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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | August 26, 2014 09:54 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative John Taylor |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Importation of Alcohol |
| In the near future, I plan to offer legislation to amend the Liquor Code. My legislation will seem familiar to the vast majority of the members because it was an important component of HB 790 when the House of Representatives passed that bill in March of 2013. Due to recent news stories in the Philadelphia Inquirer, I firmly believe that there is a pressing need for this change to the Liquor Code. My amendment would allow residents of Pennsylvania to purchase wine, spirits and beer outside of the Commonwealth and bring those purchases home with them without fear of criminal prosecution. It would require them to pay all the necessary Pennsylvania taxes on their purchases. Furthermore, my legislation would allow a Pennsylvania resident to be reimbursed by a friend of family member for an alcohol purchase made outside of PA for someone else. The legislation has limitations so no one would be selling alcohol without a license. I initially decided to introduce this legislation because, as a resident of Southeastern PA, my neighbors and I have easy access to shopping opportunities in neighboring states. Unfortunately, many of my neighbors were not aware that it was illegal to return to PA with the bottle of wine they picked up while grocery shopping in New Jersey. My decision to introduce this legislation was further cemented after news reports of a Southeastern PA resident who risks losing in excess of 2400 bottles of premium wines because he purchased these wines, which are not available through the PLCB, outside of the State. In addition, he was reimbursed for some of his purchases by friends and family members who had requested a specific wine. The wines that were confiscated by the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement now face being destroyed. These are valuable wines and represent a significant investment by this resident. If the resident was willing to pay the necessary taxes then he should have his wines returned to him. Thank you for your consideration of my legislation. Should you have any questions, please contact Marcia Lampman, Executive Director, Liquor Control Committee, at 772-9812 or email mlampman@pahousegop.com. |
Introduced as HB2457