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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 8, 2021 01:45 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Joe Ciresi |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Waiving 2021 Restaurant License Renewal Fees |
| Restaurants across Pennsylvania and the country are struggling to survive. As many of you have heard from constituents in your districts, many restaurants are not able to remain open because of a loss of business incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Mom and pop” restaurants have been particularly hard hit, with the combined effect of seating capacity limits, indoor dining bans, and people staying away from indoor dining due to health concerns severely cutting into their revenue. Even with members of the community trying to support their businesses through outdoor dining and take-out, many are failing. Sadly, some will close permanently. In an effort to provide additional relief for our restaurants, I propose waiving retail food facility license renewal fees for these businesses for the year 2021. This waiver would only apply to restaurants, bars, clubs, churches, and fire halls with gross annual receipts under $5 million and that have lost more than 20% of their monthly sales during the declared disaster emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It would not include retail grocery stores, convenience stores, on-the-farm retail stores, farmers markets, or farm stands. Restaurant owners and their employees need our help. Please join me in providing some relief so that they can continue to serve our communities. |
Introduced as HB840