PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1800, 2125               PRINTER'S NO. 2443

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 1476 Session of 1983


        INTRODUCED BY CLARK, SEPTEMBER 26, 1983

        AS RE-REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF
           REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JANUARY 31, 1984

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending the act of December 31, 1965 (P.L.1257, No.511),
     2     entitled "An act empowering cities of the second class,
     3     cities of the second class A, cities of the third class,
     4     boroughs, towns, townships of the first class, townships of
     5     the second class, school districts of the second class,
     6     school districts of the third class and school districts of
     7     the fourth class including independent school districts, to
     8     levy, assess, collect or to provide for the levying,
     9     assessment and collection of certain taxes subject to maximum
    10     limitations for general revenue purposes; authorizing the
    11     establishment of bureaus and the appointment and compensation
    12     of officers, agencies and employes to assess and collect such
    13     taxes; providing for joint collection of certain taxes,
    14     prescribing certain definitions and other provisions for
    15     taxes levied and assessed upon earned income, providing for
    16     annual audits and for collection of delinquent taxes, and
    17     permitting and requiring penalties to be imposed and
    18     enforced, including penalties for disclosure of confidential
    19     information, providing an appeal from the ordinance or
    20     resolution levying such taxes to the court of quarter
    21     sessions and to the Supreme Court and Superior Court,"
    22     prohibiting the levying of tax on amusement devices.

    23     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    24  hereby enacts as follows:
    25     Section 1.  Section 2 of the act of December 31, 1965
    26  (P.L.1257, No.511), known as The Local Tax Enabling Act, is
    27  amended by adding a clause to read:

     1     Section 2.  Delegation of Taxing Powers and Restrictions
     2  Thereon.--The duly constituted authorities of the following
     3  political subdivisions, cities of the second class, cities of
     4  the second class A, cities of the third class, boroughs, towns,
     5  townships of the first class, townships of the second class,
     6  school districts of the second class, school districts of the
     7  third class, and school districts of the fourth class, in all
     8  cases including independent school districts, may, in their
     9  discretion, by ordinance or resolution, for general revenue
    10  purposes, levy, assess and collect or provide for the levying,
    11  assessment and collection of such taxes as they shall determine
    12  on persons, transactions, occupations, privileges, subjects and
    13  personal property within the limits of such political
    14  subdivisions, and upon the transfer of real property, or of any
    15  interest in real property, situate within the political
    16  subdivision levying and assessing the tax, regardless of where
    17  the instruments making the transfers are made, executed or
    18  delivered or where the actual settlements on such transfer take
    19  place. The taxing authority may provide that the transferee
    20  shall remain liable for any unpaid realty transfer taxes imposed
    21  by virtue of this act. Each local taxing authority may, by
    22  ordinance or resolution, exempt any person whose total income
    23  from all sources is less than five thousand dollars ($5,000) per
    24  annum from the per capita or similar head tax, occupation tax
    25  and occupational privilege tax, or earned income tax, or any
    26  portion thereof, and may adopt regulations for the processing of
    27  claims for exemptions. Such local authorities shall not have
    28  authority by virtue of this act:
    29     * * *
    30     (12)  To levy, assess or collect a tax on any amusement
    19830H1476B2443                  - 2 -

     1  device on the privilege or the business of owning, operating or
     2  using any amusement device, on the admission to or the amusement
     3  derived from any amusement device or the proceeds or revenue
     4  derived from any amusement device, unless levied, assessed or
     5  collected in an amount less than twenty-five dollars ($25) for
     6  each amusement device per year. No fee shall be charged for the
     7  regulating and licensing of any amusement device or any person
     8  engaging in the business of owning, operating or using any
     9  amusement device, which fee exceeds the sum of ten dollars ($10)
    10  per amusement device each year that the device is in actual use
    11  and operation, prorated however, for each month that the device
    12  is in actual use and operation in any year. The term "amusement
    13  device" shall mean any electronic device, machine or apparatus
    14  for the playing of games, amusement or entertainment, whether
    15  operated manually or by coins, tokens, slugs, remote control,
    16  pins, pegs, balls, electric batteries or other electric current.
    17  "Amusement device" shall not apply to any machine or device
    18  which reproduces music nor shall it apply to any machine or
    19  device which dispenses tangible personal property.
    20     Section 2.  This act shall not affect taxes levied, assessed
    21  or collected prior to July 1, 1983 1984, except that taxes        <--
    22  levied prior thereto shall not be increased beyond the rate
    23  imposed as of that date.
    24     Section 3.  This act shall take effect immediately.




    F24L53JLW/19830H1476B2443        - 3 -