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The deadline for tackling skill games regulation would be delayed until next spring under similar bills being drafted by two House lawmakers.
Reps. Manual Guzman, D-Berks, and Brad Roae, R-Crawford, filed co-sponsor memos announcing their plans seeking a six-month extension beyond a looming Oct. 13 court deadline for General Assembly action on skill games.
Both lawmakers pick April 13 as the new deadline.
Guzman and Roae seek to maintain the current status of skill games in establishments during the interim period.
They expressed doubt that lawmakers can agree on a comprehensive regulation for skill games by Oct. 13 given the few scheduled session days this fall.
"It is unlikely that legislation to make skill games legal, establish a tax rate, establish regulations and decide how to spend the revenue will get done by Oct. 13," said Roae.
Guzman said the issues involve regulation, taxes, licensing, enforcement, consumer protections and siting.
"The transition would certainly provide more certainty for small businesses, organizations, employees, distributors, manufacturers, and others affected by the current legal landscape, while allowing additional time to address these complex issues," said Guzman.
Roae suggested an interim law could declare skill games legal as a new category of slot machines. The interim law could exempt skill games from the regulations and taxes applied to slot machines and allow them in any location outside casinos, he added.
The memos surface after the Pennsylvania State Police told owners of skill game machines to remove them by Oct. 14 or face prosecution.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled last June that some 80,00 skill game machines are really slot machines and can't be operated without a state license. The court gave lawmakers until Oct. 13 to legalize, tax and regulate small games or do nothing and let law enforcement crack down.
Legislative schedule
The House and Senate are scheduled back in session Sept. 28 after a two-month recess. Nine session days are scheduled before the Nov. 3 election, but days could be added or subtracted.
The court's Oct. 13 deadline comes at a time when lawmakers are usually eager to go on recess for a final round of campaigning before election day.
Both chambers are scheduled in session Oct 19, 20 and 21 before the election.
The April 13 deadline would come after a new General Assembly convenes in January, swears in new members and organizes committees.