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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
04/25/2024 03:20 PM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20130&cosponId=10391
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House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: December 28, 2012 02:29 PM
From: Representative Michael H. O'Brien
To: All House members
Subject: Leaving Children unattended in vehicles at Casino's
 
I am planning to introduce two pieces of legislation which will address the issue of unattended children who are left in a vehicle while the vehicle operator patronizes a casino.

At the time this Legislation was initially introduced, September 28, 2011, there had been 10 documented instances of such behavior since February 2010 at the Parx Casino in Bensalem alone. On September 11, 2011, grandparents left three minors-ages 12, 7 and 2 in a vehicle at the SugarHouse casino in Philadelphia.

I believe it is imperative to establish a strong disincentive for such actions.

Document #1

Introduced as HB457

Description: My first bill will amend the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act (Title 4) to:
 
Prohibit any person who is driving or in charge of a motor vehicle from leaving a child under age 14 unattended in such vehicle on property owned, leased or controlled by a licensed gaming facility;
 
Mandate that such person be subject to exclusion or ejection from all licensed gaming facilities, as currently outlined in the Gaming Act;
 
Require law enforcement to notify the appropriate children and youth agency within 48 hours of the violation; and
 
Require a licensed facility to report violations of unattended children in vehicles and imposes a penalty for failure to report.
 
Under this proposal, a violation will be graded as a 3rd degree misdemeanor, and a second or subsequent conviction will be classified as a 2nd degree misdemeanor.
 
This Legislation was introduced in the 2011-12 Session as House Bill 120 with the following Co-Sponsors:
 
SCHRODER, YOUNGBLOOD, CLYMER, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, DALEY, DeLUCA, GOODMAN, KIRKLAND, MURT, READSHAW, STERN, SWANGER, TALLMAN, TAYLOR, THOMAS, VULAKOVICH, WAGNER AND HORNAMAN
 

Document #2

Introduced as HB458

Description: My second bill also amends the Gaming Act and is a preventative measure to warn individuals of the consequences of leaving their children unattended in a vehicle. This bill will:
 
Require each licensed facility to conspicuously post warning signs regarding the penalties for leaving a child unattended in a vehicle in their parking area;
 
Fine the licensed facility $1,000 a day for the days the signs are not posted; and
 
Grant power to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to levy fines against the licensed facility for repeated violations of individuals leaving their children unattended in a vehicle on their property.
 
These incidents represent a direct threat to the safety, health and welfare of young children, and each instance could have easily resulted in tragedy. I feel that it is necessary to send a strong message.
 
This Legislation was introduced in the 2011-12 Session as House Bill 121 with the following Co-sponsors:
 
SCHRODER, YOUNGBLOOD, CLYMER,CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, DALEY, DeLUCA, GOODMAN, KIRKLAND, MURT, READSHAW, STERN, SWANGER, TALLMAN, TAYLOR, THOMAS, VULAKOVICH AND WAGNER