Co-Sponsored by Rep Staats,Bill Passes House to Allow Cash as Payment for School Events Now Law

Legislation, co-sponsored by Rep. Craig  Staats (R-Bucks) -one of 49 co-sponsors- and introduced early in the year by Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams), passed in the House on Wednesday making cash an acceptable form of payment for admission to school-sponsored events in Pennsylvania.

Many schools across the Commonwealth have been rejecting cash as a form of payment for school-sponsored events and activities, instead requiring spectators to use credit or debit cards, or order online or through an app. Moul contends these policies have disenfranchised many seniors, poor people and children who may not have credit cards, smart phones or the technical capabilities to access the internet to purchase tickets.

Ticket purchases via the internet or apps require buyers to surrender a lot of personal information, which is particularly troublesome for senior citizens, a group often targeted by scams. For many who simply want to see their child, grandchild or friends play ball, the new law will permit them to purchase tickets with cash – the legal currency of the United States.

Since he introduced House Bill 685 in March of this year, Moul’s legislation has received widespread bipartisan support and an overwhelmingly positive response from citizens across the Commonwealth. In fact, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA), which had conducted ticket sales exclusively online or through an app, recently rescinded its policy after Moul’s bill gained traction in the General Assembly.

House Bill 685 was included in this year’s Education Code bill that was approved as part of the state budget, which the governor signed into law today.

Click here to see Moul’s remarks following passage of his legislation. Click here to see House Bill 685.