Bill Protecting Sportsmen’s Banquets Signed Into Law

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett recently signed into law a bill that updates Pennsylvania’s archaic and overly-burdensome raffle laws. These laws—known as the Small Games of Chance Act—made it virtually impossible for Pennsylvania sportsmen’s organizations to hold a traditional fundraising banquet. The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) led a coalition to change the law, and included the National Wild Turkey Federation and Ducks Unlimited, as well as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Whitetails Unlimited. That effort culminated in a series of amendments to Pennsylvania House Bill 290, introduced by Rep. Michele Brooks (R-Greenville).

The pro-sportsmen amendments (carried by Senator Jake Corman R-Bellefonte) modernize the state’s raffle laws to ensure sportsmen and conservation organizations are able to utilize the standard banquet model, including raffles, games and drawings, which are the lifeblood of these events across the country. Without the changes made in HB 290, these organizations, and the great work that they do, would be faced with  losing their primary method of fundraising. “These changes were vitally necessary to conservation organizations across the state that raise substantial portions of their budgets through these events,” said Evan Heusinkveld, USSA vice president of government affairs.  “Hundreds of thousands—if not millions—of dollars for wildlife conservation projects come directly from these banquets.” —courtesy USSA