STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ERIK PETERSON
District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)
Assemblywoman MILA M. JASEY
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
SYNOPSIS
Permits educational organizations to conduct bingo games with prizes for participating students under certain circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning the operation of bingo games by educational organizations and supplementing P.L.1954, c.6 (C.5:8-24 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of P.L.1954, c.6, s.9 (C.5:8-32), or any other law to the contrary, an educational organization registered to hold and operate bingo games in accordance with the “Bingo Licensing Law,” P.L.1954, c.6 (C.5:8-24 et seq.), may operate bingo games, exclusively with students affiliated with the organization as participants, including persons under the age of 18 years old, only if prizes are awarded with the total value not to exceed $100 in all games played in a single occasion, in accordance with all other provisions of the “Bingo Licensing Law.” A parent or guardian of a student under the age of 18 years old is required to consent in writing to that student participating in bingo games under this act, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
As part of the operation of the bingo games described in this act, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), an educational organization may charge a parent or other guardian for that student’s participation.
The Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), including when students are affiliated with an organization.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would permit educational organizations that are registered to conduct bingo under the “Bingo Licensing Law” to conduct bingo games exclusively with students affiliated with the organization as participants, including persons under the age of 18 years old, only if prizes are awarded. The total value of prizes awarded for such an event would be limited to $100 in all games played in a single occasion. The bill would require parental consent in writing to any student’s participation in the bingo games.
This bill would provide a limited exception in the “Bingo Licensing Law” to the prohibition against persons under the 18 participating in bingo games.
The bill would provide organizations such as parent teacher associations the ability to fundraise by charging parents a fee for their children’s participation in a bingo event with prizes.