SB 315 Now Awaits Final Vote for House Passage!
Today the Indiana House of Representatives approved Senate Bill 315 on Second Reading and prepared the way for its final passage in the House which could take place as early as tomorrow.
SB 315, authored by state Senator Randy Head (R-18) and sponsored by state Representative Mark Messmer (R-63), would streamline the licensing and reporting process for charity gaming events, such as “Friends of NRA” banquets, by:
- Establishing one comprehensive charity gaming license for national organizations and foundations for use by their local affiliates;
- Removing the current six-to-nine week application process and requiring in its place a 21-day notification to the Indiana Gaming Commission prior to an event; and
- Allowing qualified organizations and foundations to "police their own" by removing requirements to turn over volunteers' personal information to the Indiana Gaming Commission.
These policy changes would greatly improve the ability of “Friends of NRA” committees to comply with Indiana charitable gaming laws in a timely and less cumbersome fashion, while protecting the personal information of “Friends of NRA” volunteers.
As many NRA members well know, “Friends of NRA” banquets play a critical role in raising grant money to support education, safety, and training programs in communities across the Hoosier State, such as the Boy Scouts, 4H clubs, and local law enforcement groups. Unfortunately, some “Friends of NRA” chapters had difficulties holding banquets in 2011, which resulted in a net loss of approximately $100,000 in money that cannot be used for these Indiana groups.
Please contact your state Representative, respectfully urging his or her support of SB 315 on final passage. Contact information for your state Representative can be found here.