Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 38, September 20, 2024
29.1. For
any material violation of W. Va. Code '47-21-1 et
seq. or this rule, the Tax Commissioner may:
29.1.1. Revoke or refuse to renew any
charitable raffle license;
29.1.2.
Suspend the charitable raffle license of any licensee for the period of time
the Tax commissioner considers appropriate. A suspension may not be for less
than one week nor more than twelve months for each material
violation;
29.1.3. Place a
charitable raffle licensee on probation for a period of not less than six
months nor for more than five years for each material violation;
29.1.3.1. In the event a licensee is placed
on probation, then, as a condition of the probation, the licensee shall pay to
the Tax Commissioner a Probation Supervision Fee in an amount equal to two
thousand dollars or two percent of the gross proceeds derived by the licensee
from the conduct of raffle occasions during the period of the probation,
whichever is greater.
29.1.3.2. No
Probation Supervision Fee paid in accordance with this section may be claimed
by the licensee as a reasonable, necessary or actual expense incurred in
connection with the conduct of a raffle occasion under the authority of W. Va.
Code '47-21-15.
29.1.3.3. The imposition of probation shall
be used, when warranted, to insure the charitable raffle licensee's continued
adherence to the applicable statutes and legislative rules. After due
consideration of the severity of the violation, probationary terms and
conditions shall be determined by the Tax Commissioner;
29.1.4. Require a charitable raffle licensee
to replace any officer who knew or because of the officer's responsibilities
within the licensee organization should have known of a material violation.
29.1.4.1. The Tax Commissioner shall suspend
for a period of not less than one month nor more than twenty-four months the
license or licenses of a licensee that refuses to replace any officer as
directed by the Tax Commissioner. The Tax Commissioner shall consider the
severity of the violation and whether the violation was a one-time or repeated
occurrence when implementing this disciplinary action;
29.1.5. Require a charitable raffle licensee
to prohibit one or more members, supporters, volunteers or employees of the
licensee involved in material violations from participating in, or being
present at or on the premises of all future raffle occasions held under the
charitable raffle license, or for the period of time specified by the Tax
Commissioner.
29.1.5.1. The Tax Commissioner
shall suspend for a period of not less than one month nor more than twelve
months the license of a licensee that refuses to prohibit the participation of
identified members, supporters, volunteers or employees as directed by the Tax
Commissioner. The Tax Commissioner shall consider the severity of the violation
and whether the violation was a one-time or repeated occurrence when applying
this disciplinary action; and
29.1.6. Impose a civil money penalty of not
less than one hundred dollars nor more than two times the annual gross proceeds
derived by the charitable raffle licensee from the conduct of raffle, for each
material violation:
29.1.6.1. In setting any
monetary penalty for a first violation, the Tax Commissioner shall take into
consideration the ability of the licensee to continue to exist and
operate.
29.1.6.2. No money penalty
paid in accordance with this section may be claimed by the licensee as a
reasonable, necessary or actual expense incurred in connection with the conduct
of a raffle occasion.
29.1.6.3. For
each material violation that is a second or succeeding violation, the amount of
the civil penalty that may be imposed may not be less than five hundred dollars
and may not exceed the greater of one hundred thousand dollars or two times the
annual gross proceeds of the licensee from the conduct of raffle.
29.1.6.4. Any charitable raffle licensee
aggrieved by the amount of the civil penalty may in lieu of paying the penalty
surrender its charitable raffle license for a minimum period of twelve
consecutive months.
29.1.6.5. The
license shall be revoked If the licensee refuses to pay the penalty or
surrender its license,
29.1.6.6.
After the licensee has exhausted all administrative remedies provided in
subsection 29.4 of this rule, the licensee may have the issue of whether a
material violation was committed by the licensee reviewed in the circuit court
of the county where the violation giving rise to the civil penalty
occurred.
29.1.6.7. The imposition
of civil penalties shall be implemented in accordance with the criteria set
forth in subsection 29.2 of this rule.
29.1.6.8. For purposes of this rule,
surrender of the charitable raffle license or surrender of the license means
and includes surrender of all regular and limited occasion raffle licenses held
by the licensee, unless specifically otherwise directed by the Tax
Commissioner.
29.2. The imposition of civil money penalties
shall be in accordance with the following criteria:
29.2.1. For conducting charitable raffle
occasions at times or at a location inconsistent with the license application,
the money penalty is:
First violation |
$100 |
Second or succeeding violation |
$500 |
but not more than |
$3,000 |
29.2.2. For failure to timely amend or modify
the charitable raffle license in accordance with section 9 of this rule, the
money penalty is:
First violation |
$100 |
Second or succeeding violation |
$500 |
but not more than |
$3,000 |
29.2.3. For not having the raffle license
posted at the occasion; and allowing charitable raffle workers to play raffle,
the money penalty is:
First violation |
$100 |
Second or succeeding violation |
$500 |
but not more than |
$3,000 |
29.2.4. For utilizing charitable raffle
workers who fail to qualify under W. Va. Code '47-21-1 et
seq. and this rule, the money penalty is:
First violation |
$100 |
but not more than |
$500 |
Second or succeeding violation |
$500 |
but not more than |
$2500 |
29.2.5. For expending or using charitable
raffle proceeds for unauthorized expenses, the money penalty is:
First violation |
$500 |
but not more than 2 x Gross Proceeds |
Second or succeeding violation |
$500 |
but not more than 2 x Gross Proceeds |
29.2.6. For distributing charitable raffle
net proceeds for purposes other than qualified charitable or public service
purposes or for unauthorized purposes, the money penalty is:
First violation |
$500 |
but not more than 2 x Gross Proceeds |
Second or succeeding violation |
$500 |
but not more than 2 x Gross Proceeds |
29.2.7. For continuing failure to maintain
accurate records, the money penalty is:
First violation |
$500 |
but not more than 2 x Gross Proceeds |
Second or succeeding violation |
$500 |
but not more than 2 x Gross Proceeds |
29.2.8. For continuing violations of any
nature, subsequent to the licensee having been notified in writing of a
violation, the monetary penalty is:
First violation |
$500 |
but not more than 2 x Gross Proceeds |
Second or succeeding violation |
$500 |
but not more than 2 x Gross Proceeds |
29.2.8.1 The
penalty for violations occurring subsequent to written notice shall be in
addition to the penalty that may be applied for a second or succeeding
violation under any other provision of this rule.
29.2.9. For conducting fraudulent charitable
raffle occasions, or obtaining a charitable raffle license under false
pretenses or deceptive or fraudulent circumstances, the monetary penalty is:
First violation |
$500 |
but not more than 2 x Gross Proceeds |
Second or succeeding violation |
$500 |
but not more than 2 x Gross Proceeds |
29.2.10. The Tax Commissioner may impose any
one or more, or any combination, of the penalties provided for in this
subsection 29.2.
29.3.
No sanctions or other penalty shall be imposed under subdivision 29.2.4 on a
charitable raffle licensee for failure to operate charitable raffle occasions
with members when:
29.3.1. The licensee is
exempt from federal income taxation under Internal Revenue Code '501 (c)(3) or
501 (c)(4);
29.3.2. The licensee is
a non-membership organization that does not have bona fide members;
and
29.3.3. The raffle occasions
are operated by residents of this State who have been employed by the licensee
or who have been meaningfully associated with the licensee for one or more
years before the date of the licensee's application for a license under the
Act, or for one or more years before the date of the licensee's most recent
application for renewal of a license under the Act, whichever is
later.
29.4.
Administrative procedures.
29.4.1. An order
issued under this section shall be served by certified mail or in the manner
provided in rule 4(d) of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedures
29.4.2. A charitable raffle licensee may
appeal an order of the Tax Commissioner issued under this section by filing a
written protest with the Tax Commissioner, either in person or by certified
mail, properly addressed and postage prepaid, within twenty days after the
licensee is served with a copy of the order. Appeals shall be filed in the form
or forms as the Tax Commissioner furnishes with the order.
29.4.3. When a timely written protest is
filed, the procedures for contested cases set forth in W. Va. Code
'29A-5-1
et seq. apply.
29.4.4. The burden
of proof in any administrative or court proceeding is on the charitable raffle
licensee to show cause why the order of the Tax Commissioner under this section
should be modified, in whole or in part, or set aside.
29.5. Nothing contained in this rule shall be
construed to prohibit, limit, alter or amend the Tax Commissioner's power under
W. Va. Code '47-21-23
to issue an emergency order suspending a raffle licensee.