Allows nonprofit organizations to participate in permitted games of chance upon registering with the state police on an annual basis. The nonprofit would be exempt from any required background checks by local law enforcement.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would allow nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island to host or participate in legal, permitted games of chance — such as bingo nights, raffle drawings, or casino-style fundraisers — by simply registering with the state police once a year. Currently, nonprofits that want to run these types of events may be subject to various local law enforcement requirements, including background checks on the people involved. This bill would create a simpler, statewide registration pathway for qualifying nonprofits.

A key feature of the bill is that nonprofits registered through this process would not be required to undergo background checks by local police departments. Instead of going through local authorities, the registration would be handled at the state level through the Rhode Island State Police. This would apply on an annual basis, meaning nonprofits would need to re-register each year to maintain their eligibility.

This bill primarily affects nonprofit organizations — such as charities, civic groups, religious organizations, and community clubs — that want to hold fundraising events involving games of chance. It could make the process easier and less burdensome for these groups by streamlining paperwork and removing local background check requirements. Local law enforcement agencies would also be affected, as they would have less oversight over these events under this proposal.

As of now, the bill has been introduced in the Senate and referred to the Senate Labor and Gaming Committee. It has been scheduled for hearings but was also recommended to be held for further study, meaning lawmakers are still reviewing it and no final decision has been made.