Pro Tem advances charity enforcement bill to strengthen donor protections

Pro Tem told the committee that Senate Bill 15-34 is a charity enforcement act designed "to strengthen protections for donor intent, to help guard against misuse and abuse of funds," and to promote responsible governance by charitable leaders.

The measure, the sponsor said, was drafted in cooperation with the attorney general’s office and seeks to close loopholes that have made enforcement against bad actors difficult. "Some of the things that I, you know, more broad examples, is misuse of funds where the funds are not being used in the way that the donors are intending," the sponsor told the committee when asked for examples.

Representative Blansett said she had consulted with the attorney general’s office and asked the sponsor for a concrete scenario showing how the bill would stop abuse; the sponsor said he did not have a specific case on hand but that the legislation would make enforcement more feasible. There were no further substantive questions.

The committee moved and seconded the bill and recorded a vote; the clerk announced the tally as 11 ayes, 0 nays and declared SB 15-34 passed out of committee.

The committee did not attach amendments on the floor. The next procedural step is that the bill moves from committee to the chamber calendar for further consideration.