2015 -- H 5179

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LC000116

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - SOLICITATION BY CHARITABLE

ORGANIZATIONS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Casey, Ackerman, Morin, Costantino, and Fellela

     Date Introduced: January 21, 2015

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 5-53.1-12.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-53.1 entitled

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"Solicitation by Charitable Organizations" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     5-53.1-12.1. Solicitation -- Requirements. -- Prior to orally requesting a contribution, or

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contemporaneously with a written request for a contribution, regardless of how the request is

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made, the following shall be clearly and conspicuously disclosed:

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      (a) The name of the professional solicitor and professional fund-raiser, the name of the

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entity that employed or otherwise engaged the professional solicitor or professional fund-raiser,

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and the fact that the solicitation is being conducted by a professional solicitor.

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      (b) If requested by the prospective donor, the The percentage of the contribution to be

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retained by the professional fund-raiser or the company that employed or otherwise engaged the

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professional fund-raiser.

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     (c) Any solicitation that is subject to this section, regardless of how the solicitation is

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made, shall include the following statement:

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     "My name is [insert full name] and I am an employee of [insert name of fundraising

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company]. I am a paid representative soliciting charitable contributions on behalf of [insert name

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of charitable organization]. I am required by Rhode Island law to inform you that [insert name of

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fundraising company] receives no less than [insert percentage] percent of aggregate contributions

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in payment for its fundraising services."

 

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - SOLICITATION BY CHARITABLE

ORGANIZATIONS

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     This act would require professional solicitors and professional fund-raisers to disclose the

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percentage of a contribution retained by a fundraising company. This act also would require that a

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specific statement be made with all solicitations.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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