PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A bill aimed at helping volunteer fire companies and other nonprofits raise money during the coronavirus pandemic has passed the Pennsylvania House this week. The legislation now moves on to the Senate.
Nonprofits across Pennsylvania rely on Bingo nights or other in-person fundraisers that have been wiped out by COVID-19 guidelines.
Western Pa. Republican Rep. Ryan Warner, the bill’s prime sponsor, says some departments started hosting raffles or other small games of chance online.
“Unfortunately these organizations found out current law prohibited the games from being performed online, and that’s what this bill looks to amend," he said.
"It simply allows them to conduct online raffles and drawings, to use mobile payments services such as PayPal and Venmo for payment."
It also increases prize limits to $4,000 per day and weekly to $500,000.
The law would expire when the COVID-19 emergency declaration ends, though some lawmakers say they might re-visit that.
The bill passed the house 193 to 8, and heads next to the state Senate.