AN ACT to create and enact a new subsection to section 53-06.1-11.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the payment of a veterans organization's club expenses with net proceeds from charitable gaming.
Summary
SB 2288 amends North Dakota law governing charitable gaming proceeds for veterans organizations. It creates a new subsection to section 53-06.1-11.1 allowing a veterans organization to use up to 20 percent of its net proceeds per quarter to pay for club operating costs for food and beverages, including alcoholic beverages. The bill also states that a veterans organization may operate only one club in one location.
The measure is narrowly focused on how veterans organizations may spend charitable gaming revenue and is intended to give these groups more flexibility in covering routine club expenses. By authorizing food and beverage costs as an allowable use of net proceeds, the bill expands the list of permissible expenditures under the charitable gaming statute for this specific class of organization. It does not appear to change the broader charitable gaming framework beyond this targeted exception.
Impact
SB 2288 directly modifies section 53-06.1-11.1 of the North Dakota Century Code by adding a new spending authorization for veterans organizations. The practical effect is to permit these organizations to allocate a capped share of quarterly net charitable gaming proceeds toward club operating expenses, including alcohol-related beverage costs, while limiting each organization to one club at one location. The bill affects veterans organizations that conduct charitable gaming and the state regulatory structure overseeing permissible uses of gaming revenue.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the Senate unanimously, 46-0, and the House by a strong margin, 87-5. The voting pattern suggests general agreement that the change was a modest, targeted adjustment benefiting veterans organizations rather than a major policy shift.
Contention
No committee testimony or transcript discussion was provided, and the recorded votes show limited opposition. Any likely point of contention would have centered on allowing charitable gaming proceeds to pay for food and alcoholic beverages, since those are not always viewed as core charitable or organizational expenses. The bill’s one-club, one-location limitation and 20 percent quarterly cap appear designed to address concerns about scope and misuse, which may have helped keep opposition low.
AN ACT to create and enact a new subsection to section 53-06.1-11.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the payment of a veterans organization's club expenses with net proceeds from charitable gaming.
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 create and enact two new subsections to section 39-06.1-11 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to temporary restricted licenses; and to provide a penalty.
AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 37-18 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the creation of a burial medallion program for veterans.