This bill amends existing laws to clarify that nonprofit corporations eligible for plenary retail consumption licenses for theaters can include disregarded entities, specifically single-member limited liability corporations that are disregarded for federal income tax purposes. The amendments apply to two sections of the law, allowing municipalities, with the approval of the Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, to issue these licenses to nonprofit corporations that operate art-house movie theaters or conduct musical or theatrical performances. The bill specifies that the licenses can be issued for venues with different seating capacities: one for theaters with a capacity of 1,000 or more and another for those with a capacity of 50 to less than 1,000.

The bill also maintains the existing provisions regarding the sale of alcoholic beverages during performances and clarifies the definition of "licensed premises" to include adjacent properties owned by the licensee. Additionally, it ensures that licenses issued under these provisions will not count towards the total number of licenses regulated under other laws. The changes aim to support nonprofit arts organizations by expanding their ability to obtain necessary licenses for alcohol sales during performances, thereby enhancing their operational capabilities and community engagement.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 33:1-19.7, 33:1-19.8