AN ACT to amend and reenact section 53-06.1-11.2 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the charitable gaming operating fund.
Summary
SB 2205 amends North Dakota law governing the charitable gaming operating fund. The bill keeps the fund in the state treasury and continues to direct money in the fund first toward administrative and operating costs for charitable gaming, then to specified distributions. It changes the allocation to the gambling disorder prevention and treatment fund to $75,000 quarterly, and it preserves a five percent quarterly distribution to cities and counties based on taxes collected from licensed charitable gaming organizations, with a minimum payment threshold of $200 per city or county per quarter.
The bill also revises the year-end transfer process for excess balances in the charitable gaming operating fund. Instead of the prior certification language, the attorney general must transfer the balance of net proceeds that exceed the amount appropriated for charitable gaming administrative and operating costs for the next biennium to the general fund, and the state treasurer must complete the transfer before the end of each biennium. In practical terms, the measure affects how charitable gaming revenues are split among state programs, local governments, and the general fund, while leaving the overall structure of the fund intact.
Impact
SB 2205 amends section 53-06.1-11.2 of the North Dakota Century Code, which governs the charitable gaming operating fund and the disposition of gaming-related revenues. It affects the attorney general, state treasurer, cities and counties receiving local shares, the gambling disorder prevention and treatment fund, and the general fund by updating the timing and amounts of required allocations and transfers. The bill does not create a new program, but it changes the statutory distribution formula and transfer mechanism for existing charitable gaming receipts.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported in the Senate, passing 47-0, indicating unanimous approval in that chamber. It also passed the House, though by a narrower 67-25 vote, suggesting some reservations or differing views about the revenue allocation changes. No committee transcripts were provided, so the available record shows overall legislative support with more mixed sentiment in the House than in the Senate.
Contention
The main point of contention appears to be the disposition of charitable gaming revenues, particularly the balance between state-level uses, local government distributions, and transfers to the general fund. The House vote margin suggests some members may have objected to how much money is redirected away from local recipients or other purposes, or to the revised transfer timing and mechanism. Because no committee discussion is available, the specific arguments for and against the bill are not documented in the provided materials.
Transfers from the charitable gaming operating fund to the gambling disorder prevention and treatment fund; and to authorize a full-time equivalent position for the department of health and human services.
A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 53-06.1-11.2 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to transfers from the charitable gaming operating fund to the gambling disorder prevention and treatment fund; and to authorize a full-time equivalent position for the department of health and human services.
A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact subsection 3 of section 53-06.1-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to two organizations conducting charitable gaming at the same site.
AN ACT to amend and reenact subsection 2 of section 53-06.1-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to securing approval for a gaming site authorization.
The structure of the state gaming commission and the administration and regulation of games of chance; to provide an appropriation; and to provide for application.
A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact sections 53-06.1-01.1 and 53-06.1-15.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the structure of the state gaming commission and the administration and regulation of games of chance; to provide an appropriation; and to provide for application.