HARRISBURG – A bill to ban the practice of buying gift cards instead of completing court ordered community service will move to the Governor for his signature. The House of Representatives unanimously passed the legislation on Monday, which was sponsored by Senator John Gordner (R-27th, Berwick). The bill already passed in the Senate.
Gordner says he introduced the legislation after learning of the practice in Northumberland County. Between 2002 and 2008, the county probation department implemented the program, which allowed defendants to purchase gift cards to be donated to local charities, instead of completing required community service hours. However, in 2014, approximately $4,000 in unused gift cards were found in the probation department safe.
Gordner says important to ban this practice to prevent future occurrences.