ANNUAL EVENT FEE Present law requires a nonprofit organization seeking to operate an annual event for the benefit of that organization located in this state to submit an annual event application to the secretary of state of state by January 31 each year for the annual event period beginning July 1 of that calendar year and ending June 30 of the subsequent calendar year. Present law further requires that an initial application fee of $50 must be paid at the time of submission of an annual event application. An annual event application must not be accepted by the secretary of state unless accompanied by the initial application fee. However, for the period of July 1, 2023, through January 31, 2024, the initial application fee referenced in this provision is $10 rather than $50. This bill extends the $10 initial application fee for the period of July 1, 2024, through January 31, 2025. Present law requires the secretary of state to collect a reasonable fee for annual event applications. The secretary of state is authorized to establish a fee schedule for annual event applications based on the gross revenue of the annual event. Present law prohibits a fee exceeding $700. Funds collected under this chapter must be used by the secretary of state to defray the cost of operating the division of the department of state administering Tennessee nonprofit gaming law. However, for the period of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, the fee referenced in this provision is $10 rather than the fees established in this provision and by rule promulgated by the secretary of state. This bill extends the $10 annual event application fee for the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.REGISTRATION STATEMENT FEE Present law requires every charitable organization that intends to solicit contributions from or within this state, or have funds solicited on its behalf, to, prior to any solicitation, file a registration statement with the secretary of state, upon forms prescribed by the secretary of state. Except as otherwise provided, the registration forms and any other documents prescribed by the secretary of state must be signed by two authorized officers of the charitable organization, and such forms and documents must be accompanied by an initial registration fee of $50. This bill provides that for the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, the fee referenced in the above provision is $10 rather than $50.REGISTRATION STATEMENT RENEWAL Present law requires the renewal of the registration statement to be made in the same manner as the initial registration. The renewal must be accompanied by a copy of a financial statement on forms approved by the secretary of state. Such report must also specifically identify the amount of funds raised and all costs and expenses incidental thereto, all publicity costs, and costs of allocation or disbursement of funds raised. This report must be signed by at least two authorized officers of the organization, one of whom must be the chief fiscal officer. Such officers must certify that such report is true and correct to the best of their knowledge. Furthermore, present law requires that the annual report of every charitable organization which received in excess of $500,000 in gross revenue during the most recently completed fiscal year must be accompanied by an audited financial statement, presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles which has been examined by an independent certified public accountant for the purpose of expressing an opinion thereon and any and all forms required to be filed by a charitable organization with the United States internal revenue service. This bill changes the present law and requires, instead, that the annual report of every charitable organization which received in excess of $1,000,000 in gross revenue during the most recently completed fiscal year must be accompanied by an audited financial statement, presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles which has been examined by an independent certified public accountant for the purpose of expressing an opinion thereon and any and all forms required to be filed by a charitable organization with the United States internal revenue service. Present law requires the registration renewal statement to be signed by two authorized officers of the charitable organization, one of whom must be the chief fiscal officer, and such forms and documents must be accompanied by a registration renewal fee in accordance with a schedule provided in law that increases based on the organization's gross revenue. However, present law provides that, for the period of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, the registration renewal fee is $10 regardless of the organization's gross revenue. This bill extends the registration renewal fee of $10 for the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, regardless of the organization's gross revenue.LATE FEE Present law requires each charitable organization to file all information required by existing law with the secretary of state within six months of the close of its fiscal year. The last day of the sixth month following the month in which the fiscal year of the organization ends must be the anniversary date of the organization. All registrations expire each year on the anniversary date of the organization. Each annual registration application must be received by the secretary of state on or before the anniversary date. Each charitable organization must be required to supplement its registration application during the registration period as changes occur which affect the documentation required by existing law. The secretary of state may extend the time for filing a renewal application for a period not to exceed 90 days, during which time the previous registration remains in effect. If an organization has been permitted additional time to file an exempt organization return with the internal revenue service, upon submission of proof of such extension, the secretary of state may extend the time for filing a renewal application for an additional period not to exceed 60 days, during which time the previous registration remains in effect. Present law requires that applications received after the expiration of the current registration period must be assessed a late fee of $25 for each month, or portion thereof, that the report is late filed. The late filing fee must accompany every late-filed application. In addition to the late fee, any organization that files a late application is also subject to the imposition of civil penalties. However, present law provides that for the period of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, the fee referenced in this provision is $10 rather than $25. This bill extends the $10 late fee for the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.PROFESSIONAL SOLICITOR REGISTRATION Present law prohibits a person from acting as a professional solicitor for any charitable organization, unless such person has first registered with the secretary of state. Registration must include the filing of a complete application, bond and filing fee. The annual registration fee for every person who is a professional solicitor is $250. However, for the period of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, the annual registration fee is $10 rather than $250. This bill extends the $10 registration fee for the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Applications received after December 31 must be assessed a late fee of $25 for each month, or portion thereof, that the report is late filed. The late filing fee must accompany every late-filed application. In addition to the late fee, any organization which files a late application is also subject to the imposition of civil penalties. However, for the period of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, the late fee is $10 rather than $25. This bill extends the $10 late fee for the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.PROFESSIONAL SOLICITOR FINANCIAL REPORT Present law requires a professional solicitor to file a financial report for a solicitation campaign with the secretary of state within 90 days after a solicitation campaign has been completed or within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year end of any campaign which lasts for more than one year. The financial report must include gross revenue and an itemization of all expenditures from those funds. The report must be completed on a form prescribed by the secretary of state and signed by an authorized official of the professional solicitor and two authorized officials of the charitable organization, who must certify that such report is true and complete to the best of their knowledge. The financial report must be audited by an independent certified public accountant in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards or regulations which may be issued by the secretary of state. If the solicitation campaign which is conducted by a professional solicitor is one conducted nationally or regionally and is not confined only to this state, the financial information required to be filed pursuant to this provision must be inclusive of the national or regional campaign. Each charitable organization must make available to its professional solicitor any necessary fiscal or other records needed to enable the professional solicitor to comply with this provision. Present law requires that financial reports for solicitation campaigns must be assessed a late fee of $25 for each month, or portion thereof, that the report is late filed. The late filing fee must accompany every late-filed campaign report. In addition to the late fee provided for herein, any person who files a late financial report is also subject to the imposition of civil penalties. However, for the period of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, the late fee is $10 rather than $25. This bill extends the $10 late fee for the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025 Present law provides that a professional solicitor who, by contractual agreement with a charitable organization, does not receive donations on behalf of a charitable organization, does not have access to the funds raised and does not make deposits to and does not have signature authority with, or any other authority over, a charitable organization's bank accounts, is not required to file an audited financial statement. In lieu of the audited financial statement, the professional solicitor must be required to file with the secretary of state, on a form approved by the secretary of state, a financial report which provides an itemization of expenses, costs, reimbursements and fees the charitable organization is charged for each solicitation campaign performed. The form must be due within 90 days after the completion of any campaign or within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year of any campaign which lasts longer than one year. The report must be signed by an authorized official of the professional solicitor and two authorized officials of the charitable organization, who must certify that such report is true and complete to the best of their knowledge. This bill adds to the present law by requiring that financial reports must be assessed a late fee of $25 for each month, or portion thereof, that the financial report is late filed. The late filing fee must accompany every late-filed financial report. In addition to the late fee provided for herein, a person who files a late financial report may also be subject to the imposition of civil penalties. However, this bill also provides that for the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, the late fee referenced in this provision is $10 rather than $25.