New York S 5031: Relates to the operation of games of chance by employees of authorized organizations

Bill Text

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S05031 Summary:

BILL NOS05031 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS A00872

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SPONSORGRIFFO

&nbsp

COSPNSR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

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Amd Art 1 §9, Constn

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Relates to the operation of games of chance by employees of authorized organizations.

Go to top S05031 Actions:

BILL NOS05031 

&nbsp

02/18/2025REFERRED TO JUDICIARY

02/18/2025TO ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR OPINION

03/12/2025OPINION REFERRED TO JUDICIARY

01/07/2026REFERRED TO JUDICIARY

01/08/2026TO ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR OPINION

02/03/2026OPINION REFERRED TO JUDICIARY

Go to topS05031 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS05031 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS05031 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 5031

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 February 18, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. GRIFFO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary

 CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY

 proposing an amendment to subdivision 2 of section 9 of article 1 of the
 constitution, in relation to the operation of games of chance

 1 Section 1. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That subdivision 2 of
 2 section 9 of article 1 of the constitution be amended to read as
 3 follows:
 4 2. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, any city,
 5 town or village within the state may by an approving vote of the majori-
 6 ty of the qualified electors in such municipality voting on a proposi-
 7 tion therefor submitted at a general or special election authorize,
 8 subject to state legislative supervision and control, the conduct of one
 9 or both of the following categories of games of chance commonly known
 10 as: (a) bingo or lotto, in which prizes are awarded on the basis of
 11 designated numbers or symbols on a card conforming to numbers or symbols
 12 selected at random; (b) games in which prizes are awarded on the basis
 13 of a winning number or numbers, color or colors, or symbol or symbols
 14 determined by chance from among those previously selected or played,
 15 whether determined as the result of the spinning of a wheel, a drawing
 16 or otherwise by chance. If authorized, such games shall be subject to
 17 the following restrictions, among others which may be prescribed by the
 18 legislature: (1) only bona fide religious, charitable or non-profit
 19 organizations of veterans, volunteer firefighter and similar non-profit
 20 organizations shall be permitted to conduct such games; (2) the entire
 21 net proceeds of any game shall be exclusively devoted to the lawful
 22 purposes of such organizations; (3) no person except a bona fide member
 23 or employee of any such organization shall participate in the management
 24 or operation of such game; and (4) no person shall receive any remunera-
 25 tion for participating in the management or operation of any such game,
 26 except when an employee of such organization, who is compensated for
 27 work unrelated to the management or operation of games of chance,

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD89040-01-5

 S. 5031 2

 1 participates in the management or operation of any such game. Unless
 2 otherwise provided by law, no single prize shall exceed two hundred
 3 fifty dollars, nor shall any series of prizes on one occasion aggregate
 4 more than one thousand dollars. The legislature shall pass appropriate
 5 laws to effectuate the purposes of this subdivision, ensure that such
 6 games are rigidly regulated to prevent commercialized gambling, prevent
 7 participation by criminal and other undesirable elements and the diver-
 8 sion of funds from the purposes authorized hereunder and establish a
 9 method by which a municipality which has authorized such games may
 10 rescind or revoke such authorization. Unless permitted by the legisla-
 11 ture, no municipality shall have the power to pass local laws or ordi-
 12 nances relating to such games. Nothing in this section shall prevent the
 13 legislature from passing laws more restrictive than any of the
 14 provisions of this section.
 15 § 2. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing amendment
 16 be referred to the first regular l