Section 45-37-150 – Short Title.

Section 45-37-150 Short title. This article shall be known and may cited as the Jefferson County Bingo Act. (Act 80-609, p. 1027, §1.)

Section 45-37-150.01 – Definitions.

Section 45-37-150.01 Definitions. As used in this article: (1) BINGO. That specific kind of game commonly known as bingo in which prizes are awarded on the basis of designated numbers or symbols on a card or electronic marking machine conforming to numbers or symbols selected at random. (2) CHIEF OF POLICE. The chief of police […]

Section 45-37-150.02 – Bingo Games – Permit Required.

Section 45-37-150.02 Bingo games – Permit required. (a) Any provisions of the law to the contrary notwithstanding, no qualified organization shall be permitted to operate a bingo game until the sheriff issues a permit to the organization authorizing it to do so. In the event of any controversy concerning whether or not certain activity constitutes […]

Section 45-37-150.03 – Bingo Games – Application for Permit.

Section 45-37-150.03 Bingo games – Application for permit. (a) Any qualified organization desiring to obtain a permit to operate bingo games shall make application to the sheriff on forms prescribed by the sheriff and shall pay an annual fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150). No permit shall be issued to any qualified organization unless […]

Section 45-37-150.04 – Bingo Games – Contents and Display of Permit.

Section 45-37-150.04 Bingo games – Contents and display of permit. (a) Each bingo permit shall contain the name and address of the permitholder, the location at which the permitholder is permitted to conduct bingo, and the days of the week on which the permitholder is permitted to conduct bingo. (b) The bingo permitholder shall display […]

Section 45-37-150.05 – Bingo Games – Special Permit.

Section 45-37-150.05 Bingo games – Special permit. a) Upon special application submitted by a qualified organization licensed pursuant to Section 45-37-150.03 and upon the applicant’s payment of a fee of fifty dollars ($50) to the sheriff, the sheriff may issue a special permit for conducting bingo at locations and on days other than those set […]

Section 45-37-150.06 – Bingo Games – Certain Activities Prohibited.

Section 45-37-150.06 Bingo games – Certain activities prohibited. (a) It is the intention of the Legislature that only qualified organizations which are properly issued permits pursuant to this article shall be allowed to operate bingo games. (b) A qualified organization shall not lend its name or allow its identity to be used by any individual, […]

Section 45-37-150.07 – Bingo Games – Fees.

Section 45-37-150.07 Bingo games – Fees. All fees collected by the sheriff under this article shall be paid into the county general fund, and all necessary expenses incurred by the sheriff in the administration and enforcement of this article shall be financed from the county general fund. (Act 80-609, p. 1027, §8.)

Section 45-37-150.08 – Bingo Games – Disposition of Proceeds.

Section 45-37-150.08 Bingo games – Disposition of proceeds. The entire net proceeds of a bingo game shall be devoted exclusively to the lawful purposes of the permitholder. An item of expense shall not be incurred or paid in connection with the holding, operating, or conducting of bingo except the following bona fide expenses in reasonable […]

Section 45-37-150.09 – Bingo Games – Management and Operation.

Section 45-37-150.09 Bingo games – Management and operation. (a) A person other than a bona fide member of the permitholder may not participate in the management of bingo. Persons other than bona fide members of the permitholder may participate in the operation of bingo as provided by rule of the sheriff. (b) A person may […]

Section 45-37-150.10 – Bingo Games – Age Restriction.

Section 45-37-150.10 Bingo games – Age restriction. No person under the age of 18 years shall be permitted to play any game or games of bingo conducted pursuant to any permit issued under this article. No person under the age of 18 years shall be permitted to conduct or assist in the conduct of any […]

Section 45-37-150.11 – Bingo Games – Taxation.

Section 45-37-150.11 Bingo games – Taxation. State or local taxes of any kind whatsoever shall not be imposed upon the recipient of any prize, whether merchandise or money, awarded by a permitholder during a bingo game conducted in conformity with this article. (Act 80-609, p. 1027, §12.)

Section 45-37-150.12 – Administration and Enforcement.

Section 45-37-150.12 Administration and enforcement. (a) The sheriff shall enforce and supervise the administration of this article. The sheriff shall employ personnel as necessary to implement this article. (b) The sheriff by rule shall regulate the holding, operation, or conducting of bingo, including the following: (1) The method of play and selection of winners. (2) […]

Section 45-37-150.13 – Rulemaking Authority.

Section 45-37-150.13 Rulemaking authority. The sheriff is hereby authorized to promulgate rules and regulations which he or she deems necessary for the proper administration and enforcement of this article. (Act 80-609, p. 1027, §14.)

Section 45-37-150.14 – Maintenance of Records; Inspection and Location of Premises.

Section 45-37-150.14 Maintenance of records; inspection and location of premises. (a) Each permitholder shall maintain the following records for at least three years from the date on which the last bingo game is conducted: (1) An itemized list of the gross receipts for each session. (2) An itemized list of all expenses, other than prizes […]

Section 45-37-150.15 – Suspension or Revocation of Permits.

Section 45-37-150.15 Suspension or revocation of permits. The sheriff may suspend or revoke any permit issued pursuant to this article if the permitholder or any officer, director, agent, member, or employee of the permitholder violates this article or rule promulgated hereunder. Appeal to the governing body of the county from an adverse ruling of the […]

Section 45-37-150.16 – Violations.

Section 45-37-150.16 Violations. Any person who violates this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500), and may also be imprisoned in the county jail for not more than six months. (Act 80-609, p. 1027, §17.)

Section 45-37-150.17 – Effect of Revocation, Suspension, Etc.

Section 45-37-150.17 Effect of revocation, suspension, etc. (a) A permitholder whose permit is revoked in consequence of a violation of this article or a rule promulgated under this article is ineligible to apply for a permit for a period of one year after the revocation. (b) A person convicted of an offense under Section 45-37-150.16 […]

Section 45-37-150.18 – Referendum.

Section 45-37-150.18 Referendum. If the vote on the constitutional amendment excepting bingo from the constitutional prohibition against lotteries in Section 65 of the Constitution of Alabama 1901, is approved by a majority of the voters casting ballots thereon in Jefferson County, it shall not be necessary for an election to be held under this article […]

Section 45-37-150.19 – Applicability of Other Laws.

Section 45-37-150.19 Applicability of other laws. Any other law providing a penalty or disability upon a person who conducts or participates in bingo games, who possesses equipment used in conducting bingo, who permits bingo to be conducted on his or her premises, or who does other acts in connection with bingo shall not apply to […]