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:

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

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

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

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

made, the following shall be clearly and conspicuously disclosed:

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

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

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

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

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

professional fund-raiser.

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

made, shall include the following statement:

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

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

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

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

in payment for its fundraising services."

     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

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

specific statement be made with all solicitations.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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