2017 -- H 5621

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LC001710

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - SOLICITATION BY CHARITABLE

ORGANIZATIONS

     Introduced By: Representatives Casey, Hull, Morin, McNamara, and Azzinaro

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2017

     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.; and

      (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

name of their employer and the percentage of the contribution solicited by the fundraiser that will

be retained by the 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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