Pennsylvania House Votes to Give PA Lottery a Financial Check Up
The Pennsylvania Lottery will be getting a financial check up. The state House of Representatives has adopted a resolution that directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to prepare a report on lottery sales forecasts, in both the short and long term.
Representative Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter), the sponsor of the resolution, says the last financial review was conducted in 1994.
Causer says a lot has changed since then, and he wants to make sure there’s sustainable funding for the valuable programs the lottery supports. The resolution, HR 106, cites the introduction of casino gambling and lingering concern regarding the potential impact of slot machines and table games on lottery sales.
The committee will look at whether state Lottery fund revenues are sufficient to support lottery-funded programs at existing or expanded levels or if cutbacks or program changes will be needed to maintain the solvency of the fund. The panel will also determine if any changes to law, regulation or policy are needed.
Lottery funded programs include Area Agencies on Aging, PACE, PACENET, long term living, Property Tax and Rent Rebates and shared ride services.
The committee will have six months to complete the study. The report will be submitted to the Aging and Older Adult Services and Finance Committee.
The vote to approve HR 106 was unanimous.
