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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Jennifer Stallings, City Clerk
Alex Voigt, Deputy Chief of Staff
Deb Lang, Assistant Corporation Counsel
DATE: June 1, 2023
SUBJECT:
Proposed Updates to Chapter 25, Article 25-VIII of the Code of Ordinances Relating to Raffles.
PURPOSE:
To conform the language in Chapter 25, Article 25-VII of the Code of Ordinances with current Illinois law.
BACKGROUND:
The City Raffle Ordinance was last updated in 2014. The Illinois Raffles and Poker Runs Act, 230 ILCS 15 has been updated several times since 2014. The current Illinois Raffles and Poker Runs Act expands the type of organizations eligible to conduct Raffles and Poker Runs beyond what is contained in the 2014 version of the ordinance.
DISCUSSION:
Illinois law identifies the following businesses as eligible for raffle licenses; religious, charitable, labor, business, fraternal, educational, veterans', or other bona fide not-for-profit organizations. The current City code does not specifically identify "business" or "other bona fide not-for-profit organizations" as eligible for a raffle license. The current code also does not define these organizations, therefore, the proposed amendment incorporates the definitions of eligible organizations into the code for clarity. The current code does not reference Poker Runs, however, it is important to define Poker Run because staff occasionally receives questions on the subject. Inclusion of the definition and direction in the code for those wishing to conduct a Poker Run will make the process easier for the public. The proposed amendments will also provide clarity as to the ability for additional non-profit fundraising, law enforcement, and fire protection agencies to obtain raffle licenses, in conformity with Illinois law.
The proposed amendments also provide a mechanism for those applicants with a prior felony conviction to appeal the denial of a raffle license based on said conviction(s).
IMPACT STATEMENT:
The propo...
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