All-ages events and under-21 nights aren't the only activities being affected by Pennsylvania's new chaperone law. With a 5-1 minor-to-chaperone ratio, high school proms and formals are also in jeopardy.

Hotels and banquet halls across the state risk losing important business because of the difficulty high schools and various groups have in adhering to the strict ratio for businesses with liquor permits. "Proms are held by a lot of schools, and generally, they're at a hotel," said Barry Wickes, Pennsylvania Tourism and Lodging Association (PTLA) president.

Some schools close to state borders are scheduling proms in other states to avoid the law, which may cause a significant monetary loss for Pennsylvania hotels, Wickes said. "Proms are held, and they're an important part of a hotel's business," he said.

The PTLA is working with other state organizations to raise the underage-chaperone ratio to 25-1 for school events, where there is not "a high risk for underage people being exposed to alcohol," Wickes said.

Prom and formal season is quickly approaching, but it is not too late to change the law for upcoming events, he said. Though legislative sessions have been delayed due to a death, Wickes said he is hopeful the state Senate will discuss a bill to change the law as soon as possible.

While proms are important to hotel business, it is also important to change the law so proms can be held for students, Wickes said.

Skip Moerschbacher, owner of Celebration Hall, 2280 Commercial Blvd., said his business has not yet been affected by the law. This may be due to the lack of notification by the state on the actual law and how to deal with it, Moerschbacher said. "I don't really know what the guidelines are -- I don't even know who enforces it," he said.

Due to the lack of public knowledge "no one's really paying attention to the law," Moerschbacher said. "Until someone makes me aware of the law, there is no law as far as I'm concerned."

State legislators are working on two separate bills that would change the chaperone law. The bill that will be presented to the state Senate is being "fast-tracked" to change the law in time for May and June proms, Sen. Jake Corman, R-Bellefonte, said.