2014 -- H 8080

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LC005539

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES

     Introduced By: Representatives Winfield, and Costantino

     Date Introduced: April 30, 2014

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 3-7-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 3-7 entitled "Retail Licenses"

is hereby amended to read as follows:

     3-7-7. Class B license. -- (a) (1) A retailer's Class B license is issued only to a licensed

bona fide tavern keeper or victualer whose tavern or victualing house may be open for business

and regularly patronized at least from nine o'clock (9:00) a.m. to seven o'clock (7:00) p.m.

provided no beverage is sold or served after one o'clock (1:00) a.m., nor before six o'clock (6:00)

a.m. Local licensing boards may fix an earlier closing time within their jurisdiction, at their

discretion. The East Greenwich town council may, in its discretion, issue full and limited Class B

licenses which may not be transferred, but which shall revert to the town of East Greenwich if not

renewed by the holder. The Cumberland town council may, in its discretion, issue full and limited

Class B licenses which may not be transferred to another person or entity, or to another location,

but which shall revert to the town of Cumberland if not renewed by the holder. The Smithfield

town council may, in its discretion, issue full and limited Class B licenses which may not be

transferred to another person or entity, or to another location, but which shall revert to the town of

Smithfield if not renewed by the holder.

      The Pawtucket city council may, in its discretion, issue full and limited Class B licenses

which may not be transferred to another person or entity, or to another location, but which shall

revert to the city of Pawtucket if not renewed by the holder. This legislation shall not affect any

Class B license holders whose licenses were issued by the Pawtucket city council with the right to

transfer.

      (2) The license authorizes the holder to keep for sale and sell beverages including beer in

cans, at retail at the place described and to deliver them for consumption on the premises or place

where sold, but only at tables or a lunch bar where food is served. It also authorizes the charging

of a cover, minimum, or door charge. The amount of the cover, or minimum, or door charge is

posted at the entrance of the establishments in a prominent place.

      (3) Holders of licenses are not permitted to hold dances within the licensed premises,

unless proper permits have been properly obtained from the local licensing authorities.

      (4) Any holder of a Class B license may, upon the approval of the local licensing board

and for the additional payment of two hundred dollars ($200) to five hundred dollars ($500), open

for business at twelve o'clock (12:00) p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays and the night before

legal state holidays may close at two o'clock (2:00) a.m. All requests for a two o'clock (2:00) a.m.

license shall be advertised by the local licensing board in a newspaper having a circulation in the

county where the establishment applying for the license is located.

      (5) A holder of a retailer's Class B license is allowed to erect signs advertising his or her

business and products sold on the premises, including neon signs, and is allowed to light those

signs during all lawful business hours, including Sundays and holidays.

      (b) The annual license fee for a tavern keeper shall be four hundred dollars ($400) to two

thousand dollars ($2,000), and for a victualer the license fee shall be four hundred dollars ($400)

to two thousand dollars ($2,000). In towns with a population of less than two thousand five

hundred (2,500) inhabitants, as determined by the last census taken under the authority of the

United States or the state, the fee for each retailer's Class B license shall be determined by the

town council, but shall in no case be less than three hundred dollars ($300) annually. If the

applicant requests it in his or her application, any retailer's Class B license may be issued limiting

the sale of beverages on the licensed premises to malt and vinous beverages containing not more

than twenty percent (20%) alcohol by volume, and the fee for that limited Class B license shall be

two hundred dollars ($200) to one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) annually. The fee for

any Class B license shall in each case be prorated to the year ending December 1 in every

calendar year.

      (1) Upon the approval and designation of a district or districts within its city or town by

the local licensing board, the local licensing board may issue to any holder of a Class B license or

a Class ED license, an extended hours permit to extend closing hours on Thursdays, Fridays and

Saturdays, the night before a legal state holiday or such other days as determined by the local

board, for one hour past such license holder's legal closing time as established by the license

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holder's license or licenses including, but not limited to, those issued pursuant to subdivision (4)

hereof. The extended hours permit shall not permit the sale of alcohol during the extended one-

hour period and shall prohibit the admittance of new patrons in the establishment during the

extended one-hour period. The designation of such district(s) shall be for a duration of not less

than six (6) months. Prior to designating any such district, the local licensing authority shall hold

a hearing on the proposed designation. The proposed designation shall include the boundaries of

the proposed district, the applicable days for the extended hours, and the duration of the

designation and the conditions imposed. The proposed designation shall be advertised at least

once per week for three (3) weeks prior to the hearing in a newspaper in general circulation in the

city or town. The city or town will establish an application process for an extended hours permit

for such license holder and may adopt rules and regulations to administer the permit.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES

***

     This act would allow the Smithfield town council in its discretion to issue full and limited

Class B licenses which shall not be transferred to another person, entity or to another location, but

which shall revert to the town if not renewed.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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