A. Any qualified organization described in subdivision 4 or 5 of the definition of “organization” in § 18.2-340.16 may obtain a temporary permit from the Department allowing such organization to sell instant bingo, pull tabs, or seal cards upon premises located anywhere in the Commonwealth during a convention, conference, or related event lasting no more than seven consecutive days held by such organization’s affiliated state, regional, or national organization up to once per quarter as designated in the permit.
B. All complete applications for a permit shall be acted upon by the Department within 45 days from the filing thereof. Upon compliance by the applicant with the provisions of this article, and at the discretion of the Department, a temporary permit may be issued. All temporary permits when issued shall be valid for the period specified in the permit unless it is sooner suspended or revoked. No permit shall be valid for longer than one year. The application shall be a matter of public record. All temporary permits shall be subject to regulation by the Department to ensure the public safety and welfare in the operation of charitable games. The temporary permit shall only be granted after a reasonable investigation has been conducted by the Department. The Department may require any prospective employee, permit holder, or applicant to submit to fingerprinting and to provide personal descriptive information to be forwarded along with the employee’s, permit holder’s, or applicant’s fingerprints through the Central Criminal Records Exchange to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purposes of obtaining criminal history record information regarding such prospective employee, permit holder, or applicant. The Central Criminal Records Exchange upon receipt of a prospective employee, permit holder, or applicant record or notification that no record exists shall forward the report to the Commissioner of the Department or his designee, who shall belong to a governmental entity. However, nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require the routine fingerprinting of volunteer bingo workers.
C. In no case shall an organization receive more than one temporary permit allowing it to conduct charitable gaming; however, an organization may also receive a permit in accordance with the provisions of § 18.2-340.25.
D. Application for a temporary permit shall be made on forms prescribed by the Department and shall be accompanied by payment of the fee for processing the application.
E. Applications for renewal of temporary permits shall be made in accordance with Department regulations. If a complete renewal application is received 45 days or more prior to the expiration of the temporary permit, the temporary permit shall continue to be effective until such time as the Department has taken final action. Otherwise, the temporary permit shall expire at the end of its term.
F. The failure to meet any of the requirements of § 18.2-340.24 shall cause the automatic denial of the temporary permit, and no organization shall conduct any charitable gaming in accordance with the provisions of subsection A until such requirements are met and a temporary permit is obtained.