Language of Proposed Constitutional Amendment for Nonprofits Too Vague, Experts Testify

Two legal scholars testified before a Pennsylvania State Senate committee Wednesday that a proposed constitutional amendment might not give the Legislature the clarity or authority it is seeking when it comes to determining tax exemptions for nonprofit institutions. The constitutional amendment is supported by many nonprofit groups. They say the amendment will provide uniform, statewide standards that will help define what is a “purely public charity,” and they say that uniformity is needed in the wake of a 2012 state Supreme Court ruling that turned back a 1997 state law on nonprofits.