HARRISBURG — A proposal to sell off most of Pennsylvania’s state-owned liquor system and its wholesale distribution network moved ahead with a vote in the Legislature on Monday, although its prospects to become law remain uncertain.

The state House Liquor Control Committee voted 15-to-10 to advance a Republican-backed proposal similar to a bill that passed the House but stalled in the Senate during the last legislative session.

“At the end of the day, this is a private retail and wholesale business that, in every other state except for one, is managed by the private sector,” said Rep. Chris Ross, R-Chester, the committee chairman. “We don’t have state grocery stores. We don’t have state gas stations.”

The proposal would create 1,200 licenses for retail businesses to sell wine and liquor, giving the existing beer distributors the first shot at buying them. All but 100 of the 600 government-owned and -operated liquor stores would gradually close and employees there would get help finding new jobs.

The proposal still requires a vote on the House floor, expected later this week, before it can be sent to the Senate.

Democrats, who voted unanimously against the similar bill in 2013, raised questions about whether the current measure would create the short-term windfall its supporters project.

Rep. Matt Bradford, D-Montgomery, said he wanted to know the value of the state’s existing stores.

“Are we truly maximizing the value, are we giving the taxpayers back the money they put into the system?” Bradford asked.

Ross said there has been “an extensive effort” to value the system, but different locations have different values and part of the proposal is to try to help businesses that are already selling alcohol.