THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY GOODMAN, GERGELY, SAINATO, BELFANTI, BRIGGS, CALTAGIRONE, CREIGHTON, GEIST, GRUCELA, HARKINS, HENNESSEY, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, LENTZ, MAHONEY, MARKOSEK, MATZIE, MUNDY, MURPHY, PALLONE, PETRARCA, READSHAW, SEIP, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, SOLOBAY, STABACK, STURLA, WANSACZ, YOUNGBLOOD, YUDICHAK AND DALEY, FEBRUARY 8, 2010

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAMING OVERSIGHT, FEBRUARY 8, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study

the feasibility of providing additional financial aid to

families for higher education through the implementation of

keno games at retail liquor establishments.

WHEREAS, Last year the State Board of Education found that

the cost of higher education is a great burden to many

Pennsylvania families, including middle class families; and

WHEREAS, The State Board of Education estimated that families

earning between $60,000 and $150,000 annually with a dependent

student attending a Pennsylvania State System of Higher

Education institution pay between 10% and 20% of their income in

college costs; and

WHEREAS, Generally a family earning up to $66,000 in annual

income can qualify for financial aid through the Pennsylvania

Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), but there are many

middle class families who fall above the agency's income

guidelines and are truly struggling to afford tuition; and

WHEREAS, More must be done to help middle class families who

do not qualify for aid through PHEAA; and

WHEREAS, Keno games are operated by lottery systems in 14

states and in the District of Columbia with tremendous success;

and

WHEREAS, Keno consistently ranks as one of the top revenue

generators for state lotteries across the country; and

WHEREAS, Keno may be a viable revenue source for providing

more middle class families with financial assistance for higher

education; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee

be directed to conduct a study of the feasibility of authorizing

the implementation of keno games at establishments that hold a

retail liquor license under the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90,

No.21), known as the Liquor Code, to be overseen by the

Pennsylvania Lottery, with the proceeds being used to fund

financial aid programs for families whose annual incomes are

between $60,000 and $150,000; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the committee determine the impact of

authorizing keno games in this manner on Pennsylvania Lottery

sales and on gaming facilities authorized under Title 4 of the

Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the study include a review of best practices

from other states whose state lotteries oversee keno games; and

be it further

RESOLVED, That the study also include an estimate of the

revenues that can be expected from keno games, as well as a

survey of the keno game tax rates assessed in other states; and

be it further

RESOLVED, That the committee seek assistance from the

Department of Revenue in developing guidelines for the

implementation of keno games in Pennsylvania; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the committee seek assistance from PHEAA in

developing guidelines for distributing financial aid derived

from State keno revenues to students with family incomes between

$60,000 and $150,000; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee

report its findings to the House of Representatives within six

months following the adoption of this resolution.