Committee reports House Bill 1340 on concurrence, sending appropriations for gaming, state police and revenue

A legislative committee voted unanimously to report House Bill 1340 (Printer's No. 1977) on concurrence after a short floor discussion, the committee chair said.

The bill contains appropriations for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue and the Office of the Attorney General. A committee member said the panel supported the bill in part because the Senate had amended out revenue language relating to games of skill, and that the separate games-of-skill revenue legislation had not yet passed.

“The committee is in order to proceed, and the chair moves to report House Bill 1340, Printer's No. 1977,” the chair said. After brief remarks and no further discussion, the chair called for the vote and instructed the secretary to take the roll. “All those in favor of reporting the bill, vote aye. Those opposed, nay. Secretary will take the roll, and the bill passes unanimously. 33 to nothing,” the chair said.

“We're... happy to support this bill given the fact that the Senate amended out the revenue that was an original bill for the games of skill revenue. And as we all know, that is legislation that has yet to pass. So we will support the bill,” the committee member said.

The discussion did not specify dollar amounts, line-item allocations or implementation dates. The committee formally reported the bill on concurrence with a unanimous roll call of 33-0, sending the measure on per the committee's legislative process.