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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 20, 2022 04:11 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Gary Day |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Amending the Sports Raffles Charities Act to also go to Volunteer Fire Grants and Lottery Funds |
| I plan on introducing legislation to amend the Sports Raffles Charities Act (Act 56 of 2019) to further distribute the raffle money for Fire Grants (volunteer fire fighters) and the Lottery Fund (seniors). As written, when a Professional Sports Team or Collegiate sports team conducts a 50/50 raffle, 50% goes to the patron buying the ticket and 50% goes to the charity designated by the non profit conducting the raffle at the game/event. My legislation would take this a step further and take the 50% currently going to charity, and have it go to the charity and other funds for the benefit of VFF and Senior Citizens. Specifically, from the remaining 50%, 40% goes to the charity, 30% would go to Fire Grants and 30% would go to the Lottery Fund. As you know, our local fire companies are faced with limited funding, dwindling ranks, and extremely expensive equipment and are up against many financial challenges, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancellation of so many essential annual fundraisers. This is an opportunity to strengthen funding for local fire departments, protect our communities and indirectly help local governments and taxpayers. In addition, the Lottery Fund was established to generate funding for programs for older Pennsylvanians. These programs include property tax and rent rebates; free and reduced-fare transportation services; the low-cost prescription programs PACE and PACENET; care services; and local services provided by the 52 Area Agencies on Aging. The fund’s only source of revenue is the PA Lottery. By adding the additional revenue to the Fire Grants and Lottery Fund, we will be assisting these two entities that need additional funds. I hope you will join me in supporting these everyday heroes by cosponsoring this legislation. Thank you for your consideration. |