HB 1173 — An Act amending the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), known as the Liquor Code, in Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, further providing for enforcement.

PRINTER'S NO.   1310

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1173
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY SMITH, DEASY, ARMANINI AND STENDER, APRIL 9, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LIQUOR CONTROL, APRIL 9, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), entitled "An
 2      act relating to alcoholic liquors, alcohol and malt and
 3      brewed beverages; amending, revising, consolidating and
 4      changing the laws relating thereto; regulating and
 5      restricting the manufacture, purchase, sale, possession,
 6      consumption, importation, transportation, furnishing, holding
 7      in bond, holding in storage, traffic in and use of alcoholic
 8      liquors, alcohol and malt and brewed beverages and the
 9      persons engaged or employed therein; defining the powers and
10      duties of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board; providing
11      for the establishment and operation of State liquor stores,
12      for the payment of certain license fees to the respective
13      municipalities and townships, for the abatement of certain
14      nuisances and, in certain cases, for search and seizure
15      without warrant; prescribing penalties and forfeitures;
16      providing for local option, and repealing existing laws," in
17      Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, further providing for
18      enforcement.
19      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
20   hereby enacts as follows:
21      Section 1.    Section 211 of the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90,
22   No.21), known as the Liquor Code, is amended by adding a
23   subsection to read:
24      Section 211.    Enforcement.--* * *
25      (h)   The following shall apply:
26      (1)   An individual who is under twenty-one years of age may
 1   purchase, attempt to purchase, possess or transport liquor or
 2   malt or brewed beverages if all of the following apply:
 3      (i)    The individual is at least eighteen years of age.
 4      (ii)    The individual is an officer, employe or intern of the
 5   enforcement bureau.
 6      (iii)    The individual has completed training specified by the
 7   enforcement bureau.
 8      (iv)    The individual is acting within the scope of prescribed
 9   duties.
10      (v)    The individual is acting under the direct control or
11   supervision of an enforcement bureau officer who is an adult.
12      (2)    Individuals under twenty-one years of age may not
13   consume liquor or malt or brewed beverages.
14      (3)    The Pennsylvania State Police shall promulgate
15   regulations prescribing the manner in which compliance checks
16   are to be performed. Compliance checks under this subsection
17   shall be conducted in a manner consistent with the regulations.
18   Regulations shall require, at a minimum, all of the following:
19      (i)    Prior to participation in the compliance check, the
20   officer, employe or intern shall undergo training approved by
21   the enforcement bureau.
22      (ii)    Compliance checks shall include Pennsylvania Liquor
23   Stores.
24      (iii)    A person licensed to sell liquor or malt or brewed
25   beverages that is found to be in compliance with 18 Pa.C.S. §
26   6310.1 (relating to selling or furnishing liquor or malt or
27   brewed beverages to minors) and section 493(1) during a
28   compliance check shall be notified in writing of the compliance
29   check and the determination of compliance.
30      (iv)    A person licensed to sell liquor or malt or brewed

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 1   beverages that is found to be noncompliant with 18 Pa.C.S. §
 2   6310.1 or section 493(1) during a compliance check shall be
 3   immediately verbally advised by the supervising enforcement
 4   bureau officer and shall be notified in writing of the failure
 5   to comply within ten working days of the date of the compliance
 6   check.
 7      (4)   By January 31 of each year, the Pennsylvania State
 8   Police shall submit a report to the chairperson and minority
 9   chairperson of the Law and Justice Committee of the Senate and
10   the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Liquor Control
11   Committee of the House of Representatives on the number of
12   compliance checks performed in the previous calendar year and
13   whether the result of each compliance check was compliant or
14   noncompliant.
15      (5)   The provisions of this subsection shall expire five
16   years from the effective date of this subsection.
17      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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