The bill amends Section 28-3A-23 of the Code of Alabama 1975, introducing significant changes to the requirements for obtaining alcoholic beverage licenses. A key provision is the mandatory criminal background check for all applicants, which necessitates the submission of a sworn form granting consent for the release of their criminal history, along with personal identification details such as name, date of birth, and Social Security number. Additionally, applicants must provide two sets of fingerprints for submission to the State Bureau of Investigations for a national background check. The definition of an applicant is expanded to include anyone with a 10% or greater ownership interest in the establishment, excluding publicly traded corporations.

The bill also clarifies legal language by replacing the term "code" with "title" in several instances and removing references to "any entity contracted" for background checks, indicating that the State Bureau of Investigations will directly handle these checks. It emphasizes the confidentiality of the information obtained during the background checks, except when used to deny a license. Other provisions regarding the display of licenses and approval processes by local governing authorities remain largely unchanged. The bill grants the board exclusive authority to determine the appropriateness of issuing licenses and includes a provision for its effective date, which will be the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 28-3A-23
Enrolled: 28-3A-23