Two bills being simultaneously proposed in the state Senate and House of Representatives could change the chaperone law that put an end to many all-ages shows and under-21 nights in State College.

In the Senate, a law that would lessen the number of chaperones needed when minors and alcohol are present recently went through the Law and Justice Committee, said Sen. Jake Corman, R-Bellefonte.

A second proposal -- House Bill 618 -- went through the House Liquor Control Committee last month.

If approved in both houses of the legislature, the bill would change the ratio of chaperones to minors to an undetermined amount, Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, said. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) would then determine how many chaperones should be present for every minor, he said.

In February, the state legislature passed a bill lowering the ratio of minors to chaperones from 50:1 to 5:1. The drastic change caused many local clubs to cancel under-21 events and all-ages shows.

Senate Bill 532 has not yet passed, but senators are trying to pass it as quickly as possible, Corman said. Bill 532 would raise the ratio of minors to chaperones to 25:1, making it possible for clubs to reopen canceled events, he said. "Under-21 nights are very valuable, especially to a college community," Corman said.

The bill would also make the chaperone law inapplicable to events in establishments with liquor licenses if all alcohol is locked up or off the premises, Corman said. Currently, schools holding formals have to adhere to the chaperone law, and legislators are trying to push the bill through to make it available for May and June proms, he said.

"We're trying to fast track [the bill]," Corman added.

Senate Bill 532 is a welcome change for local business owners.

"It is an improvement over the original [50:1 ratio] rule, and it's certainly an improvement over the recently adopted [5:1 ratio] rule," said Mike Desmond, co-owner of Hotel State College, the group that owns Players Nite Club, 112 W. College Ave. The new law, if passed, would be effective in making sure no one is drinking who should not be, not only because of the ratio but because employees would be counted as chaperones. It would also be easier for club managers and owners to control the chaperones, Desmond said.

Benninghoff said he hopes a bill will be passed to change the chaperone law, regardless which committee wrote it.

"Frankly, I don't care who takes the credit for [the change] as long as something gets done," Benninghoff said.

However, he said a ratio determined by the PLCB would be the most effective ratio because research would be conducted to find the ideal ratio.

The 5:1 ratio was not really researched and showed a dramatic change from the 50:1 ratio, he said.

No one is really sure where the numbers came from, he said.

Benninghoff said House Bill 618 was designed to move through the legislature as quickly as possible.

"Sometimes well-intended bills get caught up in Harrisburg," Benninghoff said. A change in the law would be a positive thing for Pennsylvania citizens, as it would truly show they have a hand in government policy-making, Desmond said.

"If it is in fact adopted, it is an example of how consumers, students and [restaurant/liquor] license holders can be of influence," he said.

Students should continue to petition lawmakers to ensure a bill passes to change the law, Desmond said.