THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1048 |
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 2 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO SOLICITATION OF FUNDS FROM THE PUBLIC.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
The legislature further finds that Act 205's well-intended language creates undue burdens on charitable fundraising platforms and, more importantly, potentially hampers and inhibits the ability of charitable organizations to respond to community needs and fundraise, especially in times of emergency.
The legislature additionally finds that it would be prudent to amend Act 205 before its scheduled effective date of January 1, 2026, in a manner that would still achieve the important purposes of public protection, donor security, and transparency, but not overburden charitable fundraising platforms, charitable organizations, and the department of the attorney general, which oversees these activities.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to amend the language in Act 205 to clarify existing standards and safeguards in online crowdfunding.
SECTION 2. Chapter 467B, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§467B- Platform charities. (a) Every platform charity not exempted by
section 467B-11.5 shall register with the department as a platform charity
before conducting activities regulated by this chapter in accordance with
section 467B-2.1. A platform charity
shall be subject to the annual financial report and annual filing fee
requirements of section 467B-6.5. Each
report shall:
(1) Enable the department to ascertain whether charitable funds have been properly solicited, received, held, controlled, or distributed;
(2) Provide
information on the number of donations made, amount raised, length of time for
distributing donations or grants of recommended donations, fees charged by or
through a charitable fundraising platform or platform charity, and names of
recipient charitable organizations or other charitable organizations that were
sent or have not yet been sent donations or grants of recommended donations;
and
(3) Protect
from disclosure any personally identifiable information of donors or other
users of the charitable fundraising platform.
(b)
No platform charity shall facilitate acts of solicitation on a
charitable fundraising platform unless the platform charity is in good
standing.
(c) A platform charity shall only solicit, permit, or otherwise enable solicitations or receive, control, or distribute funds from donations for purported charitable purposes for recipient charitable organizations or other charitable organizations in good standing. To determine good standing of a recipient charitable organization or other charitable organization, a platform charity may rely on information displayed on the department's registry.
(d) With respect to purported charitable purposes,
a platform charity that performs, permits, or otherwise enables solicitation
activities shall, before a person can complete a donation or select or change a
recipient charitable organization, provide conspicuous disclosures that reduce
the likelihood of deception, confusion, or misunderstanding, including:
(1) A
statement that donations are made to the charitable fundraising platform,
platform charity, recipient charitable organization, or person engaging in peer-
to-peer charitable fundraising, whichever is applicable;
(2) A
statement that a recipient charitable organization may not receive donations or
grants, with an explanation identifying the most pertinent reasons that a
recipient charitable organization may not receive the funds; provided that the
explanation of the most pertinent reasons that a recipient charitable
organization may not receive the funds may be provided through a conspicuous
hyperlink, so long as the disclosure is conspicuous when the hyperlink is
selected; provided further that this paragraph shall not apply when there are
no circumstances under which a recipient charitable organization may not
receive the funds;
(3) The maximum length of time it will take to send the donation or a grant of the recommended donation to a recipient charitable organization with an explanation of the time needed, unless the donation is sent contemporaneously to a recipient charitable organization after the donation is made; provided that the explanation as to the maximum length of time may be provided through a conspicuous hyperlink, so long as the disclosure is conspicuous when the hyperlink is selected;
(4) The
fees or any other amounts that will be deducted from or added to the donation
or a grant of the recommended donation and that are charged or retained by the
charitable fundraising platform, platform charity, or any other partnering
vendor, other than any applicable digital payment processing fees; and
(5) A
statement as to the tax deductibility of the donation.
(e)
Each platform charity that solicits, permits, or otherwise enables
solicitations shall obtain the written consent of a recipient charitable
organization before using the recipient charitable organization's name in a
solicitation for a purported charitable purpose. Written consent shall be provided directly to
the platform charity or may be provided to a platform charity by one authorized
officer, director, trustee, or other duly authorized representative of the
recipient charitable organization and may apply to multiple affiliated
charitable fundraising platforms expressly identified in the agreement providing
consent.
(f) After a donor contributes donations and with respect to purported charitable purposes, the platform charity shall promptly provide a tax donation receipt to the donor in a manner provided by section 170(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(g)
The platform charity shall not divert or otherwise misuse any donations
made for purported charitable purposes that the platform charity receives
through solicitation on the charitable fundraising platform and shall hold the
donations in a separate account or accounts from other funds belonging to the
platform charity. The platform charity
shall promptly ensure that donations and grants of recommended donations are
sent to the recipient charitable organizations with an accounting of any fees
assessed for processing the funds, and in accordance with any rules adopted by
the department pursuant to chapter 91.
(h) If a platform charity enters into any contract
with a vendor to solicit, receive, control, process, distribute, and otherwise
account for donations on the charitable fundraising platform, the contract
shall be available for inspection by the department.
(i) As used in this section, "good standing" means that a platform charity, recipient charitable organization, or other charitable organization is not prohibited from soliciting or operating in the State by the department."
SECTION 3. Section 467B-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:
1. By amending the definition of "commercial co-venturer" to read:
""Commercial co-venturer" means a person who, for profit, is regularly and primarily engaged in trade or commerce other than in connection with soliciting for charitable organizations or charitable purposes, and who conducts charitable sales promotions. A person who meets the definitions of "commercial co-venturer" and "charitable fundraising platform" shall be considered a commercial co-venturer when the acts of solicitation through an internet website, service, or other platform to persons in this State are for six or fewer recipient charitable organizations per calendar year, and the commercial co-venturer complies with section 467B-5.5."
2. By amending the definition of "owner" to read:
""Owner"
means any person who has a direct or indirect interest in any professional
fundraising counsel[,] or professional solicitor[, charitable
fundraising platform, or platform charity]."
3. By amending the definition of "platform charity" to read:
""Platform charity" means a charitable organization that facilitates acts of solicitation on a charitable fundraising platform, which includes either of the following and any similar activity:
(1) [Solicits]
Soliciting donations through a charitable fundraising platform for
itself from donors who use the charitable fundraising platform with the implied
or express representation that the platform charity may grant donations to
recipient charitable organizations; or
(2) [Grants]
Granting funds to recipient charitable organizations based on purchases
made or other activity performed by persons who use a charitable fundraising
platform.
"Platform charity" does not include a sponsoring organization of donor advised funds that solicits donors to open donor advised fund accounts or similar accounts, receives recommendations from donors on charitable organizations that may receive grants of funds previously contributed to the sponsoring organization for a donor's donor advised fund account, and the sponsoring organization does not list or reference by name one or more recipient charitable organizations for solicitation purposes on its platform for persons who do not have advisory privileges with respect to the granting of funds in a donor advised fund of the sponsoring organization. A person who meets the definitions of "platform charity" and "charitable fundraising platform" shall be deemed a charitable fundraising platform."
SECTION 4. Section 467B-1.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§467B-1.5 Professional
solicitors[,] and charitable fundraising platforms[, platform
charities]; required disclosures. (a)
Every professional solicitor, charitable fundraising platform, [platform
charity,] and every employee or agent thereof, who solicits contributions
from a prospective donor or contributor in this State shall at the outset of
any oral or written request for a contribution:
(1) Identify themselves by their true surname and first name, and the name of their employer or the contractor as the case may be, that is compensating the individual making the solicitation;
(2) Identify the name of the professional
solicitor[,] or charitable fundraising platform[, or platform
charity] registered with the department that has contracted with the
charitable organization to provide the solicitation services and, if the
individual is employed by a subcontractor, the name of the registered
subcontractor;
(3) Disclose that the person making the
oral or written request for a donation is being paid to make [such] the
solicitation and the name of the charitable organization on whose behalf the
person making the request is soliciting; and
(4) Disclose, orally and in writing, the
fact that a copy of the professional solicitor's[,] or charitable
fundraising platform's[, or platform charity's] registration data and
financial reports are available from the department.
(b) A professional solicitor[, charitable
fundraising platform, or platform charity] who makes an oral solicitation
by telephone, door-to-door, or otherwise, [prior to] before
collecting or attempting to collect any contribution, shall provide a written
confirmation of the expected contribution and clearly disclose that the
contribution is not tax-deductible, if applicable, or, if the professional
solicitor[, charitable fundraising platform, or platform charity]
maintains that the contribution is tax-deductible in whole or in part, the
portion of the contribution that the professional solicitor[, charitable
fundraising platform, or platform charity] maintains is
tax-deductible. The written confirmation
shall also conspicuously disclose the name and current address of the
registered professional solicitor[, charitable fundraising platform, or
platform charity]."
SECTION 5. Section 467B-2.3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§467B-2.3[]] Charitable fundraising platforms[; platform charities]. (a) [Each charitable fundraising platform
shall be subject to the department's supervision for activities regulated by
this section.] Before soliciting,
permitting, or otherwise enabling any solicitations for purported charitable
purposes, a charitable fundraising platform shall register with the department
on a form or in a manner as provided by the department. [Registrations under this section shall be
subject to an annual report and an annual renewal fee imposed by the
department. Fee revenues from this
section shall be deposited into the solicitation of funds for charitable
purposes special fund.
(b) A platform charity shall be subject to the
department's supervision. The platform
charity shall register with the department as a platform charity before
conducting activities regulated by this section.
(c) Each charitable fundraising platform and
platform charity shall file periodic reports with the department on a form
provided by the department. Reports
shall be filed pursuant to section 467B-12.] The registration statement shall contain
the information set forth in subsection (b).
The registration under this section shall be accompanied by a fee in the
amount of $250, or in the amount and with any additional sums as may be
prescribed by the attorney general.
Renewal registration statements shall be filed with the department on or
before July 1 of each calendar year by each charitable fundraising
platform. The renewal statement shall
contain the information set forth in subsection (b). A renewal fee of $250, or in any amount and
with any additional sums as may be prescribed by the attorney general, shall
accompany the renewal statement. If a
renewal registration required under this subsection is not filed, unless it is
shown that the failure is due to reasonable cause, a fine of $20 shall be imposed
for each day during which the violation continues; provided that the total
amount imposed under this subsection shall not exceed $1,000.
(b) Each registration and renewal registration
report shall:
(1) Enable the department to ascertain whether charitable funds have been properly solicited, received, held, controlled, or distributed;
(2) Provide information on the number of donations made, amount raised, length of time for distributing donations or grants of recommended donations, fees charged by or through a charitable fundraising platform or platform charity, and names of recipient charitable organizations or other charitable organizations that were sent or have not yet been sent donations or grants of recommended donations; and
(3) Protect from disclosure any personally identifiable information of donors or other users of the charitable fundraising platform.
[(d) No platform charity shall facilitate acts of
solicitation on a charitable fundraising platform unless the platform charity
is in good standing.
(e)]
(c) A charitable fundraising
platform [or platform charity] shall only solicit, permit, or otherwise
enable solicitations, or receive, control, or distribute funds from donations
for purported charitable purposes for recipient charitable organizations or
other charitable organizations in good standing. To determine good standing of a recipient
charitable organization or other charitable organization, a charitable
fundraising platform [or platform charity] may rely on [electronic
lists periodically published by the Internal Revenue Service, department of
taxation, or department.] the department's registry.
[(f)]
(d) With respect to purported
charitable purposes, a charitable fundraising platform [or platform charity]
that performs, permits, or otherwise enables solicitation activities shall,
before a person can complete a donation or select or change a recipient
charitable organization, provide conspicuous disclosures that reduce the
likelihood of deception, confusion, or misunderstanding, including:
(1) A statement that donations are made to the charitable fundraising platform, platform charity, recipient charitable organization, or person engaging in peer-to-peer charitable fundraising, whichever is applicable;
(2) A
statement that a recipient charitable organization may not receive donations or
grants [or recommended donations], with an explanation identifying the
most pertinent reasons [under which] that a recipient charitable
organization may not receive the funds; provided that the explanation [as to
the maximum length of time] of the most pertinent reasons that a
recipient charitable organization may not receive the funds may be provided
through a conspicuous hyperlink, so long as the disclosure is conspicuous when
the hyperlink is selected; provided further that this paragraph shall not apply
when there are no circumstances under which a recipient charitable organization
may not receive the funds;
(3) The maximum length of time it will take to send the donation or a grant of the recommended donation to a recipient charitable organization with an explanation of the time needed, unless the donation is sent contemporaneously to a recipient charitable organization after the donation is made; provided that the explanation as to the maximum length of time may be provided through a conspicuous hyperlink, so long as the disclosure is conspicuous when the hyperlink is selected;
(4) The
fees or any other amounts that will be deducted from or added to the donation
or a grant of the recommended donation and that are charged or retained by the
charitable fundraising platform, [platform charity,] or any other
partnering vendor, other than any applicable digital payment processing fees;
and
(5) A statement as to the tax deductibility of the
donation.
[(g)]
(e) Each charitable fundraising
platform [or platform charity] that solicits, permits, or otherwise
enables solicitations shall obtain the written consent of a recipient
charitable organization before using the recipient charitable organization's
name in a solicitation for a purported charitable purpose. Written consent shall be provided directly to
the charitable fundraising platform [or platform charity], or may be
provided to a charitable fundraising platform [or platform charity] by
one authorized officer, director, trustee, or other duly authorized
representative of the recipient charitable organization and may apply to
multiple affiliated charitable fundraising platforms expressly identified in
the agreement providing consent.
[(h)]
(f) After a donor contributes
donations and with respect to purported charitable purposes, the charitable
fundraising platform [or platform charity] shall promptly provide a tax
donation receipt to the donor in a [format determined by the department.]
manner provided by section 170(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended.
[(i)]
(g) The charitable fundraising
platform [or platform charity] shall not divert or otherwise misuse any
donations made for purported charitable purposes that the charitable
fundraising platform [or platform charity] receives through solicitation
on the charitable fundraising platform, and shall hold the donations in a
separate account or accounts from other funds belonging to the charitable
fundraising platform [or platform charity]. The charitable fundraising platform [or
platform charity] shall promptly ensure that donations and grants of
recommended donations are sent to the recipient charitable organizations with
an accounting of any fees assessed for processing the funds, and in accordance
with any rules adopted by the department pursuant to chapter 91. A platform charity shall be [vicariously]
liable for [a charitable fundraising platform's] its misuse of
funds[, and vice versa]. A charitable
fundraising platform shall maintain and operate a process for complaints about
any fundraising activity regulated by this chapter and shall investigate and
make findings on complaints, and, at the request of the department, shall
report its findings to the department along with its actions for resolution,
including any full refunds of contributions.
[(j)]
(h) If a charitable fundraising
platform [or platform charity] enters into any contract with a vendor to
solicit, receive, control, process, distribute, and otherwise account for
donations on the charitable fundraising platform, the contract shall be
available for inspection by the department.
(i)
The attorney general may require that registration and renewal
registration and contracts be filed with the department electronically and may
require the use of electronic signatures.
[(k)] (j) As used in this section, "good
standing" means that a platform charity, recipient charitable
organization, or other charitable [organization's tax-exempt status has not
been revoked by the Internal Revenue Service or] organization is not
prohibited from soliciting or operating in the [state] State by
the department."
SECTION 6. Section 467B-2.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§467B-2.5
Professional solicitor[, charitable fundraising platform, and
platform charity] financial reports; contribution account. (a) A
professional solicitor[, charitable
fundraising platform, or platform charity] shall file with
the attorney general a financial report for
any charitable solicitation campaign, including
gross revenue from Hawaii donors and
national gross revenue and an itemization of all expenses
incurred on a form prescribed by the
attorney general no more than ninety days after the end of the solicitation
campaign and, for solicitation campaigns lasting more than one year, within
ninety days after each anniversary of the commencement of the solicitation campaign
and within ninety days after the end of the solicitation campaign.
(b) The attorney general may require
the financial report required by subsection (a) to be submitted electronically and may require the use of electronic signatures. This report shall be signed by the
professional solicitor, [charitable fundraising platform, platform charity,]
or [by] an authorized officer or agent of the professional solicitor[,
charitable fundraising platform, or platform charity] who shall certify
that the statements therein are true and correct to the best of the
solicitor's, officer's, or agent's knowledge subject to penalties imposed by
section 710-1063. If a financial report
required under this section is not filed in a timely manner, taking into
account any extension of time for filing, unless it is shown that the failure
is due to reasonable cause, an initial late filing fee of $100 shall be
imposed, and an additional late filing fee of $20 per day shall be imposed, for
each day during which the violation continues; provided that the total fee
amount imposed under this subsection shall not exceed $1,000. The attorney general may waive all or part of the
late filing fee imposed by this subsection if there is a reasonable cause for
the failure to timely file. The
professional solicitor[, charitable fundraising platform, or
platform charity] shall provide a copy of
the financial report to the charitable organization to which the financial
report pertains within ten days of its
submission of the report to
the attorney general.
(c) A
professional solicitor[, charitable
fundraising platform, or platform charity] shall maintain during each solicitation campaign and for
[not] no less than three
years after the completion of that campaign the following records,
which shall be available for inspection
upon demand by the attorney general:
(1) The date and amount of each contribution received and the name and address of each contributor;
(2) The name and residence of each employee, agent, or other person
involved in the
solicitation;
(3) Records of all revenue
received and expenses incurred in the course of the solicitation campaign; and
(4) The location and
account number of each bank or
other financial institution account in which the professional solicitor[, charitable
fundraising platform, or platform charity] has deposited revenue from the solicitation campaign.
(d)
Any material change in any information filed with the attorney general
pursuant to this section shall be reported in writing by the professional
solicitor[, charitable fundraising platform, or platform charity] to the
attorney general [not] no more than seven days after the change
occurs.
(e)
Each contribution in the control or custody of the professional
solicitor[, charitable fundraising platform, or platform charity] in its
entirety and within five days of its receipt, shall be deposited in an account
at a bank or other federally insured financial institution, which shall be in
the name of the charitable organization.
The charitable organization shall maintain and administer the account
and shall have sole control of all withdrawals."
SECTION 7. Section 467B-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
"(d)
No professional solicitor, charitable fundraising platform, or platform
charity, and no agent, employee, independent contractor, or other person acting
on behalf of the professional solicitor, charitable fundraising platform, or
platform charity, shall solicit in the name of or on behalf of any charitable
organization unless[:] the charitable fundraising platform or
platform charity has obtained written consent pursuant to section 467B-2.3(e)
or:
(1) The
professional solicitor[, charitable fundraising platform, or platform
charity] has obtained the written authorization of two officers of the
organization, which authorization shall bear the signature of the professional
solicitor[, charitable fundraising platform, or platform charity] and
the officers of the charitable organization and shall expressly state on its
face the period for which it is valid, which shall not exceed one year from the
date of issuance, and has filed a copy of the written authorization with the
attorney general prior to the solicitation; and
(2) The
professional solicitor[, charitable fundraising platform, or platform
charity] and any person who, for compensation, acts as an agent, employee,
independent contractor, or otherwise on behalf of the professional solicitor, [charitable
fundraising platform, or platform charity,] carries a copy of the
authorization while conducting solicitations, and exhibits it on request to
persons solicited or police officers or agents of the department."
SECTION 8. Section 467B-12, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§467B-12 Filing requirements for professional
fundraising counsel[,] and professional solicitors[, charitable fundraising platforms, and
platform charities].
(a) Every professional fundraising counsel[,]
or professional solicitor, [charitable fundraising platform, or
platform charity, prior to] before any solicitation, shall register
with the department. The
registration statement shall contain the information set forth in subsection
(e). The registration statement shall be
accompanied by a fee in the amount of $250, or in the amount and with any
additional sums as may be prescribed by the attorney general. Renewal registration statements shall be
filed with the department on or before July 1 of each calendar year by each
professional fundraising counsel[,] or professional solicitor[,
charitable fundraising platform, or platform charity]. The renewal statement shall contain the
information set forth in subsection (e).
A renewal fee of $250, or in any amount and with any additional sums as
may be prescribed by the attorney general, shall accompany the renewal
statement. If a renewal
registration required under this section is not filed, unless it is shown that
the failure is due to reasonable cause, a fine of $20 shall be imposed for each
day during which the violation continues; provided that the total amount
imposed under this subsection shall not exceed $1,000.
(b) Each professional solicitor, [charitable
fundraising platform, or platform charity,] at the time of
each filing, shall file with and have approved by the attorney general a bond
in which the applicant is the principal obligor in the penal sum of $25,000
issued with good and sufficient surety or sureties approved by the attorney
general and which shall remain in effect for one year. The bond shall inure to the benefit of the
State, conditioned that the applicant, its officers, directors, employees,
agents, servants, and independent contractors shall not violate this
chapter. A partnership or corporation
that is a professional solicitor[, charitable fundraising
platform, or platform charity] may file a consolidated bond on
behalf of all its members, officers, and employees.
(c) The attorney general shall examine each
registration statement and supporting document filed by a professional
fundraising counsel[,] or professional solicitor[, charitable
fundraising platform, or platform charity] and shall
determine whether the registration requirements are satisfied. If the attorney general determines that the
registration requirements are not satisfied, the attorney general shall notify
the professional fundraising counsel[,] or professional solicitor[,
charitable fundraising platform, or platform charity]
in writing within fifteen business days of its receipt of the registration
statement; otherwise the registration statement [is] shall be
deemed to be approved. Within seven
business days after receipt of a notification that the registration
requirements are not satisfied, the professional fundraising counsel[,] or
professional solicitor[, charitable fundraising platform, or
platform charity] may request a hearing.
(d) The attorney general may require that
registration and renewal registration, surety bonds, and contracts be filed
with the department electronically and may require the use of electronic
signatures.
(e) Each
registration and renewal registration shall contain:
(1) The names and addresses of all owners,
officers, and directors of a professional fundraising counsel [or charitable
fundraising platform], and the names and addresses of all owners, officers,
and directors of a professional solicitor [or platform charity];
(2) A statement concerning the corporate form of
the registrant, whether corporation, limited liability corporation,
partnership, or individual;
(3) A statement whether the registrant has an
office in Hawaii and the name and phone number of the person in charge of the
office;
(4) The names and addresses of any individuals
supervising any solicitation activity;
(5) A statement whether the [[]registrant[]]
has entered into a consent agreement with, or been disciplined by or subject to
administrative action by, another governmental agency;
(6) A statement whether any officer, director, or
any person with a controlling interest in the registrant has ever been
convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving dishonesty in the solicitation
for a charitable purpose;
(7) The date that the registrant began soliciting
Hawaii residents on behalf of a charitable organization or providing
professional fundraising counsel services; and
(8) Whether any owners, directors, or officers are
related to:
(A) Any other officers, directors, owners, or
employees of the registrant;
(B) Any officer, director, trustee, or employee of
a charitable organization under contract with the registrant; and
(C) Any vendor or supplier providing goods or services to a charitable organization under contract with the registrant."
SECTION 9. Section 467B-12.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (a), (b), and (c) to read as follows:
"(a) There shall be a written
contract between a charitable organization and a professional fundraising
counsel[,] or professional solicitor[, charitable
fundraising platform, or platform charity] that
shall be filed by the professional fundraising counsel[,] or
professional solicitor[, charitable fundraising platform, or
platform charity] with the attorney general
at least ten business days [prior to] before the performance by
the professional fundraising counsel[,] or professional solicitor[,
charitable fundraising platform, or platform charity]
of any service. No solicitation or
service pursuant to the contract shall begin before the contract is filed with
the attorney general. The contract shall
be signed by two authorized officials of the charitable organization, one of
whom shall be a member of the organization's governing body, and the authorized
contracting officer for the professional fundraising counsel[,] or
professional solicitor[, charitable fundraising platform, or
platform charity]. The contract shall contain all of the
following provisions:
(1) The legal name and
address of the charitable organization;
(2) A statement of the
charitable purpose for which the solicitation campaign is being conducted;
(3) A statement of the
respective obligations of the professional fundraising counsel[,] or
professional solicitor[, charitable fundraising platform, or
platform charity] and the charitable
organization;
(4) A statement of the
guaranteed minimum percentage of the gross receipts from contributions that
will be remitted to or retained by the charitable organization, if any, or, if
the solicitation involves the sale of goods, services, or tickets to a
fundraising event, the percentage of the purchase price that will be remitted
to the charitable organization, if any.
The stated percentage shall exclude any amount that the charitable
organization is to pay as fundraising costs;
(5) Information concerning
the compensation of the professional solicitor and professional fundraising
counsel as follows:
(A) If the
compensation of the professional fundraising counsel[,] or
professional solicitor[, charitable fundraising platform, or
platform charity] is contingent upon the
number of contributions or the amount of revenue received, a statement shall be
included specifying the percentage of the gross revenue that is the basis for
that compensation. The stated percentage
shall include any amount that the professional fundraising counsel[,] or
professional solicitor[, charitable fundraising platform, or
platform charity] is to be reimbursed for
fundraising costs;
(B) If the
compensation of the professional solicitor[, charitable
fundraising platform, or platform charity] is not
contingent upon the number of contributions or amount of revenue received from
the solicitation campaign, the compensation shall be expressed as a reasonable
estimate of the percentage of the gross revenue, and the contract shall clearly
disclose the assumptions upon which the estimate is based. The stated assumptions shall be based upon
all of the relevant facts known to the professional solicitor regarding the
solicitation to be conducted by the professional solicitor; or
(C) If the
compensation of the professional fundraising counsel[, charitable
fundraising platform, or platform charity] is not
contingent on the number of contributions or amount of revenue received from
the solicitation campaign, the compensation shall be stated in a dollar amount;
(6) The effective and
termination dates of the contract or, if the contract does not have a set
termination date, a clause allowing either party a reasonable period to
terminate the contract or notify the other party if either party chooses not to
renew. The contract shall also contain
the date services will commence with respect to solicitation in this State of
contributions for a charitable organization;
(7) In the case of a
professional fundraising counsel, [charitable fundraising platform,
or platform charity,] a statement that the
professional fundraising counsel will not at any time have custody or control
of contributions, as applicable;
(8) A statement that the
charitable organization exercises control and approval over the content and
volume of any solicitation; and
(9) Any other information required by the rules of the attorney general.
(b) No professional fundraising counsel[,]
or professional solicitor[, charitable fundraising platform, or
platform charity] shall contract with a charitable organization unless the
professional fundraising counsel[,] or professional solicitor[,
charitable fundraising platform, or platform charity] is registered with
the department. A contract with an
unregistered professional fundraising counsel[,] or professional
solicitor[, charitable fundraising platform, or platform charity] shall
be voidable at the option of the charitable organization.
(c) Whenever a charitable organization
contracts with a professional fundraising counsel[,] or
professional solicitor[, charitable fundraising platform, or platform
charity,] the charitable organization shall have the right to cancel the
contract without cost, penalty, or liability, for a period of ten days
following the date on which that contract is executed. Any provision in the contract that is
intended to waive this right of cancellation shall be void and unenforceable."
SECTION 10. Act 205, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024, is amended by amending section 16 to read as follows:
"SECTION
16. This Act shall take effect on [January]
July 1, 2026."
SECTION 11. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 12. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 13. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000; provided that section 10 shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
Report Title:
AG; Solicitations of Funds from the Public; Donations; Charitable Funding Platforms; Platform Charities; Registration
Description:
Amends Act 205, SLH 2024, to clarify standards and safeguards in online crowdfunding, including creating separate registration, reporting, and fee requirements that are specific to platform charities and charitable fundraising platforms. Extends the effective date of Act 205 to July 1, 2026. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
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