State Rep. Julie Harhart (R-Lehigh/Northampton) is informing organizations that conduct small games of chance that the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue has extended the Feb. 1 reporting deadline until next year.

She says nonprofit organizations which do not hold liquor licenses will not have to submit to any reporting requirements due to further updates to the act."Our nonprofit organizations work hard to help our communities and they rely heavily on fundraising in order to keep their companies afloat," said Harhart."New updates to the Small Games of Chance Act, including the extension of the reporting deadline, will help our fire and EMS companies, veterans organizations and other nonprofits more easily comply with the law while also expanding their opportunities to benefit from the games."According to the Department of Revenue, club licensees and eligible organizations will not be required to submit electronic annual reports to the department by February, 2014.Reporting for clubs and organizations with liquor licenses that net proceeds of more than $20,000 per year will be required by Feb. 1, 2015. Access to the online reporting system will be available through the Department of Revenue in late 2014.The new law specifically expands the definition of "public interest purpose" to include charitable or historic activities and nonprofit youth sports activities, services to support or honor veterans and activities relating to the provision of volunteer fire and rescue activities.This would include the activities of Veterans for Foreign Wars (VFW) posts and American Legions-and this applies to a club that is affiliated with a VFW or American Legion, such as a Ladies Auxiliary, to give proceeds to their home organization.In addition, the law clarifies that an organization operating solely in the public interest has the ability to retain proceeds for their own charitable services.In addition to eliminating reporting requirements for smaller organizations, the new law permits additional games; clarifies the term "public interest charities"; establishes guidelines for drawings; increases prize limits; allows special raffle permits; and makes additional changes regarding record keeping, licenses and fees, location of games and enforcement responsibilities.For more information, go to

www.JulieHarhart.com and click-on the "Small Games of Chance Reporting Requirement Delayed until 2015" banner.