Sec. 2001.451. ORGANIZATION BINGO ACCOUNTS. (a) A licensed authorized organization shall establish and maintain one regular checking account designated as the organization's "bingo account." The organization may maintain a separate interest-bearing savings account designated as the "bingo savings account."

(b) Except as provided by Section 2001.502(a), a licensed authorized organization shall deposit in the bingo account all funds derived from the conduct of bingo, less the amount awarded as cash prizes under Sections 2001.420(a) and (b). Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), a deposit must be made not later than the third business day after the day of the bingo occasion on which the receipts were obtained.

(b-1) A licensed authorized organization may deposit funds derived from the conduct of bingo that are paid through a debit card transaction in the bingo fund not later than 72 hours after the transaction.

(c) A licensed authorized organization may transfer money from its general fund or other account to the organization's bingo account or to the bingo account of a unit of which the organization is a member under Subchapter I-1, if applicable, if:

(1) the balance in the bingo account to which the funds are transferred is less than the maximum amount permitted by this section; and

(2) the organization notifies the commission of the transfer not later than the 14th day after the date of the transfer.

(d) Except as permitted by Subsection (c), a licensed authorized organization may not commingle gross receipts derived from the conduct of bingo with other funds of the organization.

(e) Except as permitted by Subsection (c) of this section and by Section 2001.453(2), a licensed authorized organization may not transfer gross receipts derived from the conduct of bingo to another account maintained by the organization.

(f) A licensed authorized organization shall maintain all of its savings and checking accounts in a financial institution in this state.

(g) The bingo operations of a licensed authorized organization must:

(1) result in net proceeds over the organization's license period; or

(2) if the organization has a two-year license, result in net proceeds over each 12-month period that ends on an anniversary of the date the two-year license was issued.

(h) Except as provided by Subsection (j), a licensed authorized organization or a unit of licensed authorized organizations may retain operating capital in the organization's or unit's bingo account in an amount that:

(1) is equal to the organization's or unit's actual average bingo expenses per quarter based on the preceding license period, excluding prizes paid; and

(2) does not exceed a total of $50,000 for a single organization or $50,000 for each member of a unit unless:

(A) the commission by rule establishes a higher amount for all organizations or units or one or more classes of organizations or units; or

(B) the bingo operations director, on request, raises the operating capital limit for one organization or unit as necessary to facilitate the operation of the organization or unit.

(i) Prize fees held in escrow for remittance to the commission are not included in the calculation of operating capital under Subsection (h).

(j) The commission shall adopt rules allowing a licensed authorized organization to retain a maximum amount of operating capital in the bingo account in excess of the amount provided by Subsection (h) if the organization:

(1) has conducted bingo for less than one year;

(2) experiences circumstances beyond the control of the organization, including force majeure, that necessitate an increase in operating capital; or

(3) provides to the commission a credible business plan for the conduct of bingo or for the organization's existing or planned charitable purposes that an increase in operating capital will reasonably further.

(k) A licensed authorized organization may apply to the commission for a waiver of the requirements of this section and Section 2001.457. The commission may grant the waiver on a showing of good cause by the organization that compliance with this section and Section 2001.457 is detrimental to the organization's existing or planned charitable purposes. An organization applying for a waiver establishes good cause by providing to the commission:

(1) credible evidence of circumstances beyond the control of the organization, including force majeure; or

(2) a credible business plan for the organization's conduct of bingo or the organization's existing or planned charitable purposes.

Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1114, Sec. 20, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 636 (H.B. 1474), Sec. 31, eff. October 1, 2009.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1051 (H.B. 914), Sec. 4, eff. January 1, 2020.