(A) A nonprofit organization is qualified to conduct raffles in accordance with the provisions of this chapter if the nonprofit organization:

(1) is recognized by the South Carolina Department of Revenue and the United States Internal Revenue Service as exempt from federal and state income taxation pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(6), 501(c)(7), 501(c)(8), 501(c)(10), 501(c)(19), or 501(d), or is a class, department, or organization of an educational institution, as defined in Chapter 56, Title 33;

(2) is organized and operated for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes, or to foster national or international amateur sports competition (but only if no part of its activities involve the provision of athletic facilities or equipment), or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals; and

(3) is registered with the Secretary pursuant to the requirements of Chapter 56, Title 33, unless it is exempt from or not required to follow the registration requirements of Chapter 56, Title 33, or is a governmental unit or educational institution of this State.

(B)(1) The requirement to register with the secretary for the purpose of operating raffles for charitable purposes shall apply to any and all nonprofit organizations that intend to operate a raffle in this State, including those organizations that are exempt from or not required to follow the requirements for solicitation of charitable funds pursuant to Chapter 56, Title 33.

(2) An exemption from registration for the purpose of operating raffles is authorized for:

(a) raffles operated by a nonprofit organization for charitable purposes, where a noncash prize is donated for the nonprofit raffle and the total value of the prize or prizes offered for a raffle event is not more than nine hundred fifty dollars; and

(b) fifty-fifty raffles where the tickets are sold to members or guests of a nonprofit organization, and not to the general public, and the total value of proceeds collected is not more than nine hundred fifty dollars.

(3) An organization operating a raffle that is within an exemption authorized by the provisions of item (2) shall not operate more than one raffle every seven calendar days.

(C) Nonprofit organizations that comply with the requirements of Section 33-57-120(A) and intend to operate a raffle must submit an annual raffle form with a fee of fifty dollars to the Secretary. Proceeds from the fees shall be retained by the Secretary for enforcement of these provisions. This registration form shall cover all authorized raffles for that nonprofit organization's fiscal year. Registrations for raffles shall expire on the fifteenth day of the fifth month after the end of a nonprofit organization's fiscal year.

(D) The Secretary may revoke a registration issued pursuant to this chapter if an organization is not in compliance with the exemption requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. A registration revoked under this chapter must not be reissued until a new application for registration has been made and the Secretary determines that the organization is in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

(E) Nonprofit organizations, other organizations, and persons operating raffles for charitable purposes are subject to investigation and other actions by the Secretary and subject to all penalties contained in Chapters 56 and 57, Title 33.

(F) Nonprofit organizations, other organizations, or persons operating raffles or lotteries that violate the provisions of Chapter 19, Title 16, are subject to investigation and other actions by law enforcement.

HISTORY: 2013 Act No. 11, Section 1, eff April 4, 2015; 2018 Act No. 192 (S.812), Section 1, eff May 15, 2018.

Editor's Note

2013 Act No. 11, Section 5, provides as follows:

"SECTION 5. The provisions of this act become effective thirty days after ratification of an amendment to Section 7, Article XVII of the Constitution of this State allowing its terms as proposed to the qualified electors of this State at the 2014 General Election."

2015 Act No. 3, Section 1, eff March 5, 2015, provides in part as follows:

"SECTION 1. The amendment to Article XVII of the Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, prepared under the terms of Joint Resolution 102 of 2013, having been submitted to the qualified electors at the General Election of 2014 as prescribed in Section 1, Article XVI of the Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, and a favorable vote having been received on the amendment, is ratified and declared to be a part of the Constitution so that Section 7 of Article XVII is amended to read: [text of amendment follows]."

Effect of Amendment

2018 Act No. 192, Section 1, in (B), in (2)(a), substituted "nine hundred fifty dollars" for "five hundred dollars", and made a nonsubstantive change.