PA HB290 & HB1098 Update

PA House Bill 290 and PA House Bill 1098 were both amended and sent back to the PA House of Representatives. 

 

To view the status and review the amended Bills go to the links below:

 

 HB290:

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2013&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=0290
 

 HB1098:

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2013&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=1098

 

Resource:

Listed above
  
Note:

For clubs that are getting nervous as we get closer to the February 2014 Online Filing deadline, you can save yourself a lot of headaches by checking out Myers Integrated Systems, LLC system's Sienna Database System:

•        Files electronically with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue (so you do not have to enter your Games activities into the Dept. of Revenue's website).

•        Is designed so you can easily enter your previous months SGOC activities

•        Can be installed ON your Windows compatible PC for $3600.00 (for semi-annual filers)

•        Can be installed ON your Windows compatible PC for $299.00 (for annual filers)

 

·         Much, much More! 

 

 

 

 

PA HB290 and HB1098 Appropriations consideration scheduled for Monday October 21, 2013

Anyone that has been anxiously awaiting news on PA HB290 and HB1098 (Provides gaming for Taverns) will be interested to know that the PA Senate Appropriations Committee will consider the laws this Monday.

Resource:

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/index.cfm?Code=3&CteeBody=S

PA SGOC Record Keeping - How long do you have to keep records?

I wanted to help clarify the current PA SGOC Record keeping requirements and what better way to do so than listing some of the Record keeping requirements below AND also providing you with a link to a Metrocast Channel 10 video Presented by the PA State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement in cooperation with the office of State Representative David Millard. 
Note: I have posted a link to this video in previous blogs.

SGOC Records are to be kept for 2 years from the last day of the month in which the game ended for Non Liquor license organizations (file annually) – Totals must be kept for each operating week. 

 

 SGOC Records are to be kept for 5 years from the last day of the month in which the game ended for Liquor license organizations (file semi-annually) – Totals must be kept for each operating week.

Electronic Filing Tip:  Keeping Totals as required by operating week will help you when you file electronically in January 2014).

 ALL Un-played chances for pull tab and punchboard games are to be kept for 2 years for ALL organizations.

All winning chances for prizes in excess of $100 for pull tab and punchboard games must be retained for 2 years for ALL organizations.

 

 

Resource:

Metrocast Channel 10 Production on You tube:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZjz2ev7bwE

 

SGOC Records Requirements: 

1:11:56 into video –Required records Section

 

Unplayed & Winning Chances:

1:14:40 into video –Required records Section

 

Video published on Mar 27, 2013

Learn what small games of chance are currently legal in the state of Pennsylvania. State Police Sgt Jeff McGinness explains what games you can use or how to run games to raise money for your non-profit, church or other organization. Club licenses are also discussed. Recorded by MetroCast Channel 10-PA in March 2013 at the Bloomsburg Fire Hall in Columbia County, PA. Presented the PA State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement in cooperation with the office of State Representative David Millard.

PA SGOC Recording and Reporting Tip - The tax amount should be included in the cost of game

Welcome to October!

Today I wanted to direct this tip to Social and Fraternal organizations that are not tax exempt and sell Small Games of Chance. 

Tax amounts you are paying to purchase games and prizes should be included in the cost of game.

 If you currently  do not include the taxes you pay when you purchase your games from your SGOC Distributor in your 'cost of game', you will want to go back beginning with the games in play as of July 1st 2013.  You will want to recalculate your Schedule 5 forms and include the 6% tax amount that you paid for the cost of game. 

For example, a 6 % tax amount for a $50.00 game is $3.00.  So if you have $50.00 listed because that is what the SGOC distributor charged you and you also paid 6% tax, you will want to change the amount on your form from $50.00 to $53.00.

Raise the Jolly Roger!!

Lets Go Bucs!!

Kelly

~Think Out of the Jar

PA SGOC Activity: Start Grouping and Tallying your SGOC Games into ‘Weekly Totals’

I'm proud to say that the only recent PA SGOC news is that my Sienna Database System© is now officially listed on a couple of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue’s SGOC pages as an approved SGOC third party software vendor.

 Myers Integrated Systems, LLC and the SDS System can be found from links on the following 2 pages;

http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/small_games_of_chance/14500

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/businesses/11406/electronic_filing_software/580933

 

Electronic Filing Tip

 

Advice for those of you that will not be using the SDS system.  Start Grouping and tallying your SGOC games activity into weekly totals.  October is around the corner and January 2014 is closing fast.  You do not want to start grouping your activity in December when you could have been doing it all along. 
 

Remember, your 1^st business day of the week defines the 7 day week period that you use to group your activity.  Each of the Gaming activities must be grouped and tallied by your business week. 
 

For more information please feel free to leave a comment or ask a question.  You can also check out my previous blogs as I’ve discussed the grouping/tallying of games in detail in a past blog.

Cheers for now!

Kelly

~Think Out of the Jar

  

TICK-TOCK, TICK-TOCK Goes the Pennsylvania Small Games Of Chance Accountability Clock

Good afternoon!  Today is August 7^th and exactly 219 days into being accountable for SGOC activity for PA Non Liquor license holders and 38 days in for PA SGOC Liquor license holders. 

If you read my blog from last week then you know that additional discussions involving 2 of the more popular Small Games Of Chance laws (HB290 and HB1098) will not be scheduled to occur until at least September 30, 2013.  That does not mean either of the Bills will be scheduled, only that they could be. 

July 2013 is gone and we are now a week into August.  If you are on the fence on whether to check out the Sienna Database System, please know that you can get your system current with your SGOC Activity by entering your business SGOC activity from July 1 up to the current date or from January 1, 2013 for Non Liquor license holders. We will help you get started when we train you and your staff on how to use the system.   Our system also comes with a series of “How To” videos that show you step-by-step how to enter and edit your SGOC activity into the system. 

We will soon be releasing SDS 2.0!  Our prices will slightly increase with the Release.  However, if you order before we officially release version 2.0 (Tentative Release date is September 19^th) you can get SDS 2.0 at the SDS 1.0 price.   Also, we are awaiting test results from our latest round of testing with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.  If we met all of the State requirements we will be only the Small Games of Chance Reporting system approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue!  Please note that our Non Liquor license version (SDS Ultra Lite) is in BETA testing now and is also expected to be available beginning September 19th.

Please check out our Facebook page where you can see a list of what is new in Sienna Database System 2.0 (SDS 2.0).  Also our You Tube page is being updated weekly with new “How To” videos.  See for yourself how easy it is to use the system by checking out the videos.

SDS YouTube Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/PASGOC

SDS Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/PASGOC

One final note:  If you are thinking that you can get by without reporting your activity, you are wrong.  You will not get your SGOC license renewed when you apply for your license next year.  You MUST accompany a copy of the report you filed with the PA Department of Revenue when you apply for your SGOC license in 2014. 

Take advantage of paying for the SDS System by using your Gross Proceeds (BEFORE the 70-30 split).  This is your chance to use your SGOC Gross proceeds to purchase an invaluable tool to help whoever in your business is recording your SGOC activity.  They will literally save hours of time a week by using the SDS System.  

There is NO better system to assist you in being Accountable for your Small Games of Chance Activity.

 

Pennsylvania HB290 and HB1098 - PA Legislation that Impact SGOC License Organizations

These Bills both hit the same legislation spot at the same time but will either of them reach the final destination of becoming a Pennsylvania Law?

Both Bills have legislation involving Small Games of Chance and both bills were re-referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee this past June 20^th. 

Tuesday July 30th my local Senator John Wozniak’s office returned a call I made with his office inquiring if they had any information pertaining to these bills. 

Senator Wozniak’s Executive Director Josh Myers (no relation) promptly returned my call and told me the summer recess would last until September 23.  Mr. Myers also suggested that I reach out to Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman’s office to ask for any information about the bills.

I called Senator Corman’s office on Wednesday and I was connected with Senator Corman’s Legislative Director Scott Sikorski.  Mr. Sikorski told me that although legislatures return on September 23^rd, nothing pertaining to these bills would be discussed until at least September 30^th.  This does not mean they will be discussed September 30^th, just that it is the earliest they could be scheduled on the calendar to be discussed.

Mr. Sikorski did not have an opinion how Governor Corbett stands on any of the HB290 issues. 

On a side-note; 

Governor Corbett spoke during the 95^th Annual American Legion Convention in Harrisburg a couple weeks ago and although I did not hear his speech, I did ask some of Legionnaire’s that were present during his speech and they all said that he did not mention anything regarding the Small Games of Chance laws . 

Note:  If any of you reading this blog attended the speech and you heard Governor Corbett talk about Small Games of Chance, please leave a comment (or email me at DKellyMyers@gmail.com) letting everyone know what was said.

For more information regarding the status of HB1098 I suggest you read the following post made by the VFW Department of Pennsylvania Facebook page – please note the post was made  this past June 20th;

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10151478723523342&id=155238743341

 

Resources:

Office of Senator John Wozniak, Executive Director Josh Myers

Office of Senator Jake Corman, Legislative Director Scott Sikorski
And VFW Department of Pennsylvania Facebook page (see above)