Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Current as of January 01, 2022 | Updated by FindLaw Staff
(a) Complaints.--A complaint regarding a possible violation of this act shall be made to the appropriate law enforcement agency or to the department. A complaint to the department shall be made in one of the following manners:
(1) In writing.
(2) By a telephone call to the department's toll-free telephone number.
(3) By an electronic submission to the department's regularly maintained Internet website.
(b) Responsibilities.--
(1) Except as provided under paragraphs (2) and (3), upon receipt of a complaint by the department, the following apply:
(i) Except as set forth under subparagraph (ii), the department shall investigate the complaint and enforce this act.
(ii) If the public place is subject to licensure by the Commonwealth, in such case, the department shall refer the complaint to the appropriate licensing agency for investigation and enforcement of this act.
(2) If a complaint is made to the department regarding a public place located in a county under subsection (c), the department shall notify the county board of health. The county board of health shall investigate the complaint and enforce this act.
(3) If the complaint is made to a law enforcement agency regarding a public place, the agency shall investigate the complaint and enforce this act.
(c) County election.--A county may elect to have its board of health enforce this act by providing written notification to the department. In such event, the county board of health shall provide the department with sufficient information regarding its enforcement actions for the department's annual report required under section 8. 1
(d) Access to records.--A drinking establishment, cigar bar and tobacco shop shall make available all books, accounts, revenues, receipts and other information to the department, the Department of Revenue, the State licensing agency or a county board of health as necessary to enforce this act. All information submitted to the Department of Health, a county board or other Commonwealth agency with enforcement duties under this act, including information to verify the on-site food consumption of a drinking establishment, shall be confidential and shall not be subject to the act of June 21, 1957 (P.L. 390, No. 212), 2 referred to as the Right-to-Know Law.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Pennsylvania Statutes Title 35 P.S. Health and Safety § 637.5. Enforcement - last updated January 01, 2022 | https://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-35-ps-health-and-safety/pa-st-sect-35-637-5/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature or via Westlaw before relying on it for your legal needs.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)