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PRINTER'S NO. 327
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
334
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY D. COSTA, KINSEY, YOUNGBLOOD, THOMAS, KORTZ, MURT
AND NEILSON, FEBRUARY 3, 2017
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAMING OVERSIGHT, FEBRUARY 3, 2017
AN ACT
Amending the act of December 19, 1988 (P.L.1262, No.156),
entitled, as amended, "An act providing for the licensing of
eligible organizations to conduct games of chance, for the
licensing of persons to distribute games of chance, for the
registration of manufacturers of games of chance, and for
suspensions and revocations of licenses and permits;
requiring records; providing for local referendum by
electorate; and prescribing penalties," in tavern gaming,
further providing for tavern games tax and providing for
compulsive and problem gambling notice of availability of
assistance; and imposing penalties.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 909.1(j) of the act of December 19, 1988
(P.L.1262, No.156), known as the Local Option Small Games of
Chance Act, is amended and the section is amended by adding
subsections to read:
Section 909.1. Tavern games tax.
* * *
(j) Deposit.--[Beginning] Except as provided in subsections
(k) and (l), beginning in fiscal year [2013-2014] 2017-2018, the
total amount of taxes imposed by this section shall be deposited
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in the General Fund.
(k) Transfer for compulsive and problem gambling
treatment.--Beginning on the first business day of January 2018
and annually thereafter, the sum of $300,000 or an amount equal
to .002 multiplied by the total amount of taxes imposed by this
section, whichever is greater, shall be transferred from the
General Fund to the Compulsive and Problem Gambling Treatment
Fund established under 4 Pa.C.S. § 1509(b) (relating to
compulsive and problem gambling program).
(l) Grants.--The money transferred to the Compulsive and
Problem Gambling Treatment Fund in accordance with subsection
(k) shall be used for grants to single county authorities
created under the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.221, No.63), known
as the Pennsylvania Drug and Alcohol Abuse Control Act, for the
purpose of providing compulsive gambling and gambling addiction
prevention, treatment and education programs as provided under 4
Pa.C.S. § 1509(d) and shall not be appropriated, allocated,
expended or otherwise used for any other purpose unless
authorized by the General Assembly.
Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 912.1. Compulsive and problem gambling notice of
availability of assistance.
(a) Notice.--Each tavern gaming licensee shall contact the
Department of Health to obtain a toll-free telephone number and
information from the Department of Health's Office of Compulsive
and Problem Gambling to be used to provide persons with
information on assistance for compulsive or problem gambling.
Each licensee shall conspicuously post at least five signs
similar to the following statement:
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help
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is available. Call (toll-free telephone number).
The signs shall be posted within 25 feet of each entrance and
exit, within 25 feet of each automated teller machine location
within the restaurant or tavern and in other appropriate areas
of the restaurant or tavern.
(b) Fine.--A licensee which fails to post or print the signs
in accordance with subsection (a) shall be assessed a fine of
$100 per day for each day the minimum number of signs are not
posted or the required statement is not printed as provided in
subsection (a). The fines shall be distributed into the
Compulsive and Problem Gambling Treatment Fund established under
4 Pa.C.S. § 1509(b) (relating to compulsive and problem gambling
program).
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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