Nov. 17, 2015
HARRISBURG – Today the House unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Mauree Gingrich (R-Lebanon), which would provide the court with an additional sentencing provision when certain individuals are convicted of trespassing at casinos.
House Bill 322 applies to people who voluntarily put themselves on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s self-exclusion list, which was created to allow individuals to exclude themselves from gaming facilities. Under current law, anyone who puts themselves on the list, then enters a casino, may be charged with trespassing. Gingrich’s bill would help these individuals by directing them to be evaluated in a manner deemed appropriate by the court to determine if the person has a gambling disorder and whether there is a need for counseling or other treatment as part of the penalty.
“Courts have no choice but to charge these individuals criminally when they violate the self-exclusion law, when what they really need is a little help,” said Gingrich. “My bill would give the court the authority to require offenders to be evaluated as part of their sentence. These evaluations could lead to an effective treatment for their compulsion, and could ultimately result in lives and families being saved by any treatment ordered by the court as a result of this legislation.”
More than 8,900 people are on the Gaming Control Board’s self-exclusion list and there have been more than 2,100 charged under the law - several of which are repeat offenders. Gingrich’s legislation now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Representative Mauree Gingrich
101st District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Donna Pinkham
717.260.6452
dpinkham@pahousegop.com
RepGingrich.com