[PRESS RELEASE #65] Business Licensing Bureau - Non-profit Organizations and License Changes

[State Government]

24 November, 2023
San Andreas State Government

Introduction

Citizens of San Andreas,

The Business Licensing Bureau, and the San Andreas State Government, as a whole, are pleased to announce the introduction of accommodations in business licensing processes for Non-profit Organizations. The work on Non-profit Organizations was originally proposed by previous Public Relations Director Solomon Cobb, and has been a project that has culminated in the joint efforts of many individuals.

In line with our commitment to continually review our services, amendments have been made to the GRBL:02 - Firearms Retailer license and GRBL:08 - Marine Fuel Retailer license. These amendments stem from a desire to bring them in line with recent Law Review Committee Changes regarding firearms, and to make marine fuel a more sustainable industry.

Non-profit Organizations

The Business Licensing Bureau recognizes that San Andreas is currently home to several businesses that provide non-profit services to the state, and that the work that they do, benefits many of the citizens who live here. The San Andreas State Government hopes to continue to bolster these unique business avenues and believes that adding provisions to our business licensing processes to accommodate them is a great step in furthering the work that they are already doing.

What Is A Non-profit Organization?

A non-profit organization (NPO), also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, and sometimes a charity, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit. This is in contrast to entities that operate as businesses aiming to generate profit for their owners. Examples of non-profits can include, but are not limited to:

• Churches
• Schools
• Political Organizations
• Social/Community hubs (e.g. community centre)
• Business associations (Areas for business networking and guidance)

The main aspects of non-profits are accountability, trustworthiness, honesty, and openness to every person who has invested time, money, and faith into the organization. They are accountable to the donors, founders, volunteers, program recipients, and the public community. Non-profit Organizations do not always have to make a loss, but instead the goal of non-profits should be seen as to not specifically to maximize profits, and instead to operate as a fiscally responsible business.


How Do Non-profit Organizations Work?

Non-profit Organizations can be registered in the same manner as other businesses, but specified by checking the "non-profit organization" box on our business registration form. Once the business registration has been approved, Non-profit Organizations will not have to apply for business licences in order to help limit the financial burden of running the company, so that more of their capital can be reinvested into projects that help the state.

Non-profit Organizations, instead, must keep a record, and submit a Donation Declaration Form on their business registration each time a donation is made. Individuals may instead opt to share a private document with the Business Licencing Bureau, which they update regularly instead, if they would prefer. This declaration is important to ensure the non-profit is acting as declared, as well as giving transparency in the donations themselves.

I am delighted to have continued the work on Non-profit Organizations and brought it to fruition, and I am even more privileged to be able to share these accommodations with the state. The Business Licensing Bureau continually works to ensure the private and voluntary sector of San Andreas is as robust as it can be, and I firmly believe this is a huge step forward for our state.

The work that various Non-profit Organizations do throughout the state is integral to us, and giving them the ability to continue to do that work was important to us as we finalized this initiative. We hope that the concession in business licensing fees and registrations, helps provide extra breathing room to these organizations so that they can then in turn feed even more back into the great state of San Andreas.

Firearms Retailer and Marine Fuel Retailer Licencing Amendments

The Business Licensing Bureau has worked with Marine Fuel Retailers across the state to review the impact the licence has had on business. As a result of these talks the GRBL:08 - Marine Fuel Retailer licence has been modified with the monthly cost reduced. This has been done to help elevate the financial strain these business face, while also ensuring that marine fuel remains affordable across the state.

The business licence of GRBL:02 - Firearms Retailer has been amended after recent legislation changes by the Law Review Committee. These changes ensure that only appropriate weapon attachments may be sold by firearm retailers, further strengthening the changes by the LRC by ensuring no business licence loopholes exist.

GRBL:02 - Firearms Retailer
Any business selling firearms, weapon attachments, ammunition or heavy-duty melee weapons must obtain a Firearms Retailer license.

• License Fee:
  * There is a monthly cost of $40,000 for this license.
  
  Restrictions & Requirements:
  * Ownership of a Firearms Store.
  * All staff must possess a valid firearms license at all times.
  * Must be actively trading under The San Andreas State Government.
  * Only attachments that are approved for import to gun stores are permitted to be sold.
  
  Violations:
  * Failure to inform Law Enforcement of bulk firearm purchases is considered a moderate breach of licensing conditions.
  * 3 repeated minor offences are considered a moderate breach of licensing conditions.
  * Selling weapons to a firearm-licensed individual who has expressed intent to use the weapon unlawfully is considered a major breach of licensing conditions along with a property removal and a business termination.
  * Selling unregistered weapons is considered a major breach of licensing conditions along with a property removal and a business termination.
  * Selling illegally imported weapon attachments is considered a major breach of licensing conditions along with a property removal and a business termination.
  * Selling firearms to individuals without a firearm license is considered a major breach of licensing conditions along with a property removal and a business termination.
  * 5 repeated minor offences or 3 moderate offences are considered a major breach of licensing conditions along with a property removal and a business termination.

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• 
  Herrman Wolff,
  Interim Deputy Director| Public Relations Bureau
  San Andreas State Government
  ✉[email protected]
  
  
  Marc Ericcson,
  Director | Business Licensing Bureau
  San Andreas State Government
  ✉[email protected]