Pennsylvania 2023-2024 Regular Session

Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB553

Introduced
4/19/23  

Caption

Further providing for athletic event drawing.

Impact

If enacted, SB553 will impact state laws governing charitable raffles and enhance support for fire and emergency services funding through established grant programs. This amendment effectively generates additional financial resources for both charitable organizations and essential public services, which could bolster community engagement and support for local emergency responders. Furthermore, it ensures proceeds from athletic events have a defined purpose, which could improve accountability among nonprofit organizations running these events.

Summary

Senate Bill 553 aims to amend the Sports Raffle Charities Act by revising the distribution of funds collected from athletic event drawings. Under the proposed changes, 50% of the total amount raised from the sale of tickets will serve as the prize, while the remaining 50% will be allocated for charitable donations and funding for fire services. Specifically, the bill stipulates that 45% of this portion shall be donated to designated charitable organizations, while 5% is directed towards grants administered by the Office of State Fire Commissioner. The bill also establishes reporting requirements for affiliated nonprofit organizations to enhance transparency on the fundraising activities related to athletic events.

Sentiment

The reception of SB553 appears to be generally positive, particularly among legislators and nonprofit organizations involved in community services. Advocates highlight the dual benefits of the bill: fostering charitable contributions while also providing critical funding for fire and emergency services. However, there may be nuanced discussions regarding how these funds are allocated and the oversight of nonprofit organizations, indicating a cautious yet supportive view among some stakeholders concerned about transparency and efficacy.

Contention

Some potential points of contention include the management of funds and ensuring the nonprofit organizations involved adhere to the new reporting requirements. Lawmakers may debate the implications of allocating a portion of the funds specifically to fire service grants, with some advocating for broader support for various charitable causes. Additionally, as the bill mandates specific timelines for fund distribution and reporting, stakeholders may scrutinize the operational impacts on nonprofits and their ability to comply with these requirements while effectively managing their fundraising activities.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA SB330

Further providing for athletic event drawing.

PA HB2167

Charitable gaming; conduct of athletic event drawings.

PA HB1219

In personal income tax, further providing for classes of income and for special tax provisions for poverty and providing for alternative special tax provisions for poverty; in corporate net income tax, further providing for definitions, for imposition of tax, for reports and payment of tax, for consolidated reports and for manufacturing innovation and reinvestment deduction; in realty transfer tax, further providing for transfer of tax; in tax credit and tax benefit administration, further providing for definitions; in entertainment production tax credit, further providing for definitions, for credit for qualified film production expenses, for carryover, carryback and assignment of credit and for limitations; in Pennsylvania Economic Development for a Growing Economy (PA EDGE) tax credits, providing for biotechnology; in neighborhood assistance tax credit, further providing for tax credit and for grant of tax credit; providing for expanded neighborhood improvement zones; in Pennsylvania Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit Program, further providing for credit for child and dependent care employment-related expenses; providing for Public Transportation Trust Fund; and, in general provisions, further providing for underpayment of estimated tax, for method of filing and for allocation of tax credits.

PA SB1150

In the State System of Higher Education, further providing for definitions and providing for Grow Pennsylvania Merit Scholarship Program; providing for institutions of higher education, for Grow Pennsylvania Scholarship Grant Program and for intercollegiate athletics; in ready-to-succeed scholarship, further providing for agency; and making a repeal.

PA SB756

In fantasy contests, further providing for definitions, for general and specific powers of board and for prohibitions; in general provisions relating to gaming, further providing for legislative intent and for definitions; in Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, further providing for Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board established, for general and specific powers, for license or permit application hearing process and public input hearings, for regulatory authority of board, for number of slot machines, for reports of board and for license or permit prohibition; in licensees, further providing for Category 4 slot machine license, for divestiture of disqualifying applicant, for manufacturer licenses, for gaming service provider, for nongaming service provider, for occupation permit application, for slot machine testing and certification standards, for slot machine accounting controls and audits and for renewals; in table games, further providing for regulatory authority and for table game device and associated equipment testing and certification standards; in interactive gaming, further providing for internal, administrative and accounting controls, for interactive games and interactive gaming devices and associated equipment testing and certification standards; in sports wagering, further providing for definitions; in revenues, further providing for slot machine licensee deposits and for transfers from State Gaming Fund; in administration and enforcement, repealing provisions relating to political influence, further providing for investigations and enforcement, for prohibited acts and penalties and for liquor licenses at licensed facilities; in fingerprinting, further providing for submission of fingerprints and photographs; in miscellaneous provisions relating to gaming, providing for live-streaming on casino floor and further providing for severability; in general provisions relating to video gaming, further providing for definitions; in administration, further providing for powers of board; in application and licensure, further providing for key employee licenses, for establishment licenses and for license or permit prohibition; in operation, further providing for video gaming limitations and for compulsive and problem gambling; in enforcement, further providing for prohibited acts and penalties; in revenues, further providing for fees; in ethics, repealing provisions relating to political influence; providing for skill gaming; establishing the Skill Gaming Fund; imposing duties on the Department of Revenue; in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, further providing for gambling devices, gambling, etc.; in forfeiture of assets, further providing for asset forfeiture; making appropriations; making repeals; and making editorial changes.

PA HB2310

In emergency COVID-19 response, further

PA HB398

Relating to special event trust funds used to promote major athletic, motor sports racing, and other special events in this state.

PA SB843

In preliminary provisions, further providing for Special Education Funding Commission, for Basic Education Funding Commission and for Commission on Education and Economic Competitiveness and providing for public job posting database, for instructional vacancy data and for data transparency; providing for Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact; in drug and alcohol recovery high school program, further providing for scope of program and selection of students, providing for enrollment of students and further providing for academic programs; in terms and courses of study, further providing for Economic Education and Personal Financial Literacy Programs; in early learning programs, providing for quarterly reporting; in high schools, further providing for attendance in other districts; in educational tax credits, further providing for definitions; in credit card marketing, further providing for regulation of on-campus credit card marketing; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status; and abrogating regulations.

PA HB2444

In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in games of chance, further providing for prize limits and for sales limited, providing for pull-tab deals, further providing for distributor licenses, for registration of manufacturers, for regulations of department and for licensing of eligible organizations; in club licensees, further providing for distribution of proceeds; and, in enforcement, further providing for revocation of licenses and providing for other penalties and for licensed eligible organizations subject to audit by Auditor General.

PA HB1141

In revenues, further providing for taxes and assessments; adding provisions relating to local gaming terminals by providing for general provisions, for administration, for application and licensure, for operation, for enforcement and for revenue; imposing the local gaming terminal tax; establishing the Local Gaming Fund; providing for ethics; in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, further providing for the offense of gambling devices, gambling, etc.; in Commonwealth services, establishing the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Programs Fund; prescribing penalties; and making appropriations.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.