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A01695
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
864
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY MUSTIO, D. COSTA, DeLUCA, ORTITAY, SANKEY, WARD,
MILLARD, DEASY AND DOWLING, MARCH 16, 2017
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAMING OVERSIGHT, MARCH 16, 2017
AN ACT
Amending the act of December 19, 1988 (P.L.1262, No.156),
entitled, as amended, "An act providing for the licensing of
eligible organizations to conduct games of chance, for the
licensing of persons to distribute games of chance, for the
registration of manufacturers of games of chance, and for
suspensions and revocations of licenses and permits;
requiring records; providing for local referendum by
electorate; and prescribing penalties," in preliminary
provisions, further providing for legislative intent and for
definitions; in games of chance, further providing for major
league sports drawing and providing for airport 50/50
drawing; and, in enforcement, further providing for
enforcement.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 102 of the act of December 19, 1988
(P.L.1262, No.156), known as the Local Option Small Games of
Chance Act, is amended to read:
Section 102. Legislative intent.
The General Assembly hereby declares that the playing of
games of chance for the purpose of raising funds, by certain
nonprofit associations, for the promotion of charitable or civic
purposes, is in the public interest. In some cases, the proceeds
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from games of chance may be utilized to support certain
operating expenses of certain organizations.
The General Assembly hereby declares that raising public
funds from games of chance in licensed restaurants and
protecting the competitiveness of these restaurants is also in
the public interest.
The General Assembly hereby declares that raising funds from
a 50/50 drawing conducted in airport systems, the net proceeds
of which will be used for charitable purposes, is in the public
interest.
It is hereby declared to be the policy of the General
Assembly that all phases of licensing, operation and regulation
of games of chance be strictly controlled, and that all laws and
regulations with respect thereto as well as all gambling laws
should be strictly construed and rigidly enforced.
The General Assembly recognizes the possibility of
association between commercial gambling and organized crime, and
wishes to prevent participation by organized crime and prevent
the diversion of funds from the purposes herein authorized.
Section 2. Section 103 of the act is amended by adding
definitions to read:
Section 2. The definitions of "affiliated nonprofit
organization," "major league sports drawing" and "major league
sports team" in section 103 of the act are amended and the
section is amended by adding definitions to read:
Section 103. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall,
except as provided under section 902, have the meanings given to
them in this section unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise:
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* * *
"Affiliated nonprofit organization." An organization
established by or affiliated with [a Major League Baseball,
National Hockey League, National Basketball Association or Major
League Soccer team] an athletic team for the purpose of raising
funds for charity, which is qualified for an exemption under
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Public
Law 99-514, 26 U.S.C. ยง 101(c)(3)).
"Airport." A publicly owned commercial service airport that
is designated by the Federal Government as an international
airport.
"Airport 50/50 drawing." A 50/50 drawing that is conducted
by an airport in accordance with section 304.2.
"Athletic event drawing." A 50/50 drawing that is conducted
by an affiliated nonprofit organization in accordance with
section 304.1.
"Athletic team." A sports team or racing facility that is
any of the following:
(1) A member of Major League Baseball, the National
Hockey League, the National Basketball Association, the
National Football League or Major League Soccer.
(2) A professional sports team affiliated with a team
under paragraph (1).
(3) Any other professional sports team that has a sports
facility or an agreement with a sports facility to conduct
home games at the facility.
(4) A stadium, grandstand or bleacher at a closed-course
motor facility where spectators directly observe motor races
with NASCAR, Indy, stock or drag racing cars.
(5) A collegiate team that competes on behalf of an
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institution of higher education.
* * *
"Institution of higher education." Any of the following:
(1) A community college operating under Article XIX-A of
the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the
Public School Code of 1949.
(2) A university within the State System of Higher
Education.
(3) The Pennsylvania State University.
(4) The University of Pittsburgh.
(5) Temple University.
(6) Lincoln University.
(7) Any other institution that is designated as "State
related" by the Commonwealth.
(8) Any accredited private or independent college or
university.
* * *
["Major league sports drawing." A 50/50 drawing conducted by
a nonprofit affiliate of a major league sports team in
accordance with section 304.1.
"Major league sports team." A sports team or racing facility
that is any of the following:
(1) A member of Major League Baseball, the National
Hockey League, the National Basketball Association, the
National Football League or Major League Soccer.
(2) A professional sports team affiliated with a team
under paragraph (1).
(3) Any other professional sports team that has a sports
facility or an agreement with a sports facility to conduct
home games at the facility.
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(4) A stadium, grandstand or bleacher at a closed-course
motor facility where spectators are directly observing motor
races with NASCAR, Indy, stock or drag racing cars.]
* * *
Section 3. Section 304.1 of the act is amended to read:
Section 304.1. [Major league sports] Athletic event drawing.
(a) General rule.--A person may purchase one or more [major
league sports] athletic event drawing tickets at a home game,
and each ticket purchased shall represent one entry in the
drawing for a winner. A single ticket shall be randomly chosen
as the winner after a certain number of tickets are sold or a
specified time period expires as designated by the affiliated
nonprofit organization. Purchase of athletic event drawing
tickets may be made by cash, credit card or debit card.
(b) Frequency.--An affiliated nonprofit organization may
conduct no more than one [major league sports] athletic event
drawing per home game.
(b.1) Sales restricted.--Tickets for [a major league sports]
an athletic event drawing may not be sold in any seating area
designated as a family section.
(b.2) Charitable event.--[A major league sports] An athletic
event drawing may be conducted by the affiliated nonprofit
organization during a charitable event held within the same
arena, stadium, grandstand, bleachers or other facility during a
home game or car race of the [major league sports] athletic
team. Drawings may only be held within spectator areas within
the arena, stadium, grandstand or bleachers where the home game
or car race is being conducted and, except as provided for in
subsection (b.3), not at ancillary areas or facilities,
including parking areas, restaurants and bars or areas outside
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the arena, stadium, grandstand or bleachers or areas where the
sport is shown on remote electronic equipment.
(b.3) Outside sales.--Notwithstanding subsection (b.2),
athletic event drawing tickets may be sold prior to a home game
or car race in an officially designated parking area adjacent to
the arena, stadium, grandstand or bleachers or similar facility
where the home game or car race is being conducted and which is
not separated by a highway or street, unless the highway or
street is adjacent to the arena, stadium, grandstand, bleachers
or similar facility.
(c) Distribution.--The prize amount of [a major league
sports] an athletic event drawing shall be 50% of the total
amount collected from the sale of [major league sports] athletic
event drawing tickets. Except as set forth in subsection (c.1),
the other 50% of the total amount collected from the sale of
[major league sports] athletic event drawing tickets shall be
donated within seven days from the date of the drawing by the
affiliated nonprofit organization conducting the [major league
sports] athletic event drawing to one or more designated
charitable organizations for which the drawing was conducted.
(c.1) Use of funds.--
(1) The affiliated nonprofit organization may utilize
nonprize money collected for the following:
(i) To employ or provide payment to individuals 18
years of age or older to sell [major league sports]
athletic event drawing tickets [at a professional
sporting event].
(ii) For administrative expenses directly related to
the conduct of the athletic event drawing under this
section.
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(2) Authorized expenses under paragraph (1)(ii) may not
exceed 2% of the total amount collected from the sale of
[major league sports] athletic event drawing tickets.
(d) Designated charitable organization.--The affiliated
nonprofit organization conducting the [major league sports]
athletic event drawing shall disclose to all ticket purchasers
the designated charitable organization for which the [major
league sports] athletic event drawing is being conducted.
(e) Eligibility.--In order to receive proceeds from [a major
league sports] an athletic event drawing, a charitable
organization must be in existence and fulfilling its purposes
for at least two years prior to the drawing and shall be
eligible for exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 (Public Law 99-514, 26 U.S.C. ยง 501(c)(3)).
A political subdivision shall not qualify as a charitable
organization under this section.
(f) Unclaimed prizes.--Any [major league sports] athletic
event drawing prize remaining unclaimed by a winner at the end
of the [major league sports] athletic team's season shall be
donated within 30 days from the end of the season by the
affiliated nonprofit organization to the designated charitable
organization for which the [major league sports] athletic event
drawing was conducted.
(g) Applicability.--The limitations under sections 302,
303(b), 308 and 704 shall not apply to [a major league sports]
an athletic event drawing.
(h) Additional recordkeeping.--The department may require
additional recordkeeping or accountability measures for [major
league sports] athletic event drawings.
Section 3 4. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
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Section 304.2. Airport 50/50 drawing.
(a) General rule.--A person may purchase one or more airport
50/50 drawing tickets, and each ticket shall represent one entry
in the drawing for a winner. A single ticket shall be randomly
chosen as the winner after a certain number of tickets are sold
or a specified time period expires, as designated by the
airport. Purchase of airport 50/50 drawing tickets may be made
by cash, credit card or debit card.
(b) Frequency and location.--An airport 50/50 drawing may be
conducted at an airport no more than one time per calendar day.
Drawings may only be held within the spaces of an airport
terminal to which the general public, including ticketed
passengers, regularly has access.
(c) Distribution.--The prize amount of an airport 50/50
drawing shall be 50% of the total amount collected from the sale
of airport 50/50 drawing tickets. The other 50% of the total
amount collected from the sale of airport 50/50 drawing tickets
shall be donated within seven days from the date of the drawing
by the airport to the designated charitable organization for
which the drawing was conducted.
(d) Designated charitable organization.--The identity of the
designated charitable organization for which the airport 50/50
drawing is being conducted shall be disclosed to all ticket
purchasers.
(e) Eligibility.--In order to receive proceeds from an
airport 50/50 drawing, a charitable organization must be in
existence and fulfill its purposes prior to the airport 50/50
drawing and shall be eligible for exemption under section 501(c)
(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Public Law 99-514, 26
U.S.C. ยง 501(c)(3)). A political subdivision shall not qualify
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as a charitable organization under this act, but an organization
formed by a political subdivision that is eligible for exemption
under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
shall qualify as a charitable organization under this act.
(f) Unclaimed prizes.--Any airport 50/50 drawing prize
remaining unclaimed by a winner 180 days after the drawing shall
be donated to the designated charitable organization for which
the airport 50/50 drawing was conducted.
(g) Applicability.--The limitations under sections 302,
303(b), 308 and 704 shall not apply to an airport 50/50 drawing.
(h) Additional recordkeeping.--The department may require
additional recordkeeping or accountability measures for airport
50/50 drawings.
Section 4 5. Section 702(g) of the act is amended to read:
Section 702. Enforcement.
* * *
(g) [General rule] Violations of Liquor Code.--
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a violation of
this act by a club licensee shall not constitute a violation
of the Liquor Code.
(2) If a club licensee has committed three or more
violations of this act, the Bureau of Liquor Control
Enforcement may enforce a violation of this act as a
violation of the Liquor Code.
(3) A violation of this act shall not constitute a
violation of the Liquor Code for the purposes of section
471(c) of the Liquor Code.
(4) A violation of section 304.1 or 304.2 shall not
constitute a violation of the Liquor Code.
Section 5 6. Within two years of the effective date of this
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section, the Department of Revenue shall publish regulations to
implement and administer the provisions of this act.
Section 6 7. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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