Senate Bill S8311A

                                BILL NUMBER:S8311A

TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to
requiring notice to the appropriate community board of any application
for liquor store license in the city of New York

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

Requires an establishment to give notice to the appropriate community
board not less than thirty days prior to the submission of an applica-
tion for a license to sell liquor in the city of New York.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Amends the alcoholic beverage control law by adding a new
subdivision 1-b to Section 63. This subdivision requires an applicant
for a license to sell liquor for consumption off the premises in New
York City to notify the community board with jurisdiction over the area
in which the licensed premises are to be located before submitting such
an application to the State Liquor Authority.  (Community boards in the
city of New York are established pursuant to section twenty-eight
hundred of the New York City charter.) This subdivision requires that
the appropriate community board be notified by certified mail, return
receipt requested, not less than thirty days prior to the submission of
              

the liquor license application. The community board will then have the
opportunity to express an opinion for or against the granting of such
license. Any opinion expressed by the board will become part of the
record upon which the State Liquor Authority makes its decision to grant
or deny the new license.

JUSTIFICATION:

Liquor retailers serve a need in New York City. While contributing to
the local economy, they provide consumers with a valued product.  Howev-
er, a proliferation of liquor stores in a small community can lead to
unintended consequences. An inundation can scare away other types of
business. Similarly, a crowd of retailers can negatively alter the char-
acter of a neighborhood. It is only fair that community members be given
an opportunity to voice their concerns about possible future liquor
stores.

Currently, applicants for licenses to sell beer, wine, and liquor for
consumption on the premises in New York City are required to notify the
local community board of their intentions at least thirty days prior to
the submission of their application. This legislation would extend that
practice to include applicants seeking to sell liquor and/or wine for
consumption off the premises. Without this law, a community board can be
caught off guard by the opening of a new liquor store in an already
crowded district.

As representatives of their community, community boards are able to
relay the residents' concerns regarding liquor licenses to the State
Liquor Authority. This legislation would allow the Authority to make a
well-informed decision on the impact of a new liquor license in a given
area. It gives the community members, the people most affected by the
introduction of a new liquor store, an opportunity to have their voices
heard before any license is granted.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect immediately.