties for violations. The bill prohibits the sale of raffle tickets to individuals under 18 and mandates that ticket sales must only be conducted by employees or volunteers of the charitable foundations, which could limit participation for some organizations. Moreover, the enforcement of penalties for accepting forms of payment other than cash raises concerns about accessibility for potential raffle participants. Such provisions may require further clarification to ensure they do not inadvertently discourage charitable fundraising efforts in the community.