PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 311

PRINTER'S NO.  2074

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

291

Session of

2009

  

  

INTRODUCED BY DONATUCCI, J. TAYLOR, BELFANTI, BEYER, BRENNAN, CARROLL, DALEY, DeLUCA, EVERETT, FRANKEL, HALUSKA, HARHAI, JOSEPHS, MARSHALL, MELIO, MILLER, M. O'BRIEN, PAYNE, PETRI, PYLE, REICHLEY, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, WATSON, W. KELLER, DENLINGER, FABRIZIO AND GOODMAN, FEBRUARY 6, 2009

  

  

AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON LIQUOR CONTROL, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 9, 2009   

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

1

Amending the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), entitled, as

2

reenacted, "An act relating to alcoholic liquors, alcohol and

3

malt and brewed beverages; amending, revising, consolidating

4

and 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,"

17

further providing for definitions, for malt and brewed

18

beverages manufacturers', distributors' and importing

19

distributors' licenses, for malt and brewed beverages

20

alternating brewers' licenses, for distributors' and

21

importing distributors' restrictions on sales, storage, etc.,

22

and for breweries.

23

This act shall be construed as an enactment of the General

24

Assembly's support for the 3-tier system for alcoholic beverages

25

production, distribution and sale that, through uniform

26

Statewide regulation, provides this Commonwealth regulatory

 


1

authority over the production, storage, distribution,

2

transportation, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages by

3

and to its citizens, for the benefit of the public health and

4

welfare and this Commonwealth's economic stability. The General

5

Assembly intends that the liquor laws shall be enforced in order

6

to restrict sales to minors, collect all State and local taxes

7

due on the commerce in alcoholic beverages, establish open,

8

transparent and accountable distribution systems for alcoholic

9

beverages and the intent to exercise, to the fullest extent

10

allowed, all the authority granted a state under the Twenty-

11

first Amendment.

12

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

13

hereby enacts as follows:

14

Section 1.  The definition of "distributor" in section 102 of

15

the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), known as the Liquor

16

Code, reenacted and amended June 29, 1987 (P.L.32, No.14) and

17

amended May 31, 1996 (P.L.312, No.49), is amended and the

18

section is amended by adding definitions to read:

19

Section 102.  Definitions.--The following words or phrases,

20

unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, shall have the

21

meanings ascribed to them in this section:

22

* * *

23

"Distributor" shall mean any person licensed by the board to

24

engage in the purchase only from [Pennsylvania] small 

25

manufacturers and from importing distributors and the resale of

26

malt or brewed beverages, except to importing distributors and

27

distributors, in the original sealed containers as prepared for

28

the market by the manufacturer at the place of manufacture, but

29

not for consumption on the premises where sold, and in

30

quantities of not less than a case or original containers

- 2 -

 


1

containing one hundred twenty-eight ounces or more which may be

2

sold separately.

3

* * *

4

"Out-of-State small manufacturer" shall mean a small

5

manufacturer located outside this Commonwealth with a maximum

6

production of three hundred seventy-five thousand barrels of

<--

7

malt or brewed beverages per year. In determining the annual

8

production, the out-of-State small manufacturer shall include a

9

portion of the production of any other manufacturer who holds,

10

directly or indirectly, an ownership interest in it or with whom

11

it has a distribution agreement in this Commonwealth. If another

12

manufacturer holds, directly or indirectly, an ownership

13

interest in the out-of-State small manufacturer, the percentage

14

of that interest shall be applied to the manufacturer's total

15

production of malt or brewed beverage products to determine the

16

amount that shall be included in determining the maximum

17

production for the out-of-State small manufacturer. If the out-

18

of-State small manufacturer has a distribution agreement with a

19

larger manufacturer for distribution in this Commonwealth, the

20

distributing manufacturer's total distribution in this

21

Commonwealth shall be added to the out-of-State small

22

manufacturer's production to determine whether the three hundred 

<--

23

seventy-five thousand barrel mark has been reached.

<--

24

* * *

25

"Small manufacturer" shall mean a manufacturer of malt or

26

brewed beverages that produces no more than three hundred 

<--

27

seventy-five thousand barrels of malt or brewed beverages per

<--

28

year. Only malt or brewed beverages for which the manufacturer

29

is responsible for paying the malt beverage tax shall be

30

considered in calculating the total number of barrels produced

- 3 -

 


1

per year for a manufacturer.

2

* * *

3

Section 2.  Section 431 of the act, amended December 20, 1996

4

(P.L.1513, No.196), December 21, 1998 (P.L.1202, No.155) and

5

December 8, 2004 (P.L.1810, No.239), is amended to read:

6

Section 431.  Malt and Brewed Beverages Manufacturers',

7

Distributors' and Importing Distributors' Licenses.--(a)  The

8

board shall issue to any person a resident of this Commonwealth

9

of good repute who applies therefor, and pays the license fee

10

hereinafter prescribed, a manufacturer's license to produce and

11

manufacture malt or brewed beverages, and to transport, sell and

12

deliver malt or brewed beverages from the place of manufacture

13

only in original containers, in quantities of not less than a

14

case or original containers containing one hundred twenty-eight

15

ounces or more which may be sold separately anywhere within the

16

Commonwealth. The application for such license shall be in such

17

form and contain such information as the board shall require.

18

All such licenses shall be granted for a license period to be

19

determined by the board. Every manufacturer shall keep at his or

20

its principal place of business, within the Commonwealth daily

21

permanent records which shall show, (1) the quantities of raw

22

materials received and used in the manufacture of malt or brewed

23

beverages and the quantities of malt or brewed beverages

24

manufactured and stored, (2) the sales of malt or brewed

25

beverages, (3) the quantities of malt or brewed beverages stored

26

for hire or transported for hire by or for the licensee, and (4)

27

the names and addresses of the purchasers or other recipients

28

thereof. Every place licensed as a manufacturer shall be subject

29

to inspection by members of the board or by persons duly

30

authorized and designated by the board, at any and all times of

- 4 -

 


1

the day or night, as they may deem necessary, for the detection

2

of violations of this act or of the rules and regulations of the

3

board, or for the purpose of ascertaining the correctness of the

4

records required to be kept by licensees. The books and records

5

of such licensees shall at all times be open to inspection by

6

members of the board or by persons duly authorized and

7

designated by the board. Members of the board and its duly

8

authorized agents shall have the right, without hindrance, to

9

enter any place which is subject to inspection hereunder or any

10

place where such records are kept for the purpose of making such

11

inspections and making transcripts thereof. Whenever any checks

12

issued in payment of filing and/or license fees shall be

13

returned to the board as dishonored, the board shall charge a

14

fee of five dollars ($5.00) per hundred dollars or fractional

15

part thereof, plus all protest fees, to the maker of such check

16

submitted to the board. Failure to make full payment or pay the

17

face amount of the check in full and all charges thereon as

18

herein required within ten days after demand has been made by

19

the board upon the maker of the check or upon notification to

20

the board by the Department of Revenue or the Department of

21

Labor and Industry of its objection, the license of such person

22

shall immediately become invalid and shall remain invalid until

23

payment and all charges are received by the board.

24

(a.1)  Any [out of State] manufacturer whose products are

25

sold and delivered within this Commonwealth shall be authorized:

26

to rent, lease or otherwise acquire space from an importing

27

distributor or bailee for hire authorized by this act at no more

28

than two locations per manufacturer for use of a segregated

29

portion of a warehouse or other storage facility owned or

30

operated by the importing distributor or bailee for hire at

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1

which the [out of State] manufacturer may store, repackage and

2

sell malt or brewed beverages to any importing distributor to

3

whom the [out of State] manufacturer has granted distribution

4

rights pursuant to subsection (b) or to any purchaser outside

5

this Commonwealth for delivery outside this Commonwealth; or to

6

ship to its storage facility outside this Commonwealth. Such

7

manufacturer may compensate the importing distributor or bailee

8

for hire for any related storage, repackaging or delivery

9

services. The [out of State] manufacturer must file with the

10

Liquor Control Board the rate of compensation to be paid. A

11

separate written application must be filed to acquire storage

12

licenses, and the board may establish the information that must

13

be provided on the application. The initial filing must be made

14

prior to any payments being made, and any subsequent changes in

15

the rate of compensation must be filed within thirty days of any

16

such change. Nothing in this act authorizing storage facilities

17

for [out of State] manufacturers is intended to make any change

18

in the manner malt or brewed beverages are distributed through

19

the three-tier system.

20

(a.2)  The board shall issue to [a holder of a manufacturer's

21

license] a small manufacturer no more than two storage licenses

<--

22

per small manufacturer to cover storage facilities separate from

<--

23

the location of the manufacturing facility. A small manufacturer

<--

24

may use its storage facilities to receive, store, repackage,

25

sell and distribute malt or brewed beverages in the same manner

26

as it can at its place of manufacture or it may rent, lease or

27

otherwise acquire space from an importing distributor or bailee

28

for hire authorized by this act in the same manner as [an out of

29

State] a manufacturer as set forth in subsection (a.1). No

<--

30

manufacturer may rent, lease or otherwise acquire space for more

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1

than two storage facilities under subsection (a.1) or this

2

subsection. A separate written application must be filed to

3

acquire storage licenses, and the board is empowered to

4

establish what information must be provided on that application.

5

Nothing in this act authorizing off-site storage facilities for

6

manufacturers is intended to make any change in the manner malt

7

or brewed beverages are distributed through the three-tier

8

system.

9

(a.3)  An applicant for an out-of-State small manufacturer

10

license shall file a written application with the board in such

11

form and containing such information as the board shall from

12

time to time prescribe. The application and license fees and the

13

restrictions on who may apply for the license shall be the same

14

as the fees and restrictions imposed on in-State small

15

manufacturer applicants. In addition, the out-of-State small

16

manufacturer must obtain a sales tax license from the department

17

prior to submitting the application to the board. The

18

information contained in the application shall be provided by

19

the board to the department upon request. In order to continue

20

to be eligible to hold an out-of-State small manufacturer

21

license, the out-of-State small manufacturer may not produce in

22

excess of three hundred seventy-five thousand barrels of malt or

<--

23

brewed beverages per year, as that calculation is defined in

24

section 102. No out-of-State small manufacturer licensee or its

25

officers, directors, shareholders or members shall hold any

26

interest in any other license issued by the board; nor shall any

27

out-of-State manufacturer licensee or its officers, directors,

28

shareholders or members, either directly or indirectly, lend

29

moneys, credit or equivalent thereof, to any other licensee; nor

30

shall any out-of-State manufacturer licensee or it officers,

- 7 -

 


1

directors, shareholders or members guarantee the payment of any

2

bond, mortgage, note or other obligations of any other licensee;

3

nor shall any out-of-State manufacturer licensee or its

4

officers, directors, shareholders or members be the owner,

5

proprietor or lessor of any place for which any other license

6

has been issued by the board. Out-of-State small manufacturer

7

licensees are deemed to have submitted to the jurisdiction of

8

the board, any other Commonwealth agency and the courts of this

9

Commonwealth for purposes of enforcement of this section and any

10

related laws, rules or regulations. Out-of-State small

11

manufacturer licensees are subject to citation by the

12

enforcement bureau under section 471 and nonrenewal by the board

13

under section 470. The department may promulgate regulations

14

requiring the filing of periodic reports by out-of-State small

15

manufacturers to ensure compliance with the provisions of this

16

section. A holder of an out-of-State small manufacturer license

17

may deliver malt or brewed beverages it has manufactured to any

18

holder of any retail license issued by the board. In doing so,

19

the out-of-State small manufacturer must use its own vehicles

20

and may not, in the Commonwealth, use the services of a

21

transporter-for-hire or other commercial carrier. If the out-of-

22

State small manufacturer chooses to self-distribute in this

23

Commonwealth, it is not permitted to utilize storage services or

24

facilities otherwise available under section 431(a.1).

25

(b)  The board shall issue to any reputable person who

26

applies therefor, and pays the license fee hereinafter

27

prescribed, a distributor's or importing distributor's license

28

for the place which such person desires to maintain for the sale

29

of malt or brewed beverages, not for consumption on the premises

30

where sold, and in quantities of not less than a case or

- 8 -

 


1

original containers containing one hundred twenty-eight ounces

2

or more which may be sold separately as prepared for the market

3

by the manufacturer at the place of manufacture. The board shall

4

have the discretion to refuse a license to any person or to any

5

corporation, partnership or association if such person, or any

6

officer or director of such corporation, or any member or

7

partner of such partnership or association shall have been

8

convicted or found guilty of a felony within a period of five

9

years immediately preceding the date of application for the said

10

license: And provided further, That, in the case of any new

11

license or the transfer of any license to a new location, the

12

board may, in its discretion, grant or refuse such new license

13

or transfer if such place proposed to be licensed is within

14

three hundred feet of any church, hospital, charitable

15

institution, school or public playground, or if such new license

16

or transfer is applied for a place which is within two hundred

17

feet of any other premises which is licensed by the board: And

18

provided further, That the board shall refuse any application

19

for a new license or the transfer of any license to a new

20

location if, in the board's opinion, such new license or

21

transfer would be detrimental to the welfare, health, peace and

22

morals of the inhabitants of the neighborhood within a radius of

23

five hundred feet of the place proposed to be licensed. The

24

board shall refuse any application for a new license or the

25

transfer of any license to a location where the sale of liquid

26

fuels or oil is conducted. The board may enter into an agreement

27

with the applicant concerning additional restrictions on the

28

license in question. If the board and the applicant enter into

29

such an agreement, such agreement shall be binding on the

30

applicant. Failure by the applicant to adhere to the agreement

- 9 -

 


1

will be sufficient cause to form the basis for a citation under

2

section 471 and for the nonrenewal of the license under section

3

470. If the board enters into an agreement with an applicant

4

concerning additional restrictions, those restrictions shall be

5

binding on subsequent holders of the license until the license

6

is transferred to a new location or until the board enters into

7

a subsequent agreement removing those restrictions. If the

8

application in question involves a location previously licensed

9

by the board, then any restrictions imposed by the board on the

10

previous license at that location shall be binding on the

11

applicant unless the board enters into a new agreement

12

rescinding those restrictions. The board shall require notice to

13

be posted on the property or premises upon which the licensee or

14

proposed licensee will engage in sales of malt or brewed

15

beverages. This notice shall be similar to the notice required

16

of hotel, restaurant and club liquor licensees.

17

Except as hereinafter provided, such license shall authorize

18

the holder thereof to sell or deliver malt or brewed beverages

19

in quantities above specified anywhere within the Commonwealth

20

of Pennsylvania, which, in the case of distributors, have been

21

purchased only from persons licensed under this act as small 

22

manufacturers or importing distributors, and in the case of

23

importing distributors, have been purchased from manufacturers

24

or persons outside this Commonwealth engaged in the legal sale

25

of malt or brewed beverages or from manufacturers or importing

26

distributors licensed under this article. In the case of an

27

importing distributor, the holder of such a license shall be

28

authorized to store and repackage malt or brewed beverages owned

29

by a manufacturer at a segregated portion of a warehouse or

30

other storage facility authorized by section 441(d) and operated

- 10 -

 


1

by the importing distributor within its appointed territory and

2

deliver such beverages to another importing distributor who has

3

been granted distribution rights by the manufacturer as provided

4

herein. The importing distributor shall be permitted to receive

5

a fee from the manufacturer for any related storage, repackaging

6

or delivery services. In the case of a bailee for hire hired by

7

a manufacturer, the holder of such a permit shall be authorized:

8

to receive, store and repackage malt or brewed beverages

9

produced by that manufacturer for sale by that manufacturer to

10

importing distributors to whom that manufacturer has given

11

distribution rights pursuant to this subsection or to purchasers

12

outside this Commonwealth for delivery outside this

13

Commonwealth; or to ship to that manufacturer's storage

14

facilities outside this Commonwealth. The bailee for hire shall

15

be permitted to receive a fee from the manufacturer for any

16

related storage, repackaging or delivery services. The bailee

17

for hire shall, as required in Article V of this act, keep

18

complete and accurate records of all transactions, inventory,

19

receipts and shipments and make all records and the licensed

20

areas available for inspection by the board and for the

21

Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement,

22

during normal business hours.

23

Each [out of State] manufacturer of malt or brewed beverages,

24

excluding small manufacturers, whose products are sold and

25

delivered in this Commonwealth shall give distributing rights

26

for such products in designated geographical areas to specific

27

importing distributors, and such importing distributor shall not

28

sell or deliver malt or brewed beverages manufactured by the

29

[out of State] manufacturer to any person issued a license under

30

the provisions of this act whose licensed premises are not

- 11 -

 


1

located within the geographical area for which he has been given

2

distributing rights by such manufacturer. Should a licensee

3

accept the delivery of such malt or brewed beverages in

4

violation of this section, said licensee shall be subject to a

5

suspension of his license for at least thirty days: Provided,

6

That the importing distributor holding such distributing rights

7

for such product shall not sell or deliver the same to another

8

importing distributor without first having entered into a

9

written agreement with the said secondary importing distributor

10

setting forth the terms and conditions under which such products

11

are to be resold within the territory granted to the primary

12

importing distributor by the manufacturer.

13

When a [Pennsylvania] small manufacturer of malt or brewed

14

beverages licensed under this article names or constitutes a

15

distributor or importing distributor as the primary or original

16

supplier of his product, he shall also designate the specific

17

geographical area for which the said distributor or importing

18

distributor is given distributing rights, and such distributor

19

or importing distributor shall not sell or deliver the products

20

of such manufacturer to any person issued a license under the

21

provisions of this act whose licensed premises are not located

22

within the geographical area for which distributing rights have

23

been given to the distributor and importing distributor by the

24

said manufacturer: Provided, That the importing distributor

25

holding such distributing rights for such product shall not sell

26

or deliver the same to another importing distributor without

27

first having entered into a written agreement with the said

28

secondary importing distributor setting forth the terms and

29

conditions under which such products are to be resold within the

30

territory granted to the primary importing distributor by the

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1

manufacturer. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to

2

prevent any manufacturer from authorizing the importing

3

distributor holding the distributing rights for a designated

4

geographical area from selling the products of such manufacturer

5

to another importing distributor also holding distributing

6

rights from the same manufacturer for another geographical area,

7

providing such authority be contained in writing and a copy

8

thereof be given to each of the importing distributors so

9

affected.

10

(b.1)  (1)  Any person in this Commonwealth or elsewhere who

11

shall purchase or in any manner whatsoever acquire or otherwise

12

succeed to the business of a manufacturer, assets or rights to

13

import, market, ship into this Commonwealth or distribute a

14

brand of beer, or to use and exploit any trademark incorporated

15

as part of a brand of beer produced by such a manufacturer shall

16

be obligated to all terms of the manufacturer's franchise

17

agreements in effect on the effective date of the purchase,

18

acquisition or succession, or, if earlier, at the time the

19

agreement contemplating the purchase, acquisition or succession

20

is actually made.

21

(2)  "Purchase" or "acquisition," for purposes of this

22

section, includes, but is not limited to, a purchase,

23

acquisition, lease, license or assignment of all or a

24

controlling interest in the capital stock or operating assets,

25

including brand trademarks rights; merger; any corporate

26

reorganization or consolidation; and also, without limitation,

27

any license, cross-license, joint venture or other agreement or

28

arrangement, directly or indirectly, transferring, substituting

29

or materially changing the person or persons authorized by the

30

one owning or controlling a brand or any trademark as part of a

- 13 -

 


1

brand, to produce, import, ship, market or distribute the brand

2

of beer into or within this Commonwealth.

3

(3)  "Manufacturer," as used in this subsection, shall mean

4

any person, including any agent of such person, who (i) is

5

licensed as a manufacturer of malt or brewed beverages located

6

within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, (ii) holds a

7

distributor or importing distributor license, or (iii)

8

manufactures any malt beverage, has title to any malt beverage

9

products or has the contractual right to distribute any malt

10

beverage product, whether licensed in this Commonwealth or not,

11

who enters into an "agreement" with any importing distributor

12

licensed to do business in this Commonwealth.

13

(c)  The aforesaid licenses shall be issued only to reputable

14

individuals, partnerships and associations who are, or whose

15

members are, citizens of the United States and have for two

16

years prior to the date of their applications been residents of

17

the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or to reputable corporations

18

organized or duly registered under the laws of the Commonwealth

19

of Pennsylvania. Such licenses shall be issued to corporations

20

duly organized or registered under the laws of the Commonwealth

21

of Pennsylvania only when it appears that all of the officers

22

and directors of the corporation are citizens of the United

23

States and [have been] are residents of the Commonwealth of

24

Pennsylvania [for a period of at least two years prior to the

25

date of application], and that at least fifty-one per centum of

26

the capital stock of such corporation is actually owned by

27

individuals who are citizens of the United States and [have

28

been] are residents of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania [for a

29

period of at least two years prior to the date of application]:

30

Provided, That the provisions of this subsection with respect to

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1

residence requirements shall not apply to individuals, partners,

2

officers, directors and owners of capital stock, of corporations

3

licensed or applying for licenses as manufacturers of malt or

4

brewed beverages, nor shall the provisions of this subsection

5

with respect to stockholder requirements apply to corporations

6

licensed or applying for licenses as manufacturers of malt or

7

brewed beverages.

8

(d)  (1)  All distributing rights as hereinabove required

9

shall be in writing, shall be equitable in their provisions and

10

shall be substantially similar as to terms and conditions with

11

all other distributing rights agreements between the

12

manufacturer giving such agreement and its other importing

13

distributors and distributors shall not be modified, cancelled,

14

terminated or rescinded by the manufacturer without good cause,

15

and shall contain a provision in substance or effect as follows:

16

"The manufacturer recognizes that the importing distributor and

17

distributor are free to manage their business in the manner the

18

importing distributor and distributor deem best and that this

19

prerogative vests in the importing distributor and distributor

20

the exclusive right to establish a selling price, to select the

21

brands of malt or brewed beverages they wish to handle and to

22

determine the efforts and resources which the importing

23

distributor and distributor will exert to develop and promote

24

the same of the manufacturer's products handled by the importing

25

distributor and distributor. However, the manufacturer expects

26

that the importing distributor and distributor will price

27

competitively the products handled by them, devote reasonable

28

effort and resources to the sale of such products and maintain a

29

reasonable sales level." "Good cause" shall mean the failure by

30

any party to an agreement, without reasonable excuse or

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1

justification, to comply substantially with an essential,

2

reasonable and commercially acceptable requirement imposed by

3

the other party under the terms of an agreement.

4

(2)  After January 1, 1980, no manufacturer shall enter into

5

any agreement with more than one distributor or importing

6

distributor for the purpose of establishing more than one

7

agreement for designated brand or brands of malt or brewed

8

beverages in any one territory. Each franchise territory which

9

is granted by a manufacturer shall be geographically contiguous.

10

All importing distributors shall maintain sufficient records to

11

evidence compliance of this section. With regard to any

12

territorial distribution authority granted to an importing

13

distributor by a manufacturer of malt or brewed beverages after

14

January 1, 1996, the records shall establish that each and every

15

case of a brand of malt or brewed beverages for which the

16

importing distributor is assigned was sold, resold, stored,

17

delivered or transported by the importing distributor, either

18

from a point or to a point with the assigned geographically

19

contiguous territory, to any person or persons, whether such

20

person or persons are licensed by this act or not licensed by

21

this act.

22

(3)  Except for discontinuance of a brand or a valid

23

termination for good cause, the purchaser of the assets of the

24

manufacturer as defined in this act shall become obligated to

25

all the territorial and brand designations of the agreement in

26

effect on the date of purchase. Purchase of assets as defined

27

for the purposes of this act shall include, but not be limited

28

to, the sale of stock, sale of assets, merger, lease, transfer

29

or consolidation.

30

(4)  The court of common pleas of the county wherein the

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1

licensed premises of the importing distributor or distributor

2

are located is hereby vested with jurisdiction and power to

3

enjoin the modification, rescission, cancellation or termination

4

of a franchise or agreement between a manufacturer and an

5

importing distributor or distributor at the instance of such

6

importing distributor or distributor who is or might be

7

adversely affected by such modification, rescission,

8

cancellation or termination, and in granting an injunction the

9

court shall provide that no manufacturer shall supply the

10

customers or territory of the importing distributor or

11

distributor by servicing the territory or customers through

12

other importing distributors or distributors or any other means

13

while the injunction is in effect: Provided, however, That any

14

injunction issued under this subsection shall require the

15

posting of sufficient bond against damages arising from an

16

injunction improvidently granted and a showing that the danger

17

of irrevocable loss or damage is immediate and that during the

18

pendency of such injunction the importing distributor or

19

distributor shall continue to service the accounts of the

20

manufacturer in good faith.

21

(5)  The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to

22

[Pennsylvania] small manufacturers [whose principal place of

23

business is located in Pennsylvania] unless they name or

24

constitute a distributor or importing distributor as a primary

25

or original supplier of their products subsequent to the

26

effective date of this act, or unless such [Pennsylvania] small 

27

manufacturers have named or constituted a distributor or

28

importing distributor as a primary or original supplier of their

29

products prior to the effective date of this act, and which

30

status is continuing when this act becomes effective.

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1

(e)  In addition to the fees under section 614-A of the act

2

of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as "The Administrative

3

Code of 1929," the board shall assess a fee surcharge of ninety-

4

five dollars ($95.00) for a distributor's license and a fee

5

surcharge of four hundred seventy dollars ($470.00) for an

6

importing distributor's license and a fee surcharge of seventy-

7

five dollars ($75.00) for brand registration. Money collected

8

under this subsection shall be placed in a restricted account in

9

The State Stores Fund. The board may use the money in this

10

account to implement section 216. In the event the provisions of

11

section 447(a)(2) and/or (c) are held invalid, then this

12

subsection shall be void and shall not apply.

13

(f)  (1)  Any malt or brewed beverage produced outside this

14

Commonwealth that is repackaged by a bailee for hire or

15

importing distributor on behalf of an out of State manufacturer

16

must be returned to the out of State manufacturer and come to

17

rest out of State before it may reenter this Commonwealth. Such

18

repackaged malt or brewed beverages must be distributed through

19

the three-tier system. Any malt or brewed beverage that is

20

repackaged by a bailee for hire or importing distributor on

21

behalf of an in State manufacturer must be returned to the in

22

State manufacturer and come to rest at the in State

23

manufacturer's licensed facility.

24

(2)  For purposes of this section, "repackage" shall mean any

25

change or alteration to the containers or container

26

configuration of a case.

27

Section 3.  Section 431.1(d) of the act, added February 21,

28

2002 (P.L.103, No.10), is amended to read:

29

Section 431.1.  Malt and Brewed Beverages Alternating

30

Brewers' Licenses.--* * *

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1

(d)  Malt and brewed beverages manufactured under the

2

authority of an alternating brewer's license must be distributed

3

in this Commonwealth only through specific importing

4

distributors who shall first have been given distributor rights

5

for such products in designated geographical areas through the

6

distribution system required for [out-of-State] manufacturers

7

under section 431(b) as well as all other pertinent sections of

8

this act. The alternating brewer must comply with section 444.

9

* * *

10

Section 4.  Section 441(g) of the act, added December 20,

11

1996 (P.L.1513, No.196), is amended to read:

12

Section 441.  Distributors' and Importing Distributors'

13

Restrictions on Sales, Storage, Etc.--* * *

14

(g)  All malt or brewed beverages purchased by an importing

15

distributor from a [Pennsylvania] manufacturer of malt or brewed

16

beverages [or from any person located outside this Commonwealth] 

17

for resale shall be invoiced to the importing distributor, shall

18

come physically into the possession of such importing

19

distributor and shall be unloaded into and distributed from the

20

licensed premises of such importing distributor. The board may

21

act to further define and control the storage and distribution

22

of malt or brewed beverages in conformity with this section and

23

this act.

24

Section 5.  Section 446 of the act, amended June 30, 1992

25

(P.L.327, No.66), May 31, 1996 (P.L.312, No.49) and January 6,

26

2006 (P.L.1, No.1), is amended to read:

27

Section 446.  Breweries.--Holders of a brewery license may:

28

(1)  Sell malt or brewed beverages produced and owned by the

29

brewery on the licensed premises under such conditions and

30

regulations as the board may enforce, to individuals for

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1

consumption on the premises [and]. Additionally, a small

2

manufacturer may sell malt or brewed beverages produced and

3

owned by the brewery on the licensed premises under such

4

conditions and regulations as the board may enforce to hotel,

5

restaurant, club and public service liquor licensees.

6

(2)  Operate a restaurant or brewery pub on the licensed

7

premises under such conditions and regulations as the board may

8

enforce: Provided, however, That sales on Sunday may be made

9

irrespective of the volume of food sales if the licensed

10

premises are at a public venue location. The holder of a brewery

11

license may sell at its brewery pub premises Pennsylvania wines

12

it has purchased from either the holder of a Pennsylvania

13

limited winery license or from the board: Provided, however,

14

That said wines must be consumed at the licensed brewery pub

15

premises.

16

(3)  Use brewery storage and distribution facilities for the

17

purpose of receiving, storing and distributing malt or brewed

18

beverages manufactured outside this Commonwealth if the

19

beverages are distributed in this Commonwealth only through

20

specific importing distributors who shall have first been given

21

distributing rights for such products in designated geographical

22

areas through the distribution system required for [out-of-

23

State] manufacturers under section 431(b) as well as all other

24

pertinent sections of this act. The manufacturer of the

25

beverages must comply with section 444.

26

(4)  Apply for and hold a hotel liquor license, a restaurant

27

liquor license or a malt and brewed beverages retail license to

28

sell for consumption at the restaurant or brewery pub on the

29

licensed brewery premises, liquor, wine and malt or brewed

30

beverages regardless of the place of manufacture, under the same

- 20 -

 


1

conditions and regulations as any other hotel liquor license,

2

restaurant liquor license or malt and brewed beverages retail

3

license, but must brew at least two hundred fifty barrels per

4

year. Each holder of a brewery license who receives a hotel

5

liquor license, a restaurant liquor license or a malt or brewed

6

beverages retail license to operate a brew pub shall not sell

7

directly to any person licensed by this act, except if any malt

8

or brewed beverage is to be distributed in this Commonwealth it

9

shall be only through specific importing distributors who shall

10

have first been given distributing rights for such products in

11

designated geographical areas through the distribution system

12

required for [out-of-State] manufacturers under section 431(b)

13

as well as all other pertinent sections of this act.

14

Section 6.  The provisions of this act are severable. If any

15

provision of this act or its application to any person or

16

circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect

17

other provisions or applications of this act which can be given

18

effect without the invalid provision or application.

19

Section 7.  This act shall take effect December 31, 2009.

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