In current law, both a lodging facility and an entertainment facility are licensed as a lodging and entertainment facility licensee. Sections 1, 3, 6, 8, 17, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, and 34 of the bill convert the licenses of lodging facilities to lodging facility licenses, convert the licenses of entertainment facilities to entertainment facility licenses, and make necessary conforming amendments. Sections 3, 9, and 30 allow a brewery, a limited winery, and a distillery to manufacture alcohol beverages at up to 2 noncontiguous locations and set an annual fee for such operations.
Current law limits the amount of alcohol beverages certain retailers can purchase from retail liquor stores, liquor-licensed drugstores, and fermented malt beverage and wine retailers to $2,000 each year. Sections 15 through 23, 26, and 27 increase the cap to $7,000 and allow for an annual inflation adjustment of the cap. Section 2 requires the state licensing authority to study the feasibility of adopting an online application and renewal system. Section 3 :
- Gives a local licensing authority the ability to delegate licensing authority to the state licensing authority when a retail business is located on state-owned property;
- Allows an off-premises retailer to conduct tastings;
- Allows tastings for all authorized retailers to begin at 10 a.m. instead of 11 a.m.; and
- Allows retail liquor stores to hold educational classes.
Under current law, liquor licenses are valid for a one-year period. Sections 4 and 32 will allow certain qualifying licensees to apply for a 2-year license. Section 5 updates gendered language, changing "husband and wife" to "spouses or partners in a civil union". Section 7 removes the requirement that a local licensing authority schedule a public hearing on an application for a new retail liquor license. Section 9 allows a distiller that operates a sales room to purchase and use common alcohol modifiers to mix with its spirituous liquors to produce cocktails. Section 10 changes the notice requirement for a festival permittee to hold multiple festivals from 30 business days to 30 calendar days before each festival. Sections 11 and 12 allow wholesalers of vinous or spirituous liquors to obtain an importer's license. Section 12 also allows wholesalers to hold trade show events. Section 13 allows a retail liquor store going out of business to sell its inventory to another retail liquor store. Section 14 specifies that a liquor-licensed drugstore's use of an electronic funds transfer is not an extension of credit. Section 21 allows an arts licensee to place limited advertising of the availability of alcohol beverages for sale on the licensed premises while an artistic or cultural production or performance is taking place. Section 25 increases the time to process a retail establishment permit from 15 to 30 days. Section 29 creates an alcohol beverage shipper license and permit for wine direct shipping deliveries. Section 29 establishes a catering license to allow a catering company to sell alcohol beverages at a location that is not otherwise licensed to sell or serve alcohol beverages. Section 30 allows the state licensing authority to charge an investigative fee to recover the cost of certain investigations. Section 33 :
- Allows alcohol beverage sales on Christmas; and
- Prohibits the sale of controlled substances on premises licensed to sell alcohol beverages.
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
