An end to poker runs? Change to charity law leads to confusion

It seemed like an innocuous addition to a bill last spring.

A Senate amendment to House Bill 2520 made poker runs a part of the state's Charitable Games Act. The events are a popular way of raising money for charitable causes.

A little more than a month after the bill was signed into law, an organization that pushed for the amendment has changed its mind.

And a Springfield not-for-profit nearly saw its fundraiser scuttled because of confusion over the law.

Rep. Kay Hatcher, R-Yorkville, who sponsored the bill in the House, said the idea of adding poker runs to the Charitable Games Act was brought to her by ABATE, which stands for A Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education and lobbies on behalf of motorcycle interests.

"This was an effort on their part to quantify what they are doing," Hatcher said. "I'm a big ABATE person."

Hatcher, who rides a motorcycle herself, said poker runs have been a staple for antique car groups, sports car organizations and motorcyclists for decades.

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