Bill Text: HI HB790 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Bill 790 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Charitable Solicitation of Funds from the Public

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-02-08 - This measure has been deleted from the meeting scheduled on Monday 02-11-13 3:30PM in conference room 325. [HB790 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-HB790-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	790
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO CHARITABLE SOLICITATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Section 467B-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

″§467B-3 Reciprocal agreements. The attorney general may enter into a reciprocal agreement with the appropriate authority of another state for the purpose of exchanging information with respect to charitable organizations, professional fundraising counsel, [~~and~~] professional solicitors[.], and commercial co-venturers."

SECTION 2. Section 467B-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) Every charitable organization, professional fundraising counsel, [~~and~~] professional solicitor, and commercial co-venturer subject to this chapter shall keep true and accurate records as to its activities in a form that will accurately provide support for the information required by this chapter. Upon demand, the records shall be made available to the attorney general for inspection. Except as provided in subsection (b), records shall be retained for a period of not less than [~~five~~] three years."

SECTION 3. Section 467B-5.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§467B-5.5 Commercial co-venturer's charitable sales promotions. (a) All charitable sales promotions by a commercial co-venturer shall disclose the name of the commercial co-venturer.

(b) Prior to the commencement of any charitable sales promotion in this State conducted by a commercial co-venturer using the name of a charitable organization, the commercial co-venturer shall obtain the written consent of the charitable organization whose name will be used during the charitable sales promotion. The commercial co-venturer shall file a copy of the written consent with the department not less than ten days prior to the commencement of the charitable sales promotion within this State. An authorized representative of the charitable organization and the commercial co-venturer shall sign the written consent, and the terms of the written consent shall include the following:

(1) The goods or services to be offered to the public;

(2) The geographic area where, and the starting and final date when, the offering is to be made;

(3) The manner in which the name of the charitable organization is to be used, including any representation to be made to the public as to the amount or per cent per unit of goods or services purchased or used that is to benefit the charitable organization;

(4) A provision for a final accounting on a per unit basis to be given by the commercial co-venturer to the charitable organization and the date when it is to be made; and

(5) The date when and the manner in which the benefit is to be conferred on the charitable organization.

(c) A final accounting for each charitable sales promotion shall be prepared by the commercial co-venturer following the completion of the promotion. A copy of the final accounting shall be provided to the attorney general not more than twenty days after the copy is requested by the attorney general. A copy of the final accounting shall be provided to the charitable organization not more than twenty days after the copy is requested by the charitable organization. The final accounting shall be kept by the commercial co-venturer for a period of three years, unless the commercial co-venturer and the charitable organization mutually agree that the accounting should be kept by the charitable organization instead of the commercial co-venturer.

(d) A fine of $20 shall be imposed on a commercial co-venturer who fails to file a written consent as required by subsection (b), unless it is shown that the failure is due to reasonable cause, for each day during which the violation continues; provided that the total amount imposed under this subsection shall not exceed $1,000."

SECTION 4. Section 467B-6.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) Every charitable organization required to register pursuant to section 467B-2.1 shall annually file with the department a report for its most recently completed fiscal year. If the charitable organization files a Form 990 or 990-EZ with the Internal Revenue Service, the annual report shall be a copy of that Form 990 or 990-EZ. If the registered charitable organization is required to file a Form 990-T with the Internal Revenue Service, the annual report shall include a copy of that Form 990-T. If a charitable organization is not required to file a Form 990 or 990-EZ with the Internal Revenue Service, the annual report shall contain all information prescribed by the department. The charitable organization shall file its annual report not later than the fifteenth day of the fifth month following the close of its fiscal year. A charitable organization that has obtained an extension of time to file a Form 990 or 990-EZ from the Internal Revenue Service may obtain an extension of time to file the annual report with the department, by filing with the department a copy of the Internal Revenue Service's approved extension of time to file. The annual report shall be accompanied by a filing fee as prescribed by subsection (d). The department shall accept, under conditions prescribed by the attorney general, a copy or duplicate original of financial statements, reports, or returns filed by the charitable organization with the Internal Revenue Service or another state having requirements similar to the provisions of this section; provided that the attorney general may prescribe the form of the annual financial report for charitable organizations that file the Form 990-N with the Internal Revenue Service, or who are not required to file a Form 990 or 990-EZ with the Internal Revenue Service."

SECTION 5. Section 467B-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§467B-8 Information filed to become public records. Statements, reports, professional fundraising counsel contracts or professional solicitor contracts, commercial co-venturer consents, and all other documents and information required to be filed under this chapter or by the attorney general shall become government records in the department and be open to the general public for inspection pursuant to chapter 92F; provided that information in any registration statement concerning the residential addresses of any officer or director or that identifies a charitable organization's financial or banking accounts shall be confidential under chapter 92F."

SECTION 6. Section 467B-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§467B-9 Prohibited acts. (a) No person, for the purpose of soliciting contributions from persons in the State, shall use the name of any other person except that of an officer, director, or trustee of the charitable organization by or for which contributions are solicited, without the written consent of the other persons.

A person shall be deemed to have used the name of another person for the purpose of soliciting contributions if the latter person's name is listed on any stationery, advertisement, brochure, or correspondence in or by which a contribution is solicited by or on behalf of a charitable organization or the latter person's name is listed or referred to in connection with a request for a contribution as one who has contributed to, sponsored, or endorsed the charitable organization or its activities.

(b) No charitable organization, professional solicitor, [or] professional fundraising counsel, or commercial co-venturer soliciting contributions shall use a name, symbol, or statement so closely related or similar to that used by another charitable organization or governmental agency that the use thereof would tend to confuse or mislead the public.

(c) No person, in connection with any solicitation or sale, shall misrepresent or mislead anyone by any manner, means, practice, or device whatsoever, to believe that the solicitation or sale is being conducted on behalf of a charitable organization or that the proceeds of the solicitation or sale will be used for charitable purposes, if that is not the fact.

(d) No professional solicitor, and no agent, employee, independent contractor, or other person acting on behalf of the professional solicitor, shall solicit in the name of or on behalf of any charitable organization unless:

(1) The professional solicitor has obtained the written authorization of two officers of the organization, which authorization shall bear the signature of the professional solicitor and the officers of the charitable organization and shall expressly state on its face the period for which it is valid, which shall not exceed one year from the date of issuance, and has filed a copy of the written authorization with the attorney general prior to the solicitation; and

(2) The professional solicitor and any person who, for compensation, acts as an agent, employee, independent contractor, or otherwise on behalf of the professional solicitor carries a copy of the authorization while conducting solicitations, and exhibits it on request to persons solicited or police officers or agents of the department.

(e) No charitable organization, professional fundraising counsel, [or] professional solicitor, or commercial co-venturer subject to this chapter shall use or exploit the fact of filing any statement, report, professional fundraising counsel contracts, written consents, or professional solicitor contracts or other documents or information required to be filed under this chapter or with the department so as to lead the public to believe that the filing in any manner constitutes an endorsement or approval by the State of the purposes or goals for the solicitation by the charitable organization, professional fundraising counsel, [or] professional solicitor[;], or commercial co-venturer; provided that the use of the following statement shall not be deemed a prohibited exploitation: "Information regarding this organization has been filed with the State of Hawaii department of the attorney general. Filing does not imply endorsement or approval of the organization or the public solicitation for contributions."

(f) No person, while soliciting, shall impede or obstruct, with the intent to physically inconvenience the general public or any member thereof in any public place or in any place open to the public.

(g) No person shall submit for filing on behalf of any charitable organization, professional fundraising counsel, [or] professional solicitor, or commercial co-venturer any statement, financial statement, report, attachment, or other information to be filed with the department that contains information, statements, or omissions that are false or misleading.

(h) No person shall solicit contributions from persons in the State or otherwise operate in the State as a charitable organization, an exempt charitable organization, professional fundraising counsel, professional solicitor, or commercial co-venturer unless the person has filed the information required by this chapter with the department in a timely manner.

(i) No person shall aid, abet, or otherwise permit any persons to solicit contributions from persons in the State unless the person soliciting contributions has complied with the requirements of this chapter.

(j) No person shall fail to file the information and registration statement, annual or financial reports, and other statements required by this chapter or fail to provide any information demanded by the attorney general pursuant to this chapter in a timely manner.

(k) No person shall employ in any solicitation or collection of contributions for a charitable organization, any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud or obtain money or property by means of any false, deceptive, or misleading pretense, representation, or promise.

(l) No person, in the course of any solicitation, shall represent that funds collected will be used for a particular charitable purpose, or particular charitable purposes, if the funds solicited are not used for the represented purposes.

(m) No person shall receive compensation from a charitable organization for obtaining moneys or bequests for that charitable organization if that person has also received compensation for advising the donor to make the donation; provided that compensation may be received if the person obtains the written consent of the donor to receive compensation from the charitable organization.

(n) No person shall act as a professional solicitor if the person, any officer, any person with a controlling interest therein, or any person the professional solicitor employs, engages, or procures to solicit for compensation, has been convicted by any federal or state court of any felony, or of any misdemeanor involving dishonesty or arising from the conduct of a solicitation for a charitable organization or purpose.

(o) No charitable organization shall use the services of an unregistered professional solicitor or professional fundraising counsel."

SECTION 7. Section 467B-9.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§467B-9.5 Financial statements. Whenever the attorney general has reasonable grounds to believe that any charitable organization, professional fundraising counsel, [or] professional solicitor, or commercial co-venturer has engaged in any act or practice constituting a violation of this chapter or any rule or order adopted or issued, the attorney general may require the charitable organization, professional fundraising counsel, [or] professional solicitor, or commercial co-venturer to submit to the department an audited financial statement prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles by an independent certified public accountant, or as otherwise required by the attorney general."

SECTION 8. Section 467B-9.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§467B-9.6 Enforcement. (a) If any charitable organization, professional fundraising counsel, [or] professional solicitor, or commercial co-venturer fails to file any statement, report, written consent, or other information required to be filed under this chapter, the attorney general may demand that the charitable organization, the professional fundraising counsel, [~~or the~~] professional solicitor, or commercial co-venturer provide the statement, report, written consent, or other information not more than twenty days after demanded by the attorney general. This demand may be mailed to the address on file with the department.

(b) Whenever the attorney general has reason to believe that any charitable organization, professional fundraising counsel, professional solicitor, commercial co-venturer, or other person is operating in violation of this chapter, the attorney general may investigate and bring an action in any court of this State to enjoin the charitable organization, professional fundraising counsel, professional solicitor, commercial co-venturer, or other person from continuing the violation or doing any acts in furtherance thereof, and for any other relief that the court deems appropriate."

SECTION 9. Section 467B-11.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§467B-11.5 Charitable organizations exempted from registration and financial disclosure requirements. The following charitable organizations shall not be subject to sections 467B-2.1 and 467B-6.5, if the organization submits information as the department may require to substantiate an exemption under this section:

(1) Any duly organized religious corporation, institution, or society that is exempt from filing Form 990 with the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to sections 6033(a)(3)(A)(i) and (iii) and 6033(a)(3)(C)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended;

(2) Parent-teacher associations;

(3) Any educational institution that is licensed or accredited by any of the following licensing or accrediting organizations:

(A) Hawaii Association of Independent Schools;

(B) Hawaii Council of Private Schools;

(D) Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools;

(E) New England Association of Schools and Colleges;

(F) North Central Association of Colleges and Schools;

(G) Northwest [~~Association of Schools and Colleges;~~] Commission on Colleges and Universities;

(H) Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; or

(I) The National Association for the Education of Young Children;

and any organization exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code expressly authorized by, and having an established identity with, such an educational institution; provided that the organization's solicitation of contributions is primarily directed to the students, alumni, faculty, and trustees of the institutions and their respective families;

(4) Any nonprofit hospital licensed by the State or any similar provision of the laws of any other state;

(5) Any corporation established by an act of the United States Congress that is required by federal law to submit to Congress annual reports, fully audited by the United States Department of Defense, of its activities including itemized accounts of all receipts and expenditures;

(6) Any agency of this State, another state, or the federal government; and

(7) Any charitable organization that normally receives less than $25,000 in contributions annually, if the organization does not employ or compensate a professional solicitor or professional fundraising counsel. For purposes of this paragraph, an organization normally does not receive more than $25,000 in contributions annually, if during the immediately preceding fiscal years, it received, on average, less than $25,000 in contributions."

SECTION 10. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 11. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

BY REQUEST

Report Title:

Charitable Solicitation of Funds from the Public

Description:

Extends reporting requirements to commercial co-venturers, allows for penalties to be imposed on commercial co-venturers who fail to comply with the reporting requirements, and clarifies the exemption from registration for organizations who receive less than $25,000 in contributions annually.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.