| The State
House of Representatives last week approved legislation that
would assist charitable and non-profit organizations with
their fund raising. The bill, State Senate Bill 263 An Act
Concerning Raffle Ticket Sales, was proposed by Senator David
Cappiello (R-Danbury) and would allow non-profits to accept
credit cards, debit cars, checks, and cash as payment for
raffle tickets. Current law prohibits organizations from charging
raffle tickets on a credit card. “With
the proliferation of credit cards in Connecticut, it is
only logical to let people use them to purchase raffle tickets.
Right now we are the only state in the entire country that
does not allow it,” according to Senator Cappiello.
“Plus, being that non-profits are the only group in
Connecticut permitted to sell raffle tickets, we are only
hindering their fund-raising capabilities with our current
law.”
This
is fourth consecutive Legislative Session that this particular
bill has come up. Senator Cappiello began advocating for
this change in current law after speaking with Gary Kozak,
the President of the Regional YMCA of Western Connecticut
several years ago.
“The
YMCA, the American Cancer Society, as well as a variety
of other non-profit organizations throughout the state worked
diligently with me to ensure this bill was passed. I would
also like to thank Representative Bob Godfrey (D-110th)
for all his hard work in seeing this bill go through the
House,” added Senator Cappiello. “Money raised
by these organizations goes towards a variety of important
causes, and we need to do whatever we can as a state legislature
to support their generous work.”
The
bill passed unanimously through the Senate two weeks ago
and now awaits a signature from Governor Rowland. |
