Accepting cash for entry to school events may become a requirement in Pennsylvania

Only having cash to pay for a ticket to a school-sponsored activity would no longer stop anyone from gaining entry under legislation that passed the state Senate on Monday.

The bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Cris Dush, would require schools to accept cash as an optional means of buying a ticket to any school-sponsored activities including sporting events sanctioned by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.

The bill, which passed by a 47-1 vote, now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration in the waning days of the 2023-24 legislative session that ends Nov. 30.

“Many Pennsylvania schools now refuse to accept cash as a form of payment into school-sponsored concerts, plays and athletic events,” Dush said in a statement. “While the mandatory cashless option is much more convenient for some and greatly streamlines the accounting process at the ticket office, for the elderly and others living on fixed incomes, it can make routine attendance at school-sponsored activities much more difficult or impossible.”

His bill was amended in the Senate Education Committee to allow schools to refuse exceeding large denomination bills when entry only costs a low amount such as a $100 bill for admission that costs a dollar.

In the committee, Sen. Lindsey Williams, D-Allegheny County, said she would support the bill despite her preference to defer to local control.

“I’ve also heard about more and more schools requiring families to buy tickets online and I’m concerned what it means for students whose family rely on cash,” she said. “We shouldn’t be putting up barriers for parents and families who want to watch their kids play and support their education.”

The sole dissenting vote on cast on the Senate floor came from Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill, R-York County, who could not be reached for comment.