Sec. 1. As used in this chapter:

"Bona fide employee" means a person who is a regular, nontemporary employee of a charitable organization under the direct and exclusive control of the organization. The term does not include a person that:

(1) solicits contributions for a charitable organization under the direction, supervision, instruction, or employ of a professional solicitor;

(2) is engaged or employed as a professional solicitor by any other person; or

(3) solicits contributions for more than one (1) charitable organization.

"Charitable organization" means any organization described in Section 501 of the federal Internal Revenue Code.

"Contribution" means a promise or pledge of money, a payment, or any other rendition of property or service. It does not include the payment of membership dues, fines or assessments, or payments for property sold or services rendered by the charitable organization, if not sold or rendered in connection with a solicitation, and does not include a charitable organization that resells used clothing or household items.

"Division" means the consumer protection division, office of the attorney general.

"Person" includes any individual, organization, trust foundation, association, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation.

"Professional fundraiser consultant" means any person who is hired for a fee to plan, manage, advise, or act as a consultant in connection with soliciting contributions for, or on behalf of, a charitable organization, but who does not actually solicit contributions as a part of the person's services or employ, procure, or engage a compensated person to solicit contributions. The term does not include a charitable organization, or a bona fide officer, employee, member, or volunteer of a charitable organization, that solicits on its own behalf.

"Professional solicitor" means a person who, for a financial consideration, solicits contributions for, or on behalf of, a charitable organization, either personally or through agents or employees specifically employed for that purpose, including agents or employees specifically employed by or for a charitable organization who solicit contributions under the direction, supervision, or instruction of a professional solicitor. The term does not include a charitable organization, or an officer, a bona fide employee, or a volunteer of a charitable organization, that solicits on its own behalf.

"Solicit" means:

(1) to request, other than as described in subdivision (2), directly or indirectly, financial assistance in any form on the representation that the financial assistance will be used for a charitable purpose; or

(2) to sell, offer, or attempt to sell any advertisement, advertising space, membership, or tangible item:

(A) in connection with which any appeal is made for any charitable organization or purpose;

(B) where the name of any charitable organization is used or referred to in any appeal made for any charitable organization as an inducement or reason for making a sale described in this subdivision; or

(C) when or where in connection with a sale described in this subdivision any statement is made that the whole or any part of the proceeds from the sale will be used for any charitable purpose or benefit any charitable organization.

A solicitation shall be considered to have taken place whether or not the person making the solicitation receives any contribution.

As added by P.L.245-1983, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.12-1986, SEC.2; P.L.248-1987, SEC.1; P.L.24-1989, SEC.2; P.L.8-1993, SEC.319; P.L.135-1999, SEC.7; P.L.245-2005, SEC.1.