Bill Text: IL HB4494 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Raffles and Poker Runs Act. Removes language concerning the ineligibility of certain political committees from receiving a license to conduct raffles. Provides that a violation of provisions concerning political committees is punishable by a specified fine imposed by the State Board of Elections (rather than a Class C misdemeanor). Makes conforming changes.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-02-18 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB4494 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-HB4494-Introduced.html

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102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2021 and 2022 HB4494 Introduced , by Rep. Michael J. Zalewski SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
230 ILCS 15/7 from Ch. 85, par. 2307
230 ILCS 15/8.1 from Ch. 85, par. 2308.1
Amends the Raffles and Poker Runs Act. Removes language concerning the ineligibility of certain political committees from receiving a license to conduct raffles. Provides that a violation of provisions concerning political committees is punishable by a specified fine imposed by the State Board of Elections (rather than a Class C misdemeanor). Makes conforming changes.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning gaming.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Raffles and Poker Runs Act is amended by
changing Sections 7 and 8.1 as follows:
(230 ILCS 15/7) (from Ch. 85, par. 2307)
Sec. 7. Sentence.) Except as otherwise provided in this
Act, violation Violation of any provision of this Act is a
Class C misdemeanor.
(Source: P.A. 81-1365.)
(230 ILCS 15/8.1) (from Ch. 85, par. 2308.1)
Sec. 8.1. Political committees.
(a) For the purposes of this Section, the terms defined in
this subsection have the meanings given them.
"Net proceeds" means the gross receipts from the conduct
of raffles, less reasonable sums expended for prizes, license
fees, and other reasonable operating expenses incurred as a
result of operating a raffle.
"Raffle" means a form of lottery, as defined in Section
28-2(b) of the Criminal Code of 2012, conducted by a political
committee licensed under this Section, in which:
(1) the player pays or agrees to pay something of

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value for a chance, represented and differentiated by a
number or by a combination of numbers or by some other
medium, one or more of which chances are is to be
designated the winning chance; and
(2) the winning chance is to be determined through a
drawing or by some other method based on an element of
chance by an act or set of acts on the part of persons
conducting or connected with the lottery, except that the
winning chance shall not be determined by the outcome of a
publicly exhibited sporting contest.
"Unresolved claim" means a claim for a civil penalty under
Sections 9-3, 9-10, and 9-23 of the Election Code which has
been begun by the State Board of Elections, has been disputed
by the political committee under the applicable rules of the
State Board of Elections, and has not been finally decided
either by the State Board of Elections, or, where application
for review has been made to the courts of Illinois, remains
finally undecided by the courts.
"Owes" means that a political committee has been finally
determined under applicable rules of the State Board of
Elections to be liable for a civil penalty under Sections 9-3,
9-10, and 9-23 of the Election Code.
(b) Licenses issued pursuant to this Section shall be
valid for one raffle or for a specified number of raffles to be
conducted during a specified period not to exceed one year and
may be suspended or revoked for any violation of this Section.

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The State Board of Elections shall act on a license
application within 30 days from the date of application.
(c) Licenses issued by the State Board of Elections are
subject to the following restrictions:
(1) No political committee shall conduct raffles or
chances without having first obtained a license therefor
pursuant to this Section.
(2) The application for license shall be prepared in
accordance with regulations of the State Board of
Elections and must specify the area or areas within the
State in which raffle chances will be sold or issued, the
time period during which raffle chances will be sold or
issued, the time of determination of winning chances, and
the location or locations at which winning chances will be
determined.
(3) A license authorizes the licensee to conduct
raffles as defined in this Section.
The following are ineligible for any license under this
Section:
(i) any political committee which has an officer
who has been convicted of a felony;
(ii) any political committee which has an officer
who is or has been a professional gambler or gambling
promoter;
(iii) any political committee which has an officer
who is not of good moral character;

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(iv) any political committee which has an officer
who is also an officer of a firm or corporation in
which a person defined in (i), (ii)or (iii) has a
proprietary, equitable or credit interest, or in which
such a person is active or employed;
(v) any political committee in which a person
defined in (i), (ii)or (iii) is an officer, director,
or employee, whether compensated or not;
(vi) any political committee in which a person
defined in (i), (ii)or (iii) is to participate in the
management or operation of a raffle as defined in this
Section;
(i) (vii) any committee which, at the time of its
application for a license to conduct a raffle, owes
the State Board of Elections any unpaid civil penalty
authorized by Sections 9-3, 9-10, and 9-23 of the
Election Code, or is the subject of an unresolved
claim for a civil penalty under Sections 9-3, 9-10,
and 9-23 of the Election Code;
(ii) (viii) any political committee which, at the
time of its application to conduct a raffle, has not
submitted any report or document required to be filed
by Article 9 of the Election Code and such report or
document is more than 10 days overdue.
(d)(1) The conducting of raffles is subject to the
following restrictions:

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(i) The entire net proceeds of any raffle must be
exclusively devoted to the lawful purposes of the
political committee permitted to conduct that game.
(ii) No person except a bona fide member of the
political committee may participate in the management or
operation of the raffle.
(iii) No person may receive any remuneration or profit
for participating in the management or operation of the
raffle.
(iv) Raffle chances may be sold or issued only within
the area specified on the license and winning chances may
be determined only at those locations specified on the
license.
(v) A person under the age of 18 years may participate
in the conducting of raffles or chances only with the
permission of a parent or guardian. A person under the age
of 18 years may be within the area where winning chances
are being determined only when accompanied by his or her
parent or guardian.
(2) If a lessor rents a premises where a winning chance or
chances on a raffle are determined, the lessor shall not be
criminally liable if the person who uses the premises for the
determining of winning chances does not hold a license issued
under the provisions of this Section.
(e)(1) Each political committee licensed to conduct
raffles and chances shall keep records of its gross receipts,

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expenses, and net proceeds for each single gathering or
occasion at which winning chances are determined. All
deductions from gross receipts for each single gathering or
occasion shall be documented with receipts or other records
indicating the amount, a description of the purchased item or
service or other reason for the deduction, and the recipient.
The distribution of net proceeds shall be itemized as to
payee, purpose, amount, and date of payment.
(2) Each political committee licensed to conduct raffles
shall report on the next report due to be filed under Article 9
of the Election Code its gross receipts, expenses, and net
proceeds from raffles, and the distribution of net proceeds
itemized as required in this subsection.
Such reports shall be included in the regular reports
required of political committees by Article 9 of the Election
Code.
(3) Records required by this subsection shall be preserved
for 3 years, and political committees shall make available
their records relating to the operation of raffles for public
inspection at reasonable times and places.
(f) Violation of any provision of this Section is
punishable by a tiered fine of $500 for the first violation,
$1,000 for the second violation, and $1,500 for the third and
subsequent violations to be imposed by the State Board of
Elections a Class C misdemeanor.
(g) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to

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authorize the conducting or operating of any gambling scheme,
enterprise, activity, or device other than raffles as provided
for herein.
(Source: P.A. 101-109, eff. 7-19-19; revised 9-20-19.)