PRINTER'S NO. 3622
No. 2652 Session of 1996
INTRODUCED BY GANNON, FAJT, ROONEY, JAROLIN, BELARDI, GEIST,
GIGLIOTTI, MICOZZIE, DiGIROLAMO, SHANER, LAUGHLIN, BROWNE,
TRELLO, ALLEN, HORSEY, KENNEY, COLAFELLA, L. I. COHEN, MERRY,
CURRY, WOGAN, ADOLPH, JOSEPHS, DONATUCCI, MELIO, BARD,
MILLER, McGEEHAN, BROWN, PISTELLA, E. Z. TAYLOR, RAMOS, OLASZ
AND VAN HORNE, MAY 23, 1996
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MAY 23, 1996
AN ACT
1 Establishing a loan program to install safety devices and
2 improve safety at convenience stores; providing for
3 additional duties of the Attorney General; establishing the
4 Pennsylvania Mom and Pop Convenience Store Protection Fund;
5 and making an appropriation.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. Short title.
9 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Pennsylvania
10 Mom and Pop Convenience Store Protection Act.
11 Section 2. Definitions.
12 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
13 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
14 context clearly indicates otherwise:
15 "Convenience store." A retail store that may sell fast
16 foods, beverages, dairy products, publications, grocery items,
17 snacks, some nonfood items and gasoline.
1 "Fund." The Pennsylvania Mom and Pop Convenience Store
2 Protection Fund.
3 Section 3. Program authority.
4 (a) General rule.--There is hereby established a loan
5 program for convenience store owners to install security devices
6 and improve safety in convenience stores. A loan shall not
7 exceed $15,000.
8 (b) Repayment and interest rate.--The Attorney General shall
9 determine a repayment schedule of not more than five years and
10 an interest rate not to exceed 3% for loans under this act.
11 Section 4. Eligibility for loans.
12 (a) General rule.--To be eligible to receive a loan, a
13 convenience store owner shall submit an application to the
14 Attorney General which shall include the following:
15 (1) An assurance that security devices purchased from
16 funds received under this act shall be installed not later
17 than 30 days after receipt of such funds.
18 (2) If practicable, an assurance that each store owner
19 will maintain an unobstructed view of the cash register from
20 the exterior of the store, removing any material that
21 obstructs that view.
22 (3) An assurance from each owner that the loan shall be
23 repaid in not less than 5 years.
24 (b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a loan, a
25 convenience store owner shall meet the following qualifications:
26 (1) The owner may not own more than five convenience
27 stores.
28 (2) The gross receipts of any one store may not exceed
29 $700,000 for the preceding fiscal year, excluding proceeds
30 from the sale of gasoline.
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1 Section 5. Use of funds.
2 A loan received under this act shall be used to install any
3 of the following:
4 (1) A video security system capable of 24-hour
5 surveillance.
6 (2) A drop safe or cash management device with
7 restricted access and posters that indicate not more than $50
8 is accessible to store personnel.
9 (3) A silent alarm system to alert local law enforcement
10 officers of a problem.
11 (4) Height markers at store exits.
12 Section 6. Report.
13 The Attorney General shall submit an annual report to the
14 chairman and minority chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the
15 Senate and the chairman and the minority chairman of the
16 Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives regarding
17 the number of loans, locations, amounts, terms and repayment
18 record of convenience stores that receive funds under this act.
19 Section 7. Fund.
20 (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established a separate
21 account in the State Treasury to be known as the Pennsylvania
22 Mom and Pop Convenience Store Protection Fund. This fund shall
23 be used as the source for the loans made under this act.
24 (b) Funding.--There is hereby diverted from the tax
25 collected under Article XII of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6,
26 No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, the amount of one-
27 tenth of a cent per cigarette. This diversion shall be made into
28 the fund and shall continue until the amount in that fund equals
29 $2,000,000.
30 (c) Appropriation.--The moneys in the Pennsylvania Mom and
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1 Pop Convenience Store Protection Fund are hereby appropriated to
2 the Attorney General on a continuing basis to carry out this
3 act.
4 Section 8. Effective date.
5 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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