Post by melody on Jun 19, 2013 20:19:08 GMT -5
Senate Community, Economic, and Recreational Development Committee
6/19/13, 3:00 p.m., Senate Rules Committee Conference Room
By Matt Hess, PLS
The committee met to consider five bills.
HB 290 Brooks, Michele - (PN 814) Amends Local Option Small Games of Chance Act by amending the definition of "games of chance" to include selective raffles, coin auctions, a night at the races, Texas Hold'em card tournaments, and vertical wheel games, which are defined. Allows the Department of Revenue to approve small games of chance through regulation with statutory guidelines. The annual report form shall be available in a paper format and the report may be filed by mail. An organization may hold its small games of chance at another organization's licensed premise and each organization may operate games at the same time. Changes the background check requirement from the secretary to the treasurer. Eliminates the need for limited occasion licenses. Clarifies the license process and requirements based on the amount of proceeds an organization receives from small games of chance. Allows club licensees to retain the first $40,000 in small games of chance proceed for their own use and when the $40,000 has been retained by the organization, allows a 70/30 split of proceeds between public interest purposes and general operating expenses. Clarifies that Liquor Control Enforcement does not have enforcement powers over small games of chance violations with organizations that solely have a special occasion permit under the Liquor Code. Makes changes in record keeping requirements and eliminates the requirement that an organization must obtain receipts for all donated items. The bill also adds "poker run" to the list of approved games and requires a club to maintain records for two years. The bill increases the aggregate prize limit from $25,000 to $35,000 in prizes awarded from games of chance by a licensed eligible organization in any seven-day period. The bill requires the department to submit a report every two years, provides a chapter detailing social card games under the Act, and provides for vertical wheel games. (Prior Printer Number: 438, 576, 772) - The bill was reported as amended with Sen. John Gordner (R-Columbia) voting in the negative.
A02372 by Ward, was described as a gut and replace amendment that further provides for omnibus reforms and enhancements to the Small Games of Chance Act with regard to eligible organizations. The amendment was adopted with Sen. Gordner voting in the negative.
A02348 by Fontana, would add small betting pools to approved games under the definition of games of chance. The amendment was adopted with Chairman Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland), Sen. Randy Vulakovich (R-Allegheny) Sen. Mike Waugh (R-York), and Sen. Joseph Scarnati (R-Jefferson) voting in the negative.
Chairman Fontana stated "this amendment merely legalizes an activity that people already assume is legal" and noted that small betting pools are legal in some other states including Vermont.
Chairman Ward urged a negative vote on the amendment. "This needs to go through the process, we got this last night around 9:30 p.m.," she stated.
HB 1098 Payne, John - (PN 1793) Amends Local Option Small Games of Chance Act changing the definition of "Major League Sports Drawing" to "Professional Sports Drawing." Also allows associated charities to conduct 50/50 drawings at home games of major league sports teams. Provides for a definition of "home game." (Prior printer number: 1336, 1720) - The bill was reported as amended with Sen. Gordner voting in the negative.
A02397 by Ward was distributed.
A02392 by White, was described as a gut and replacement amendment to the Small Games of Chance Act that provides for omnibus reforms and enhancements with regard to club licensees and Tavern Games at Pennsylvania taverns. The amendment was adopted with Sen. Gordner voting in the negative.
Sen. Gordner spoke against the legislation. "I don't know why we just don't go ahead and put casino type of licenses out there to every club, tavern, restaurant, etc; that's basically where we're heading with this," he stated. "This greatly expands gambling in our state." He noted that stores such as Weis Markets and Sheetz would able to offer the games and emphasized "we are greatly expanding the capability, the capacity and the number of gaming and gambling facilities out there."
6/19/13, 3:00 p.m., Senate Rules Committee Conference Room
By Matt Hess, PLS
The committee met to consider five bills.
HB 290 Brooks, Michele - (PN 814) Amends Local Option Small Games of Chance Act by amending the definition of "games of chance" to include selective raffles, coin auctions, a night at the races, Texas Hold'em card tournaments, and vertical wheel games, which are defined. Allows the Department of Revenue to approve small games of chance through regulation with statutory guidelines. The annual report form shall be available in a paper format and the report may be filed by mail. An organization may hold its small games of chance at another organization's licensed premise and each organization may operate games at the same time. Changes the background check requirement from the secretary to the treasurer. Eliminates the need for limited occasion licenses. Clarifies the license process and requirements based on the amount of proceeds an organization receives from small games of chance. Allows club licensees to retain the first $40,000 in small games of chance proceed for their own use and when the $40,000 has been retained by the organization, allows a 70/30 split of proceeds between public interest purposes and general operating expenses. Clarifies that Liquor Control Enforcement does not have enforcement powers over small games of chance violations with organizations that solely have a special occasion permit under the Liquor Code. Makes changes in record keeping requirements and eliminates the requirement that an organization must obtain receipts for all donated items. The bill also adds "poker run" to the list of approved games and requires a club to maintain records for two years. The bill increases the aggregate prize limit from $25,000 to $35,000 in prizes awarded from games of chance by a licensed eligible organization in any seven-day period. The bill requires the department to submit a report every two years, provides a chapter detailing social card games under the Act, and provides for vertical wheel games. (Prior Printer Number: 438, 576, 772) - The bill was reported as amended with Sen. John Gordner (R-Columbia) voting in the negative.
A02372 by Ward, was described as a gut and replace amendment that further provides for omnibus reforms and enhancements to the Small Games of Chance Act with regard to eligible organizations. The amendment was adopted with Sen. Gordner voting in the negative.
A02348 by Fontana, would add small betting pools to approved games under the definition of games of chance. The amendment was adopted with Chairman Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland), Sen. Randy Vulakovich (R-Allegheny) Sen. Mike Waugh (R-York), and Sen. Joseph Scarnati (R-Jefferson) voting in the negative.
Chairman Fontana stated "this amendment merely legalizes an activity that people already assume is legal" and noted that small betting pools are legal in some other states including Vermont.
Chairman Ward urged a negative vote on the amendment. "This needs to go through the process, we got this last night around 9:30 p.m.," she stated.
HB 1098 Payne, John - (PN 1793) Amends Local Option Small Games of Chance Act changing the definition of "Major League Sports Drawing" to "Professional Sports Drawing." Also allows associated charities to conduct 50/50 drawings at home games of major league sports teams. Provides for a definition of "home game." (Prior printer number: 1336, 1720) - The bill was reported as amended with Sen. Gordner voting in the negative.
A02397 by Ward was distributed.
A02392 by White, was described as a gut and replacement amendment to the Small Games of Chance Act that provides for omnibus reforms and enhancements with regard to club licensees and Tavern Games at Pennsylvania taverns. The amendment was adopted with Sen. Gordner voting in the negative.
Sen. Gordner spoke against the legislation. "I don't know why we just don't go ahead and put casino type of licenses out there to every club, tavern, restaurant, etc; that's basically where we're heading with this," he stated. "This greatly expands gambling in our state." He noted that stores such as Weis Markets and Sheetz would able to offer the games and emphasized "we are greatly expanding the capability, the capacity and the number of gaming and gambling facilities out there."