Senate Bill S310

                                BILL NUMBER:S310

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to requiring
the state liquor authority to invite municipalities or community boards
to appear before the authority to present oral testimony prior to
issuing certain liquor licenses to applicants

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF THE BILL:
Specifically requires the State Liquor Authority to invite
municipalities and community boards to present oral testimony when
the Authority is considering an application for a liquor license.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Amends Section 64 of the alcoholic beverage control law by
adding a new subdivision 7-a. Requires the State Liquor Authority to
invite a municipality or community board to appear before the
authority to present oral testimony regarding the applicant.

Section 2. Effective Date

EXISTING LAW:
Current law does not require the State Liquor Authority to invite
municipalities or community boards to present oral testimony
regarding the application for a liquor license.
              

JUSTIFICATION:
The State Liquor Authority considers several criteria prior to
granting a retail liquor license for consumption on the premises.
These include, but are not limited to: the number, classes and
character of licenses in proximity to the location and in the
particular municipality; the impact of the license on vehicular
traffic and parking in proximity to the location; the level of noise
and any potential increase in noise level that would be generated;
and, the history of liquor violations and reported criminal activity
at the proposed premises.

Current statute does not specifically require the State Liquor
Authority to invite municipalities or in the case of New York City,
community boards, to present oral testimony regarding an application
for a liquor license. Municipalities and community boards should have
input regarding the approval of a liquor license, and this input
should be mandated by state statute.
This legislation would require municipalities and community boards to
be invited by the State Liquor Authority to present oral testimony
when an application for a liquor license is being considered.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2012: S.6924 - Referred to Investigations and Government
      Operations/A.9838 - Referred to Economic Development

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to State.

EFFECTIVE DATE:


Immediately.