Pennsylvania´s Games of chance bill sponsored by Brooks signed into law

The legislation extends Act 118 of 2020, which permitted service organizations to use 100% of their small games of chance money to cover their general operating expenses, including rent, payroll and utilities. The extension in Act 118 expired on June 10, but Brooks’ legislation will extend the allowance until Dec. 31, in order to give these service organizations additional time to recover from the pandemic and remain a vital part of our communities.

“Many American Legions, VFWs, fire departments, Moose lodges, and other service organizations are still struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Brooks said. “Most were forced to close their venues for more than a year, cancel their traditional patriotic ceremonies, and refrain from the fundraisers they traditionally offered, which helped to sustain their operations. The dedicated volunteers and staff who operate these clubs contribute to so many worthwhile charities in our communities, and they need and deserve our help now.”

In the past, Brooks sponsored legislation legalizing 50/50s, Chinese auctions (basket raffles), and other fundraising efforts under the small games of chance law, at a time when the state had deemed them illegal. The legalization of these fundraising tools has helped countless local nonprofit organizations, fire departments. sports teams, school booster clubs, and families in need.

The legislation was one of 31 bills signed into law Thursday by Wolf. The governor also signed Senate Bill 563, which amends the Fire and Panic Act, further providing for standards for family child-care homes. Specifically, it requires family child-care homes to have a smoke alarm on each floor, a portable fire extinguisher for class B fires in cooking areas, and a means of egress that complies with R-3 occupancy and licensure requirements under the Department of Human Services’ regulations. The smoke alarms are required to be interconnected via hardwire, Bluetooth connectivity or any other means that allows for communication between the other smoke alarms in the family child-care home. Further, at the time of installation, each smoke alarm is required to be approved by an approved testing laboratory.

Other legislation of note to become law Thursday includes:

¯ House Bill 2412 authorizes the governor to order any volunteer member of the Pennsylvania National Guard (or if unavailable, a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard on special state duty) to support state and local governments and designated critical infrastructure with cybersecurity functional support and nongovernmental and educational institutions with cyber training or exercises and perform other necessary military duties to the extent that money is appropriated and available for special state duty.

¯ Senate Bill 849 changes the definitions related to veterans’ employment preference for veterans discharged because of a medical disability. Specifically, the bill amends the definition of a “veteran” to include an individual who has served in the armed forces of the United States whose last discharge was due to a disability under conditions other than dishonorable.

¯ Senate Bill 861 makes the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania a party to the Recognition of Emergency Medical Services Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact and provides for the form of the compact.

¯ Senate Bill 904 permits a probation officer to use technology portals in lieu of requiring offenders on probation to appear in person. Under the bill, “technology portal” is defined as “a device, including a cellular phone and other electronic device, that allows simultaneous voice and video communication in real time between the offender and the probation officer.”

¯ Senate Bill 905 adds to the powers and duties of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s County Adult Probation and Parole Advisory Committee by requiring them to make recommendations and standards for probation and parole personnel, including circumstances under which an offender’s schedule should be weighed when making scheduling decisions.

¯ Senate Bill 1186 amends the Vehicle Code to further provide for USA semiquincentennial registration plates and establishing the Semiquincentennial Restricted Account.

¯ Senate Bill 1236 provides for extensive amendments to the Very Small Meat Processor Federal Inspection Reimbursement Grant Program.