Feb. 24, 2016
HARRISBURG – Legislation designed make changes to the Citizens Advisory Council in the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), reform the Commonwealth horse racing industry and a study on regulating the fantasy sports gambling industry was signed into law this week by Gov. Tom Wolf, according to the bill’s prime sponsor, Rep. Mike Regan (R-York/Cumberland.)
“This legislation was the result of a combined effort by members of both sides of the aisle in both chambers of the General Assembly,” said Regan. “It started out as a bill to reduce the licensing fees for historical distilleries, but after good-faith negotiations, other provisions were added by both chambers. I think this has turned out to be good law that will bring benefits to a number of areas, so I am pleased at the end result of this process.”
The original bill was designed to reduce the one-time licensing fee for a distillery of historical significance from $5,400 to $1,200. The law will help these small, independent distilleries, not only here in the district, but in other parts of the Commonwealth, to stay in business.
Regan said the bill,
House Bill 941, will make the Citizens Advisory Council an independent body while still housed in the DEP.
The legislation will combine the State Horse Racing Commission and the State Harness Racing Commission into one nine-member group, a move praised by Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russel Redding.
Regan said, in addition, there will be a study done on what is now, a widely-popular hobby called fantasy sports gambling. There have been other states, notably New York, that have tried to take on this issue and there is no federal regulation.
“This is a law that will help reduce government costs as we modernize some regulatory aspects of several areas,” said Regan.
Representative Mike Regan
92nd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Raymond Smith
717.705.1834
rsmith@pahousegop.com
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