HB 1655 — 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.

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
 1   Amending Title 4 (Amusements) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 2      Statutes, in fantasy contests, further providing for
 3      definitions and for general and specific powers of board; in
 4      general provisions relating to gaming, further providing for
 5      definitions; in fingerprinting, further providing for
 6      submission of fingerprints and photographs; in general
 7      provisions relating to video gaming, further providing for
 8      definitions; and, in administration, further providing for
 9      powers of board.
10      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
11   hereby enacts as follows:
12      Section 1.    The definition of "applicant" in section 302 of
13   Title 4 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended to
14   read:
15   § 302.   Definitions.
16      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
17   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
18   context clearly indicates otherwise:
19      "Applicant."    A person who, on his own behalf or on behalf of
20   another, is applying for [permission to engage in any act or
21   activity which is regulated under the provisions of]
 1   registration or a permit, certification, license, qualification,
 2   renewal or other credential issued by the board under this
 3   chapter. If the applicant is a person other than an individual,
 4   the board shall determine the associated persons whose
 5   qualifications are necessary as a precondition to the licensing
 6   of the applicant.
 7      * * *
 8      Section 2.    Section 311(b)(7.1) and (7.2) of Title 4 are
 9   amended to read:
10   § 311.   General and specific powers of board.
11      * * *
12      (b)   Specific powers.--The board shall have the following
13   specific powers:
14            * * *
15            (7.1)   [To require prospective and existing employees,
16      independent contractors, applicants and licensees to submit
17      to fingerprinting by the Pennsylvania State Police or an
18      authorized agent of the Pennsylvania State Police. The
19      Pennsylvania State Police or authorized agent of the
20      Pennsylvania State Police shall submit the fingerprints to
21      the Federal Bureau of Investigation for purposes or verifying
22      the identity of the individual and obtaining records of
23      criminal arrests and convictions.] In order to ensure the
24      integrity of gaming-related activities in this Commonwealth,
25      to require criminal history record checks for an individual
26      who is a prospective employee, existing employee, independent
27      contractor, applicant or licensee and seeks registration or a
28      permit, certification, license, qualification, renewal or
29      other credential issued by the board under this chapter. The
30      following shall apply:

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 1                 (i)    The individual must submit a full set of
 2             fingerprints to the Pennsylvania State Police.
 3                 (ii)    The Pennsylvania State Police shall check the
 4             fingerprints of the individual against records in the
 5             Pennsylvania State Police central repository for the
 6             purpose of obtaining a current record of any criminal
 7             arrests and convictions.
 8                 (iii)    The Pennsylvania State Police shall submit the
 9             fingerprints of the individual to the Federal Bureau of
10             Investigation for the purpose of verifying the identity
11             of the individual and obtaining a current record of any
12             criminal arrests and convictions.
13                 (iv)    The Pennsylvania State Police shall forward the
14             results of the criminal history record check to the board
15             for the sole purpose of determining the individual's
16             eligibility for the registration, permit, certification,
17             license, renewal or other qualification. The board may
18             not disseminate the criminal history record check
19             information to any other entity.
20             (7.2)   To require prospective and existing employees of
21      the board, independent contractors of the board, applicants
22      and licensees to submit photographs consistent with the
23      standards established by the board.
24             * * *
25      Section 3.       The definition of "applicant" in section 1103 of
26   Title 4 is amended to read:
27   § 1103.    Definitions.
28      The following words and phrases when used in this part shall
29   have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
30   context clearly indicates otherwise:

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 1      * * *
 2      "Applicant."    [Any] A person who, on his own behalf or on
 3   behalf of another, is applying for [permission to engage in any
 4   act or activity which is regulated under the provisions of]
 5   registration or a permit, certification, license, qualification,
 6   renewal or other credential issued by the board under this part.
 7   In cases in which the applicant is a person other than an
 8   individual, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board shall
 9   determine the associated persons whose qualifications are
10   necessary as a precondition to the licensing of the applicant.
11      * * *
12      Section 4.    Section 1802 of Title 4 is amended to read:
13   § 1802.    Submission of fingerprints and photographs.
14      [Appointees, employees and prospective employees engaged in
15   the service of the commissions or the board and applicants under
16   this part shall submit to fingerprinting and photographing by
17   the Pennsylvania State Police or by a local law enforcement
18   agency capable of submitting fingerprints and photographs
19   electronically to the Pennsylvania State Police utilizing the
20   Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System and the
21   Commonwealth Photo Imaging Network or in a manner and in such
22   form as may be provided by the Pennsylvania State Police.
23   Fingerprinting pursuant to this part shall require, at a
24   minimum, the submission of a full set of fingerprints.
25   Photographing pursuant to this part shall require submission to
26   photographs of the face and any scars, marks or tattoos for
27   purposes of comparison utilizing an automated biometric imaging
28   system. The Pennsylvania State Police shall submit fingerprints
29   when requested by the commissions or the board to the Federal
30   Bureau of Investigation for purposes of verifying the identity

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 1   of the applicants and obtaining records of criminal arrests and
 2   convictions in order to prepare criminal history background
 3   investigations under section 1801 (relating to duty to provide).
 4   Fingerprints and photographs obtained pursuant to this part may
 5   be maintained by the commissions, the board and the Pennsylvania
 6   State Police for use pursuant to this part and for general law
 7   enforcement purposes. In addition to any other fee or cost
 8   assessed by the commissions or the board, an applicant shall pay
 9   for the cost of fingerprinting and photographing.] (a)
10   Background check.--
11          (1)   In order to ensure the integrity of gaming-related
12      activities in this Commonwealth, the board shall require
13      criminal history record checks for an individual who is an
14      appointee to the board, appointee to the commission,
15      prospective employee, existing employee, independent
16      contractor, applicant or licensee who seeks registration or a
17      permit, certification, license, qualification, renewal or
18      other credential issued by the board under this part.
19          (2)   The individual shall submit a full set of
20      fingerprints to the Pennsylvania State Police.
21          (3)   The Pennsylvania State Police shall:
22                (i)    Check the fingerprints of the individual against
23          records in the Pennsylvania State Police central
24          repository for the purpose of obtaining a current
25          criminal history record of any criminal arrests and
26          convictions.
27                (ii)   Submit the fingerprints of the individual to
28          the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of
29          verifying the identity of the individual and obtaining a
30          current record of any criminal arrests and convictions.

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 1                   (iii)   Forward the results of the criminal history
 2             record check to the board for the sole purpose of
 3             determining the individual's eligibility for the
 4             registration or permit, certification, license,
 5             qualification, credential or renewal under this part.
 6             (4)   The board may not disseminate the criminal history
 7      record check information received under paragraph (3)(iii) to
 8      any other entity.
 9      (b)    Photographs.--
10             (1)   An appointee, employee and prospective employee
11      engaged in the service of the commission or the board and an
12      applicant under this part shall submit to photographing by
13      the Pennsylvania State Police or a local law enforcement
14      agency capable of submitting photographs electronically to
15      the Pennsylvania State Police.
16             (2)   Photographing under this subsection shall consist of
17      taking images of the face and any scar, mark or tattoo for
18      purposes of comparison utilizing an automated biometric
19      imaging system.
20             (3)   Photographs obtained under this subsection may be
21      maintained by the commission, the board and the Pennsylvania
22      State Police for use under this part and for general law
23      enforcement purposes.
24      (c)    Payment.--In addition to any other fee or cost assessed
25   by the commission or the board, an applicant shall pay for the
26   cost of fingerprinting and photographing under this section.
27      Section 5.      The definition of "applicant" in section 3102 of
28   Title 4 is amended to read:
29   § 3102.    Definitions.
30      The following words and phrases when used in this part shall

20250HB1655PN2009                       - 6 -
 1   have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
 2   context clearly indicates otherwise:
 3      * * *
 4      "Applicant."     A person who, on his own behalf or on behalf of
 5   another, applies for [permission to engage in an act or activity
 6   that is regulated under the provisions of this part.]
 7   registration or a permit, certification, license, qualification,
 8   renewal or other credential issued by the board under this part.
 9   If the applicant is a person other than an individual, the board
10   shall determine the associated persons whose qualifications are
11   necessary as a precondition to the registration, permit,
12   certification, license, qualification or other credential issued
13   by the board of the applicant.
14      * * *
15      Section 6.     Section 3301(b)(8) of Title 4 is amended to read:
16   § 3301.    Powers of board.
17      * * *
18      (b)    Specific powers.--The board shall have the power and
19   duty:
20             * * *
21             (8)   [To require prospective and existing video gaming
22      employees, independent contractors, applicants, permittees
23      and licensees to submit to fingerprinting by the Pennsylvania
24      State Police or its authorized designee. The Pennsylvania
25      State Police or its authorized designee shall submit the
26      fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for
27      purposes of verifying the identity of the individual and
28      obtaining records of criminal arrests and convictions.] In
29      order to ensure the integrity of gaming-related activities in
30      this Commonwealth, to require criminal history record checks

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 1    for an individual who is a prospective employee, existing
 2    employee, independent contractor, applicant or licensee and
 3    seeks registration or a permit, certification, license,
 4    qualification, renewal or other credential issued by the
 5    board under this chapter. The following shall apply:
 6             (i)    The individual must submit a full set of
 7        fingerprints to the Pennsylvania State Police.
 8             (ii)    The Pennsylvania State Police shall check the
 9        fingerprints of the individual against records in the
10        Pennsylvania State Police central repository for the
11        purpose of obtaining a current criminal history record of
12        any criminal arrests and convictions.
13             (iii)    The Pennsylvania State Police shall submit the
14        fingerprints of the individual to the Federal Bureau of
15        Investigation for the purpose of verifying the identity
16        of the individual and obtaining a current record of any
17        criminal arrests and convictions.
18             (iv)    The Pennsylvania State Police shall forward the
19        results of the criminal history record check to the board
20        for the sole purpose of determining the individual's
21        eligibility for the registration, permit, certification,
22        license, renewal or other qualification. The board may
23        not disseminate the criminal history record check
24        information to any other entity.
25        * * *
26    Section 7.     This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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