CS/CS/HB 629 - Charities

• Excludes charitable organizations subject to final disqualification orders from sales tax exemption eligibility and requires the Department of Revenue to revoke or deny exemption certificates for disqualified organizations.

• Establishes new registration and financial reporting requirements for charitable organizations and professional solicitors, including mandatory conflict of interest policies for boards of directors and supplemental financial disclosures for organizations spending less than 25% on program services.

• Creates individual solicitor licensing requirements for professional solicitors' officers and certain employees conducting telephonic solicitations where personal financial information is requested or provided.

• Increases administrative penalties for violations of the Solicitation of Contributions Act, establishes immediate suspension procedures for registrants charged with certain crimes, and creates a new disqualification order mechanism with a 1-year prohibition on sales tax exemptions.

• Appropriates $179,944 in recurring funds and $235,584 in nonrecurring funds to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, along with 3 full-time equivalent positions, to implement the act effective July 1, 2014.