For the purposes of this Chapter, the following definitions shall apply to the terms used herein:

(1)  “Charitable Organization” means a person who is or holds himself out to be a benevolent, civic, recreational, educational, voluntary, health, law enforcement, social service, philanthropic, fraternal, humane, patriotic, religious, or eleemosynary organization.

(2)  “Contribution” means the promise or grant of any money, property, or services of any kind or value.

(3)  “Person” means any individual, organization, trust, foundation, group, association, partnership, corporation, society, other entity, or any combination of them.

(4)  “Authority” means the state of Louisiana or any agency thereof, or any parish, municipality, political subdivision, or entity established by law for the purpose of operating a public transportation facility.

(5)  “Facility” means any public transportation facility, including, but not limited to, railroad stations, bus stations, ship ports, ferry terminals, roadside welcome stations, highway service plazas, airports served by scheduled passenger service, or highway rest areas.

(6)  “Professional solicitor” means any person who, for financial consideration, solicits contributions for or on behalf of a charitable organization, whether such solicitation is performed personally or through his agents, servants, or employees or through agents engaged in the solicitation of contributions under the direction of such person.  A salaried officer or salaried employee of a charitable organization maintaining a permanent establishment within the state shall not be deemed to be a professional solicitor.  However, any salaried officer or salaried employee of a charitable organization who engages in the solicitation of contributions in any manner for more than one charitable organization, if a fee is charged for services to the organization other than the one that he is employed by, shall be deemed a professional solicitor.  This definition shall not apply to a person who solicits contributions on behalf of a charitable organization on a voluntary basis.  Persons making interstate solicitations from Louisiana or making interstate solicitations into Louisiana for charitable organizations are deemed to be professional solicitors.

(7)  “Department” means the Louisiana Department of Justice.

(8)  “Commercial co-venturer” means any person who for profit regularly and primarily is engaged in trade or commerce other than in soliciting for charitable organizations or charitable purposes and who conducts a charitable sales promotion or advertises that a portion of revenue will be donated to a nonprofit entity.

Added by Acts 1981, No. 849, §1; Acts 1986, No. 906, §1; Acts 1987, No. 274, §1; Acts 1987, No. 784, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1053, §1; Acts 1997, No. 228, §1; Acts 1997, No. 943, §1.