Test Drive Our New Site! We have some improvements in the works that we're excited for you to experience. Click here to try our new, faster, mobile friendly beta site. We will be maintaining our current version of the site thru the end of 2024, so you can switch back as our improvements continue.
Legislation Quick Search
Advanced Search
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
04/20/2024 07:18 AM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=20713
Share:
Home / House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

Subscribe to PaLegis Notifications
NEW!

Subscribe to receive notifications of new Co-Sponsorship Memos circulated

By Member | By Date | Keyword Search


House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: September 15, 2016 01:23 PM
From: Representative John D. Payne
To: All House members
Subject: Changing Final Category 1 License to a Category 2 license
 
As you may know, the PGCB unanimously voted on July 13th to deny a license to Lawrence Downs Casino. This decision by the board brings to end a 12-year battle for this final Category 1 license (racino), and while I am grateful that this action was taken by the board, I am concerned that this final Category 1 license will not be issued for several more years. Given both the Commonwealth’s current budget constraints and the importance of casino gaming to property tax relief, I believe the General Assembly needs to be proactive and pass legislation to encourage the issuance of this casino license in a timely fashion.

With these goals in mind, I will be introducing legislation that will provide for the following:
  • Change the final Category 1 license to a Category 2 license (a casino without a racetrack);
  • Prohibit the new Category 2 facility from being located within 30 miles of another casino; and
  • Allow any of the Commonwealth’s current casino owners to apply for this Category 2 license and be exempt from current ownership restrictions.

By eliminating the need for this final casino to be accompanied by a racetrack, we will eliminate the State Horse Racing Commission’s role in the issuance of this license, which will expedite the application process. Furthermore, permitting one of the Commonwealth’s current casino operators to also own this final license will further expedite the process because current casino operators have previously completed the board’s significant background investigation process.

Please join me in cosponsoring this legislation.

Introduced as HB2353