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Post by galthatfishes on Oct 1, 2012 6:56:32 GMT -5
Gary with the PFSC and I (QDMA) are heading to the capitol for morning and next couple of days. Its a busy session
On the table this week is:
Small games of chance - we need less stringent ways for conservation orgs to make money. We all go to these events knowing we are basically "giving" the org money to operate; and we may have a chance at winning something. So, lets get the regs simplified and make that a reality.
Assulting a WCO- running at 10 this morning out of appropriations committee, I have confidence that this bill will move- FINALLY. Brings assult of a WCO up to the same level as all other LEO's. Still needs letters of support tho.
Leashed Tracking Dogs- We think we have the votes to make this move, but still need a lot of support. Its not hunting with dogs, or dogs killing big game, but rather a tool we can use if we know we have fatally wounded a deer to help us recover our game; boosting the hunter ethics record. See the word leashed? They are on a LEASH. Thats why that word is there. Its been 12 years in the making and this is the closest we have gotten. Please voice your support.
IRRC bill for Game- Tomorrow morning, State Government Committee meets to vote on this. The IRRC process is a lengthy one; and it could backfire on the legislature, and end hunting seasons for a year if the review doesn't move quickly. Typical is 6 months to 2 years. QDMA and PFSC do NOT support this bill.
rumored to be on the calendar is a similar IRRC bill for Fish and Boat. Same opinion. NO.
Please please take a moment to write and express your opinions. They help!
I'll try to post results from the capitol. Charging the iphone now.
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Post by galthatfishes on Oct 1, 2012 6:59:42 GMT -5
TWO more- the public lands bill that would allow the selling of public lands (Cutler) that are now open to hunting and fishing. This is not game lands, but county and other land.
It would take it out of orphan court hands and leave it up tp local municipalities, and be a net loss for hunters and other recreationalists.
HB 2224 is in the Senate and has cleared all house votes.
HB 2293 Amends poaching bill- in Senate Approps. This may be the assult WCO bill. Didnt have time to read and it just came into my alert.
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Post by galthatfishes on Oct 1, 2012 8:01:19 GMT -5
2293 is the fish poaching bill.
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Post by galthatfishes on Oct 1, 2012 8:17:15 GMT -5
20 plus page amendment offered on small games of chance
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Post by dennyf on Oct 1, 2012 11:22:41 GMT -5
Friday night's PFSC convention "entertainment" was a power point by one of the LCB/PSP agents who enforces the SGC regs in PA. Interesting and informative, but also illustrated many of the quirky glitches inherent within current law.
Sat. night we had Rep. Barbin speak, mostly on the upcoming changes proposed to this law, due to numerous complaints from orgs like sportsmen's clubs, volunteer Fire Companies, VFW and American Legion posts, etc.
Having dealt with the changes to the Small Games of Chance legislation over the past year, I can personally attest to the urgent need for review!!!
Much of the "new" law appears to have been punitive, rather than helpful and that needs addressed ASAP.
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Post by galthatfishes on Oct 1, 2012 17:30:36 GMT -5
Well, I almost hope tomorrow's bill runs and they put both under IRRC. When a season is cancelled due to lack of action THEN they will see we were correct about how bad the bill is.
Wanna tick off hunters, let IRRC go through and you'll do it- and wish ya never had.
Back to the grind there at 9 again.
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Post by galthatfishes on Oct 1, 2012 17:32:03 GMT -5
Assult WCO passed with MJ White voting against. Fish poaching also passed- both out of Senate Approps.
Small victories; but progress in the right direction.
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Post by galthatfishes on Oct 1, 2012 18:34:58 GMT -5
Small games of chance isn't quite fixed but its on the move too. They will work on it for the THIRD time next year.
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Post by melody on Oct 1, 2012 19:26:20 GMT -5
Here's the report from the committee meeting on small games of chance. Please do not forward or post this information on any other site. But it shows just how little most of these folks have on the seriousness of the problems we have with the current law.
Senate Rules and Executive Nominations Committee
1:15 p.m., 10/1/12, Rules Committee Conference Room
By Matt Hess, PLS
The committee met to consider two bills and certain nominations.
SB 444 Earll, Jane - (PN 2302) Amends the Local Option Small Games of Chance Act adding definitions for "50/50 drawing," "coin auction," "selective raffle," and "vertical wheel game," and amending the definition of "games of chance"; providing for relationship to table games; further providing for games of chance permitted; defining and providing for one 50/50 raffle at each Major League Baseball, National Hockey League or National Basketball Association home game; and further providing for regulations, for licensing of eligible organizations to conduct games of chance and for distribution of proceeds. (Prior Printer Number: 625, 1737, 1856, 2290) - The bill was unanimously reported as amended.
A13487 by Pileggi, eliminates the annual reporting requirement to Department of Revenue for clubs with annual proceeds from small games of change of $2,500 or less; and eliminates the background check requirements for clubs with annual proceeds from small games of chance of $2,500 or less. The amendment was unanimously adopted.
Chairman Pileggi noted that the committee rules state that all amendments must be available one hour before the meeting. Chairman Costa thanked Chairman Pileggi for agreeing to consider the amendments.
A13479 by Solobay, removes the LCE as the enforcement agent of the Small Games Act and puts it in the hands of the local district attorneys. The amendment failed with Democratic members voting in the affirmative. (This would definitely be a step in the right direction.)
Sen. Earll urged a negative vote on all the amendments. "We haven't even let the reforms that we already enacted take place and let the dust settle; it's far too early to start tinkering with issues we had out and out, knockout drag out fights about," she stated. "I think it's unwise to consider these amendments."
Sen. Joseph Scarnati (R-Jefferson) agreed with Sen. Earll. "There's plenty of discussion about what's good and what's bad, what's working and what's not working but to do it in a vacuum like this, I'm very uncomfortable," he stated. "With a commitment to working together in a new session, we'll take a look at what's working and what's not working."
Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton) spoke in favor of the amendments. "There needs to be one or two changes we need to do now because some of these clubs are having a very difficult time," she stated.
Sen. Alloway said many clubs are being misinformed about the current law but "to have all these amendments sprung on us right now; I don't know what these things say, what these clubs want." (The truth is, many legislators are being misinformed on what the current law does or doesn't do.)
Chairman Pileggi said, "There may be an opportunity to revisit the statute but it shouldn't be done at the 11th hour of the close of session, at a Rules committee meeting, at just printed amendments."
A13531 by Solobay was withdrawn.
A13478 by Solobay was withdrawn.
A13479 by Solobay was withdrawn.
A13477 by Solobay was withdrawn.
A13468 by Kasunic, changes the limit on reporting requirements to eligible organizations to $100,000 a year. The amendment failed with Republican members voting in the negative.
Sen. Richard Kasunic (D-Fayette) said many of his constituents have approached him about problems with the Small Games of Chance Law, specifically volunteer fire departments. "They spend more time fundraising than fighting fires; many told me that if they have to go through all this and have more reporting requirements they're going to give up and some have talked about closing their doors,
Sen. Scarnati echoed his comments earlier and acknowledged that some changes to the law should be made but "doing it in this setting is very difficult."
A13486 by Kasunic was withdrawn.
A13497 by Kasunic was withdrawn.
A13471 by Kasunic was withdrawn.
A13473 by Kasunic was withdrawn.
A13474 by Kasunic was withdrawn.
Sen. Kasunic explained that he would have liked to offer amendments which would make a variety of changes in the areas of selling of raffle tickets, and the 70/30 split. "This isn't going to go away, we're going to hear a lot about it and it's not going to be good," he opined.
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Post by dennyf on Oct 2, 2012 9:10:50 GMT -5
Darn right they're going to continue to hear about it, because many of the restrictions were poorly thought-out and many are just plain idiotic. What started out as an attempt to raise prize limits and ease restrictions on nonprofits, ended up becoming yet another un-navigable maze of double talk and foolishness, which unduly hinders and punishes the very orgs this bill was intended to help. Coupled with some recent bits of proposed legislation and the failure to move other, good legislation, I am now convinced that we are being represented by idiots and charlatans on Capitol Hill. They all need to go, in my opinion. Surely we can find better people to conduct the business of Pennsylvanians, than what we have now?  |
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Post by melody on Oct 2, 2012 11:06:58 GMT -5
During Gary and Kathy's rounds yesterday, one legilslator told them point blank that the LCB was not enforcing this using the true "intent" of the law, but basically how they want it enforced, regardless what was truly intended.
And guess who was responsible for this vague language that allows them to decide how it's enforced?
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Post by galthatfishes on Oct 2, 2012 14:38:58 GMT -5
And they told us today point blank that they have NO BUSINESS enforcing the regs on orgs like PFSC, QDMA, at banquets because WE don't hold liquor licenses.
We are part of the 100%; meaning we get to keep 100% of the money from our events because in simple terms, we are our own charity.
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Post by Dutch on Oct 2, 2012 14:52:13 GMT -5
Many villages are missing many idiots....
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Post by melody on Oct 2, 2012 15:01:13 GMT -5
So who do we listen to? The legislature who's telling us what their "intent" was....or the LCB LE officers who are enforcing the law using their own definition of the laws intent? The biggest confusion is over the term "public interest." The intent of the legislature was to allow us to use it for all operational expenses and overhead, like staff salaries and the electric bill. However thw LCB LE is tellling us that we can only use 100% of the money for programs, outreach and services. And not for operational expenses. |
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Post by galthatfishes on Oct 2, 2012 15:17:48 GMT -5
I'm with ya Mel. I don't have an answer. Its NOT spelled out, and needs to be.
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Post by galthatfishes on Oct 2, 2012 18:27:02 GMT -5
I believe 444 ran today for concurrence vote.
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Post by melody on Oct 2, 2012 20:38:40 GMT -5
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Post by dennyf on Oct 2, 2012 22:27:09 GMT -5
If "you" craft a bill that clearly defines what can and can't be done and enact it into law, then LE has no choice but to enforce it that way. There should be no "wiggle room" for interpretation, because under our system, LE is not entitled to interpret law, without direction.
Legislative bodies enact laws; LE enforces them as-written; The courts interpret them, when called upon to do so.
The current SGC laws are not clearly written, or we wouldn't be having problems with their enforcement. And THAT, falls back on those who crafted these laws. And it's a p-poor job they've done, which is not a particularly rare event these days.
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Post by melody on Oct 3, 2012 11:42:07 GMT -5
SB 444 Earll, Jane (R) Amends Local Option Small Games of Chance Act further providing for def., games permitted, major league sports drawings; registration; regs.; applicability; distribution of proceeds and enforcement.
10- 3-12 Voted favorably from committee on House Rules
It is not listed on today's marked calendar for a final vote on concurrance, but it is listed on the supplemental calendar, so it could still be voted on today.
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