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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Dante Santoni |
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Santoni bill to help Pa. nonprofits clears committee
HARRISBURG, April 22 – Legislation introduced by Rep. Dante Santoni, D-Berks, that would give Pa. nonprofit organizations the chance to improve their operations today cleared the House Gaming Oversight Committee.
Santoni, who is chairman of the committee, said his bill (H.B. 1284) would make several changes to Pennsylvania's bingo law, including increasing prize limits, allowing organizations to advertise prize values, and permitting associations to hold more bingo games in a week and year.
Organizations would be allowed to increase maximum jackpot daily prize limits to $8,000 and offer winner-take-all bingo games. Current law sets daily prize limits at $4,000 and prohibits winner-take-all payouts.
The bill also would change to 30 days the current requirement that members of associations be on the member rolls for at least one year before holding full membership and allow associations to pay bingo workers up to $100. The change would give organizations more people to pool from to help run and work public bingo games. Only full members are allowed to work such games right now.
In addition, associations that conduct bingo once a year would be allowed to hold their games on seven consecutive days instead of the now three. Those that conduct games weekly would be able to hold four sessions per week. Current law limits it to two.
"Volunteer fire departments, veterans' organizations and other social clubs are important to local communities, not only for their charity and public safety work but also for the community pride and camaraderie they inspire," Santoni said. "This legislation is a small but important boost to their ability to continue to serve their neighbors."
The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.