Tuesday, May 30, 2006

TownOnline.com - Local News: Bill would exempt small charities from tax on raffle proceeds

TownOnline.com - Local News: Bill would exempt small charities from tax on raffle proceeds: "Bill would exempt small charities from tax on raffle proceeds
Friday, May 26, 2006

State Rep. David P. Linsky, D-Natick, announced this week that that his bill to allow exempt small charities from being taxed on raffle proceeds had received a favorable report from the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Linsky, who is a member of that committee, had filed this bill (House 2414) at the suggestion of his constituent, Natick resident Ron Ordway.
Linsky said that Ordway had suggested the bill after working with charities who dealt with heavy taxes which amounted to financial penalties."

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

· DL-Online ·House bill requires pets to be considered in disaster plans

· DL-Online ·: "House bill requires pets to be considered in disaster plans

Published Tuesday, May 23, 2006
From asap

The next time a disaster like Hurricane Katrina strikes, rescuers may have to take pets in as well as humans.

The Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act from Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., passed the House on Monday. It requires state and local preparedness offices take into account pet owners, household pets and service animals when drawing up evacuation plans. Offices that fail to do so would not qualify for grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency."

Monday, May 15, 2006

Governor signs legislation to regulate professional fundraisers

Governor signs legislation to regulate professional fundraisers: "Governor signs legislation to regulate professional fundraisers

In an effort to protect both charities and the people who donate to them from being swindled, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich has signed legislation that will require stricter reporting requirements for fundraisers. House Bill 4315 was sponsored by State Representative James Brosnahan (D - Oak Lawn) and State Senator John Millner (R - St. Charles).

'When people donate to a charity, they should feel confident that their contribution will reach people who need help,' said Blagojevich. 'This new law will make sure that neither charities nor donors are being ripped off.'

Specifically, the new law will expand the definition of 'professional fundraiser' to include the middlemen who receive or collect donations, such as the salvaging business, in addition to those who solicit those donations, the only group that was previously regulated. The donation of cars, boats, or motorcycles would require stringent registration and reporting requirements, and the sale of any vehicle would require a statement to be filed with the Attorney General. That statement would have to include the vehicle identification number, fees collected for and the resale value of the vehicle, and the identities of all the people involved."

Friday, May 12, 2006

Charity Provisions Dropped From Tax Bill :: PNNOnline ::

Charity Provisions Dropped From Tax Bill :: PNNOnline ::: "Charity Provisions Dropped From Tax Bill
Posted by: PNNOnline on Friday, May 12, 2006
Topic General Fundraising


Provisions designed to encourage charitable giving and improve nonprofit accountability and transparency have been dropped from the $69 billion tax reconciliation bill approved by House and Senate Republicans, the New York Times reports.


Had they been adopted, the proposals would have increased excise taxes on foundations, prohibited charitable deductions for contributions to donor-advised funds held by Type III supporting organizations, penalized participation in tax shelters, and prohibited donor-advised funds and supporting organizations from making payments and distributions to donors and related parties, while encouraging charitable giving via tax-free distributions from IRAs, a charitable deduction for non-itemizers, and tax incentives for donations of property for conservation purposes. The Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation has estimated that the charitable giving provisions would result in a $528 million reduction in government revenues from 2006 through 2010."

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Chron.com | House Nominates Nelson for Medal

Chron.com | House Nominates Nelson for Medal: "ASHINGTON — The U.S. House has voted to award former golf star Byron Nelson a Congressional Gold Medal. The medal is intended to honor the 94-year-old Nelson for his philanthropy, said Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Flower Mound, who sponsored the bill approved by a voice vote Tuesday.

'Through his outstanding accomplishments as a golfer and a humanitarian, Byron Nelson has proved to be an exemplary citizen,' Burgess said in a statement."

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

cbs2chicago.com - Law Signed To Prevent Good Gifts From Going Bad(IL)

cbs2chicago.com - Law Signed To Prevent Good Gifts From Going Bad: "Law Signed To Prevent Good Gifts From Going Bad


Dave Savini
Reporting


(CBS) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. In response to a CBS 2 Investigation, Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed legislation Tuesday requiring stricter requirements for reporting by fundraising organizations.

'It’s not only deplorable, it’s despicable,” Gov. Blagojevich said.

The legislation came as a result of 2 Investigator Dave Savini’s series on car donation agencies, in which a salvaging business donated cars on behalf of charities, but kept the vehicles or the profits from the sale. The agency was run by a convicted felon.

“Your program raised an issue that I think most people were unaware of,' Blagojevich said."

Monday, May 08, 2006

Limits urged on political charities - The Boston Globe

Limits urged on political charities - The Boston Globe: "Limits urged on political charities
Watchdogs target funds legislators helped create

By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff | May 7, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Charities are playing an increasingly significant role as a source of politically connected money, as groups aligned with leading politicians collect tax-deductible money from special interests and then distribute it to various causes, according to watchdog groups."

Bill would ease wagering limits for poker events in Maine

Bill would ease wagering limits for poker events in Maine: "Proposed changes in Maine's gaming laws could yield big returns for charities, nonprofit groups and the state without many of the perceived drawbacks of casino gambling, say proponents."

Friday, May 05, 2006

Benefits of Estate Tax Overstated, Report Finds :: PNNOnline ::

Benefits of Estate Tax Overstated, Report Finds :: PNNOnline ::: "Benefits of Estate Tax Overstated, Report Finds
Posted by: PNNOnline on Friday, May 5, 2006
Topic Public Works and Advocacy


Benefits of the estate tax are frequently overstated and are far smaller than its documented costs, a new report from the House of Representatives' Joint Economic Committee finds."

New laws affect nonprofits - By JONDI GUMZ - Sentinel staff writer - May 5, 2006

New laws affect nonprofits - By JONDI GUMZ - Sentinel staff writer - May 5, 2006: "New laws affect nonprofits
By JONDI GUMZ
Sentinel staff writer

SANTA CRUZ — Nonprofits must take care to comply with new laws that prohibit 'Monte Carlo' nights, require fund appeals to report the number of members and mandate disclosure of relationships among key employees, board members and other organizations.

The new laws — some state, some federal — are one reason the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County co-sponsored a daylong conference for nonprofits Thursday at the Cocoanut Grove. Lance Linares, the foundation's executive director, said the goal is to give nonprofits the tools they need so they can provide the fiduciary oversight their donors expect."

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Northwest Indiana News: nwitimes.com-Appeals court hears telemarketing arguments

Northwest Indiana News: nwitimes.com: "Indiana is fighting to protect its residents from intrusive telemarketers, but some nonprofit organizations say the state's Telephone Privacy Act is unfair and continued to make their case in court Wednesday."

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Madigan to negotiate terms of charity care bill — to a point | Crain's Chicago Business

Madigan to negotiate terms of charity care bill — to a point | Crain's Chicago Business: "Madigan to negotiate terms of charity care bill — to a point

Attorney General Lisa Madigan will soon begin talks on her controversial charity care proposal with the state’s hospital lobby.

While she’s willing to negotiate some of the terms of the plan, she insists any new legislation will have set standards that must be met by Illinois’s tax-exempt hospitals."

TheStar.com - Shares given to charity cost less (Canadian News)

TheStar.com - Shares given to charity cost less: "Shares given to charity cost less
May 3, 2006. 07:25 AM
ELLEN ROSEMAN

The Conservatives made a last-minute election promise to alter capital gains tax on securities.

That measure is on hold for now, but the budget gave a big break to taxpayers who donate publicly traded stocks to charity."