Read the full stored bill text
PRINTER'S NO. 2009
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1655
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HARKINS, CONKLIN, GIRAL AND HILL-EVANS,
JUNE 24, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAMING OVERSIGHT, JUNE 24, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 4 (Amusements) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in fantasy contests, further providing for
definitions and for general and specific powers of board; in
general provisions relating to gaming, further providing for
definitions; in fingerprinting, further providing for
submission of fingerprints and photographs; in general
provisions relating to video gaming, further providing for
definitions; and, in administration, further providing for
powers of board.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The definition of "applicant" in section 302 of
Title 4 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended to
read:
§ 302. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Applicant." A person who, on his own behalf or on behalf of
another, is applying for [permission to engage in any act or
activity which is regulated under the provisions of]
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
registration or a permit, certification, license, qualification,
renewal or other credential issued by the board under this
chapter. If the applicant is a person other than an individual,
the board shall determine the associated persons whose
qualifications are necessary as a precondition to the licensing
of the applicant.
* * *
Section 2. Section 311(b)(7.1) and (7.2) of Title 4 are
amended to read:
§ 311. General and specific powers of board.
* * *
(b) Specific powers.--The board shall have the following
specific powers:
* * *
(7.1) [To require prospective and existing employees,
independent contractors, applicants and licensees to submit
to fingerprinting by the Pennsylvania State Police or an
authorized agent of the Pennsylvania State Police. The
Pennsylvania State Police or authorized agent of the
Pennsylvania State Police shall submit the fingerprints to
the Federal Bureau of Investigation for purposes or verifying
the identity of the individual and obtaining records of
criminal arrests and convictions.] In order to ensure the
integrity of gaming-related activities in this Commonwealth,
to require criminal history record checks for an individual
who is a prospective employee, existing employee, independent
contractor, applicant or licensee and seeks registration or a
permit, certification, license, qualification, renewal or
other credential issued by the board under this chapter. The
following shall apply:
20250HB1655PN2009 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(i) The individual must submit a full set of
fingerprints to the Pennsylvania State Police.
(ii) The Pennsylvania State Police shall check the
fingerprints of the individual against records in the
Pennsylvania State Police central repository for the
purpose of obtaining a current record of any criminal
arrests and convictions.
(iii) The Pennsylvania State Police shall submit the
fingerprints of the individual to the Federal Bureau of
Investigation for the purpose of verifying the identity
of the individual and obtaining a current record of any
criminal arrests and convictions.
(iv) The Pennsylvania State Police shall forward the
results of the criminal history record check to the board
for the sole purpose of determining the individual 's
eligibility for the registration, permit, certification,
license, renewal or other qualification. The board may
not disseminate the criminal history record check
information to any other entity.
(7.2) To require prospective and existing employees of
the board, independent contractors of the board, applicants
and licensees to submit photographs consistent with the
standards established by the board.
* * *
Section 3. The definition of "applicant" in section 1103 of
Title 4 is amended to read:
§ 1103. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this part shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
20250HB1655PN2009 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
* * *
"Applicant." [Any] A person who, on his own behalf or on
behalf of another, is applying for [permission to engage in any
act or activity which is regulated under the provisions of]
registration or a permit, certification, license, qualification,
renewal or other credential issued by the board under this part.
In cases in which the applicant is a person other than an
individual, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board shall
determine the associated persons whose qualifications are
necessary as a precondition to the licensing of the applicant.
* * *
Section 4. Section 1802 of Title 4 is amended to read:
§ 1802. Submission of fingerprints and photographs.
[Appointees, employees and prospective employees engaged in
the service of the commissions or the board and applicants under
this part shall submit to fingerprinting and photographing by
the Pennsylvania State Police or by a local law enforcement
agency capable of submitting fingerprints and photographs
electronically to the Pennsylvania State Police utilizing the
Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System and the
Commonwealth Photo Imaging Network or in a manner and in such
form as may be provided by the Pennsylvania State Police.
Fingerprinting pursuant to this part shall require, at a
minimum, the submission of a full set of fingerprints.
Photographing pursuant to this part shall require submission to
photographs of the face and any scars, marks or tattoos for
purposes of comparison utilizing an automated biometric imaging
system. The Pennsylvania State Police shall submit fingerprints
when requested by the commissions or the board to the Federal
Bureau of Investigation for purposes of verifying the identity
20250HB1655PN2009 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
of the applicants and obtaining records of criminal arrests and
convictions in order to prepare criminal history background
investigations under section 1801 (relating to duty to provide).
Fingerprints and photographs obtained pursuant to this part may
be maintained by the commissions, the board and the Pennsylvania
State Police for use pursuant to this part and for general law
enforcement purposes. In addition to any other fee or cost
assessed by the commissions or the board, an applicant shall pay
for the cost of fingerprinting and photographing.] (a)
Background check.--
(1) In order to ensure the integrity of gaming-related
activities in this Commonwealth, the board shall require
criminal history record checks for an individual who is an
appointee to the board, appointee to the commission,
prospective employee, existing employee, independent
contractor, applicant or licensee who seeks registration or a
permit, certification, license, qualification, renewal or
other credential issued by the board under this part.
(2) The individual shall submit a full set of
fingerprints to the Pennsylvania State Police.
(3) The Pennsylvania State Police shall:
(i) Check the fingerprints of the individual against
records in the Pennsylvania State Police central
repository for the purpose of obtaining a current
criminal history record of any criminal arrests and
convictions.
(ii) Submit the fingerprints of the individual to
the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of
verifying the identity of the individual and obtaining a
current record of any criminal arrests and convictions.
20250HB1655PN2009 - 5 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(iii) Forward the results of the criminal history
record check to the board for the sole purpose of
determining the individual's eligibility for the
registration or permit, certification, license,
qualification, credential or renewal under this part.
(4) The board may not disseminate the criminal history
record check information received under paragraph (3)(iii) to
any other entity.
(b) Photographs.--
(1) An appointee, employee and prospective employee
engaged in the service of the commission or the board and an
applicant under this part shall submit to photographing by
the Pennsylvania State Police or a local law enforcement
agency capable of submitting photographs electronically to
the Pennsylvania State Police.
(2) Photographing under this subsection shall consist of
taking images of the face and any scar, mark or tattoo for
purposes of comparison utilizing an automated biometric
imaging system.
(3) Photographs obtained under this subsection may be
maintained by the commission, the board and the Pennsylvania
State Police for use under this part and for general law
enforcement purposes.
(c) Payment.--In addition to any other fee or cost assessed
by the commission or the board, an applicant shall pay for the
cost of fingerprinting and photographing under this section.
Section 5. The definition of "applicant" in section 3102 of
Title 4 is amended to read:
§ 3102. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this part shall
20250HB1655PN2009 - 6 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Applicant." A person who, on his own behalf or on behalf of
another, applies for [permission to engage in an act or activity
that is regulated under the provisions of this part.]
registration or a permit, certification, license, qualification,
renewal or other credential issued by the board under this part.
If the applicant is a person other than an individual, the board
shall determine the associated persons whose qualifications are
necessary as a precondition to the registration, permit,
certification, license, qualification or other credential issued
by the board of the applicant.
* * *
Section 6. Section 3301(b)(8) of Title 4 is amended to read:
§ 3301. Powers of board.
* * *
(b) Specific powers.--The board shall have the power and
duty:
* * *
(8) [To require prospective and existing video gaming
employees, independent contractors, applicants, permittees
and licensees to submit to fingerprinting by the Pennsylvania
State Police or its authorized designee. The Pennsylvania
State Police or its authorized designee shall submit the
fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for
purposes of verifying the identity of the individual and
obtaining records of criminal arrests and convictions.] In
order to ensure the integrity of gaming-related activities in
this Commonwealth, to require criminal history record checks
20250HB1655PN2009 - 7 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
for an individual who is a prospective employee, existing
employee, independent contractor, applicant or licensee and
seeks registration or a permit, certification, license,
qualification, renewal or other credential issued by the
board under this chapter. The following shall apply:
(i) The individual must submit a full set of
fingerprints to the Pennsylvania State Police.
(ii) The Pennsylvania State Police shall check the
fingerprints of the individual against records in the
Pennsylvania State Police central repository for the
purpose of obtaining a current criminal history record of
any criminal arrests and convictions.
(iii) The Pennsylvania State Police shall submit the
fingerprints of the individual to the Federal Bureau of
Investigation for the purpose of verifying the identity
of the individual and obtaining a current record of any
criminal arrests and convictions.
(iv) The Pennsylvania State Police shall forward the
results of the criminal history record check to the board
for the sole purpose of determining the individual's
eligibility for the registration, permit, certification,
license, renewal or other qualification. The board may
not disseminate the criminal history record check
information to any other entity.
* * *
Section 7. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20250HB1655PN2009 - 8 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26