HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 171        FILED ON: 1/10/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1724

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to recreational games at senior centers.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.

12th Hampden

1/10/2023

Todd M. Smola

1st Hampden

1/25/2023

Paul J. Donato

35th Middlesex

2/23/2023

Bud L. Williams

11th Hampden

2/23/2023

Patricia A. Duffy

5th Hampden

2/23/2023

Brian W. Murray

10th Worcester

2/23/2023

Mathew J. Muratore

1st Plymouth

2/23/2023

Paul McMurtry

11th Norfolk

2/23/2023

Ryan M. Hamilton

15th Essex

2/23/2023

Daniel R. Carey

2nd Hampshire

3/1/2023

John C. Velis

Hampden and Hampshire

3/13/2023

Michael J. Finn

6th Hampden

4/5/2023

Patricia A. Haddad

5th Bristol

4/18/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 171        FILED ON: 1/10/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1724

By Representative Puppolo of Springfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1724) of Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., and others relative to regulation of recreational games at senior centers.  The Judiciary.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

An Act relative to recreational games at senior centers.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1: Chapter 271 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 22B the following section:- Section 22C. (a) For purposes of this section, the term “recreational games" shall mean any card game or game of chance, including but not limited to, poker, pinochle, bridge, rummy, canasta, hearts, dominos, cribbage, and any type of recreational bingo in which:

(i) the winnings of any player in a single game or session does not exceed $20;

(ii) the amount of money contributed by a single player during the entire session is $5 or less;

(iii) all money wagered on the game is distributed to the players by the end of the session;

(iv) all players are natural persons who attend and compete in the game, in person, as a contestant or bettor on equal terms with the other players therein without receiving or becoming entitled to receive something of value or any profit therefrom other than his or her personal winnings from the game; and

(v) no person receives or becomes entitled to receive any profit, outside the winnings of a player, for the arrangement or facilitation of the game or permitting the use of premises for the game;

(vi) the provisions of Section 22C of chapter 271 shall only apply to said recreational games taking place at municipal and town senior centers in the commonwealth.

(b) Nothing in this chapter shall authorize the prosecution, arrest or conviction of any person for hosting or playing in a recreational game in a public or private setting; provided, however, private establishments may refuse to permit the playing of such recreational games.