(a) Definition. The following word or term, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meaning, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: Detrimental charitable purpose waiver (waiver)--A determination by the Commission authorized under  §2001.451(k) of the Act to exempt a licensed authorized organization  from the requirements of §2001.451 or §2001.457 of the Act because compliance with the requirement(s) of these sections is detrimental to the organization's existing or planned charitable purposes.     
      (b) Detrimental Charitable Purpose Waiver.      
        (1) A licensed authorized organization may submit to the Commission an Application for Waiver to be exempt from the requirements that:                  (A) bingo operations must result in net proceeds over the organization's license period; or                   (B) a licensed authorized organization must disburse the required amount of net proceeds for charitable purposes for a specific calendar quarter.         
        (2) An application for a waiver under subsection (b)(1) must include the following:                  (A) the reason for the request;                   (B) an explanation of how compliance with the requirement is detrimental to the organization's existing or planned charitable purposes;                   (C) the specific calendar quarter or license year for which the waiver is being requested, as applicable; and                   (D) either of the following:                      (i) a credible business plan for the organization's conduct of bingo or the organization's existing or planned charitable activities; or                       (ii) if the request is due to force majeure as defined in §402.453 of this subchapter, documentation from outside sources supporting force majeure. Examples of acceptable documentation include newspaper articles, copies of local ordinance changes, police or fire department reports, notification of road construction, or photographs.           
        (3) A Credible Business Plan may, but is not required to include the following:                  (A) the specific activity or activities the organization intends to undertake as they apply to the reason for the application for waiver, including:                      (i) a timeline for undertaking the activities that is reasonable in light of the requested waiver period;                       (ii) the cost of undertaking the activities and how those costs will be managed;                       (iii) whether the activity or activities may reasonably be expected to increase the revenues of the organization;                     (B) a description of the expenses, if any, that would be avoided or reduced during the period for which the waiver would be applicable; and                   (C) an explanation of how the proposed activity or activities will allow the organization to correct its financial difficulties to ensure the bingo operations result in positive net proceeds.         
      (c) The Commission may request additional information or documentation as needed to consider the application for a waiver.     
      (d) The licensed authorized organization or unit must provide all information or documentation requested by the Commission within 21 calendar days of notice from the Commission. Failure to provide information or documentation requested by the Commission within the time frame indicated may result in disapproval of the application.     
      (e) Criteria for Approval of Waiver Applications. The Commission may consider the following in the approval of waiver applications:      
        (1) the credible business plan or force majeure that necessitates the organization's not meeting the requirements of §2001.451 or §2001.457 of the Act;       
        (2) the amount of net proceeds from licensed authorized organization's or unit's bingo operations during the past two years;       
        (3) the length of time the organization has conducted bingo;       
        (4) the organization's history of compliance during the two-year period prior to the application for the waiver; and       
        (5) other information that is relevant to a decision whether to grant the application.       
      (f) Within 21 calendar days of receipt of the written application for waiver and all required attachments and documentation, the Commission will notify the organization or unit in writing of its decision to approve or disapprove the application for a waiver.     
      (g) A business plan described by subsection (b)(3) shall be presumed credible if:      
        (1) the application is the organization's first application for a waiver of the net proceeds requirement in the three-year period prior to the application, not including waiver requests made due to force majeure; and       
        (2) the application is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the commission to evaluate whether administration of the plan is reasonably within the organization's capabilities.       
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §402.450 adopted to be effective July 5, 2010, 35 TexReg 5819; amended to be effective February 3, 2013, 38 TexReg 371; amended to be effective October 22, 2020, 45 TexReg 7414