An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Beano
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0158
Committee Amendment CA_A_S42 (Senate)
Amends: 17 MRSA §311, 17 MRSA §313-C, 17 MRSA §319

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" (J "to S.P. 45, L.D. 158, Bill, "An Act To Amend 
the Laws Governing Beano" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 17 MRSA §311, sub-§5-A is enacted to read: 
5-A. 
Member. 
"Member" means a bona fide member of a firm, corporation, 
association. organization, department or class or a combination thereof who has been duly 
admitted as a member according to the laws, rules, regulations, ordinances or bylaws 
governing membership in the firm, corporation, association, organization, department, 
class or combination thereof. 
Sec. 2. 17 MRSA §313-C, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. JJJJJ, §7, is 
amended to read: 
1. Registration eligibility. The Gambling Control Unit may accept registrations 
from the following organizations to conduct beano to be eondl:loted by dl:lly authomed 
members for the exclusive benefit of the organization: 
A. A volunteer fire department; 
B. An agricultural fair association; 
C. 
A bona fide nonprofit, charitable, educational, political, civic, recreational, 
fraternal, patriotic, religious or veterans veterans' organization that has been in 
existence and founded, chartered or organized in the State for at least 2 years prior to 
its registration; and 
D. 
An auxiliary organization associated with an organization, department or 
association described in this subsection that has been in existence for at least 2 years 
prior to submitting a registration to conduct beano to the Gambling Control Unit. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A "to S.P. 45, L.D. 158 ( ::::,. "( 2-.) 
The Gambling Control Unit may accept a registration submitted by an organization 
described in paragraph C that has been in existence for less than 2 years in the State if the 
organization has a charter from a national organization. 
Sec. 3. 17 MRSA §313-C, sub-§3 is enacted to read: 
3. Member must exercise exclusive control of game. An organization registered 
under this section may not conduct beano games unless a person at least 18 years of age, 
who has been a member of good standing of the registrant for at least 2 years, exercises 
exclusive control of each game played. Other individuals, who are not required to be 
members of the registrant, may assist the member in operating the game. For purposes of 
this subsection, a member exercises exclusive control if the member has the final 
decision-making authority to determine the winner of the game and to address any 
challenges to the operation of the game. 
Sec. 4. 17 MRSA §319, 2nd 1, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. JJJJJ, §21, is 
repealed.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment strikes and replaces the bill. Like the bill, the amendment removes 
the requirement in current law that beano or bingo games conducted by an organization 
such as a volunteer fire department, agricultural fair association or nonprofit association 
must be conducted entirely by members of the organization. Under the amendment, the 
beano or bingo games must be conducted under the exclusive control of an adult member 
of the organization, who may be assisted by other individuals. The amendment defines 
"member" to mean an individual duly admitted as a member according to the laws, rules, 
regulations, ordinances or bylaws governing the organization. 
The amendment also makes a technical change to the laws governing beano and 
bingo to clarify that a charitable, educational, political, civic, recreational, fraternal, 
patriotic, religious or veterans' organization that seeks to obtain a registration to conduct 
beano or bingo must be a bona fide nonprofit organization. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 03/06/19 ::Wac 
LD 158 
LR 344(02) 
An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Beano 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ''A-" ('2>-4 2,,) 
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Any additional costs to the Gambling Control Board within the Department of Public Safety as a result of changes to 
the rules regarding how nonprofit organizations conduct beano and bingo games are anticipated to be minor and can 
be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR0344(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of I