Whereas, many nonprofit organizations hold carnivals and fairs at which games of chance are operated as a means to raise money for the nonprofit organization; and

Whereas, current law restricts to 2 days the length of time that a nonprofit organization may operate a game of chance, which places an undue burden on those organizations that operate their fund-raising activities for more than 2 days; and

Whereas, most nonprofit organizations hold their fund-raising activities in the summer months, before the usual effective date for nonemergency legislation; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 17 MRSA §332, sub-§4, ¶B, as amended by PL 1999, c. 295, §1, is further amended to read:

B. No other licensee may operate a game of chance on premises to which the general public has access. In any room where a licensed game of chance is being conducted, there must be at least one member of the licensee present in that room for every 2 nonmembers who are present. That member must have been a member of the licensee for at least one year. A member of the licensee, either directly or through another member or guest, may not stake or risk something of value in the licensee's game of chance unless the member has been a member, as defined in section 330, subsection 3-B, of the licensee for at least 14 days not including the day of admission into membership.

A bona fide nonprofit organization may operate a licensed game of chance to which the general public has access, once every 3 months for a period not to exceed 2 3 consecutive days. The licensed game of chance may be operated at any location described in the license and may be conducted only by members of the licensee.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.