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PUBLIC LAW 85-87-JULY 10, 1957
[71
ST A T.
Public Law 85-87 July 10, 195 7 [H. R. 3400]
District of Columbia Charitable Solicitation Act. Definitions.
Powers,
AN ACT To provide full and fair disclosure of the character of charitable, benevolent, patriotic, or other solicitations in the District of Columbia; and for other purposes.
Be it enacted iy the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "District of Columbia Charitable Solicitation Act. SEC. 2. As used in this Act— (a) The term "Commissioners" means the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, sitting as a board, or any agent or agency designated by them to perform any function vested in the Commissioners by this Act. (b) The term "registrant" means the holder of a valid certificate of registration duly issued under the terms of this Act. (c)' "Solicit" and "solicitation" mean the request directly or indirectly for any contribution on the plea or representation that such contribution will or may be used for any charitable purpose, and also mean and include any of the following methods of securing contributions: (1) Oral or written request; (2) The distribution, circulation, mailing, posting, or publishing of any handbill, written advertisement, or publication; (3) The making of any announcement to the press, over the radio, by television, by telephone, or telegraph concerning an appeal, assemblage, athletic or sports event, bazaar, benefit, campaign, contest, dance, drive, entertainment, exhibition, exposition, party, performance, picnic, sale, or social gathering, which the public is requested to patronize or to which the public is requested to make a contribution; (4) The sale of, offer, or attempt to sell, any advertisement, advertising space, book, card, magazine, merchandise, subscription, ticket of admission, or any other thing, or where the name of any charitable person is used or referred to in any such appeal as an inducement or reason for making any such sale, or when or where in connection with any such sale, any statement is made that the whole or any part of the proceeds from any such sale will go or be donated to any charitable purpose. A "solicitation" as defined herein shall be deemed completed when made, whether or not the person making the same receives any contribution or makes any such sale. (d) "Charitable" means and includes philanthropic, social service, patriotic, welfare, benevolent, or educational (except religious education), either actual or purported. (e) "Contribution" means and includes alms, food, clothing, money, subscription, credit, property, financial assistance, or donations under the guise of a loan of money or property. (f) "Person" means any individual, firm, copartnership, corporation, company, association, or joint stock association, church, religious sect, religious denomination, society, organization, or league, and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee, agent, or other similar representative thereof. SEC. 3. (a) The Commissioners are authorized and empowered— (1) to administer and enforce the provisions of this Act; (2) to investigate the allegations of any application for a certificate of registration;
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