§67. Gross receipts tax; disbursements

            A. For the maintenance of the commission, every club licensed and entitled to any of the privileges by virtue of this Chapter shall pay to the commission a tax of five percent of the gross receipts of each contest or exhibition, except amateur contests or exhibitions sanctioned by the commission. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this Section shall be construed to apply to all facilities in the state in which contests or exhibitions are conducted or televised, except amateur contests. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, the total amount to be paid to the commission by any club for any one live contest or exhibition only shall never exceed the sum of fifty thousand dollars.

            B. For the purpose of this Section, the total gross receipts of every individual, corporation, association, or club holding such contests, and upon which said five percentum or maximum amount is to be computed, shall include the gross price chargeable for the sale, lease, or other exploitation, or broadcasting, television, and motion picture rights of such contests, and without any deductions whatsoever for commissions, brokerage, distribution fees, advertising, or any other expenses, charges, and recoupments in respect thereto. Where a contest or exhibition is taking place at another area or place and is being televised to a club or theatre, such club or theatre shall be subject to the provisions of this Chapter, must apply to and be licensed by the commission, and shall pay the tax herein provided on the gross receipts of said paid commissions at said club or theatre.

            C.(1) The taxes provided for by this Section shall constitute a special fund, which shall be disbursed as provided in this Chapter. The commission shall receive the following salaries: the chairman shall receive a salary of ten thousand dollars per annum; the vice chairman shall receive a salary of six thousand four hundred dollars per annum; the secretary shall receive a salary of seven thousand two hundred dollars per annum; the four other members of the commission each shall receive a salary of six thousand dollars per annum, all salaries to be paid from the monies available in the special fund. If the money available in the special fund is insufficient to pay the maximum salaries herein authorized, such salaries shall be reduced proportionately and paid in such amounts as will not exceed the funds available in the special fund.

            (2) All expenses necessary to maintain the office of the commission and to carry on all of its business and affairs are also allowed from the fund. After the proper allocations of the moneys for the next fiscal year, the commission shall remit the remainder of the fund annually on June thirtieth to the general fund of the state.

            (3) Payment of the salaries due under the provisions of this Subsection shall not be made to any member who fails to attend a regular meeting unless excused by the chairman for good cause. The reduction of salary for failure to attend a meeting shall be based on a share of the total salary due for the year divided by the total number of regular meetings in the year.

            (4) Each member of the commission shall receive a per diem, in an amount set by the commission, not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars per day, for attendance at commission meetings or other official commission-approved business or activities, not to exceed ten days in any one month. Each member shall be reimbursed actual expenses reasonably necessary for attending commission or committee meetings or for representing the commission or participating in an official commission-approved activity.

            Acts 1974, No. 553, §1. Amended by Acts 1978, No. 526, §1, eff. July 12, 1978; Acts 1979, No. 752, §1, eff. July 20, 1979; Acts 1982, No. 239, §1; Acts 1988, No. 576, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1988; Acts 2002, No. 3, §1; Acts 2007, No. 90, §1; Acts 2010, No. 316, §1; Acts 2018, No. 356, §1; Acts 2025, No. 290, §1.