BILL NUMBER: S1712
SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to
authorizing the establishment of a liaison between the state liquor
authority and local community boards, and the New York alcoholic bever-
age control problem premises task force
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill authorizes the State Liquor Authority (SLA) to establish a
community liaison to help facilitate communication between the Authority
and the various Community Boards located in New York City. Facilitating
communication between the SLA and local New York City Community Boards
is important so that such community boards have a better idea of the
kinds of applications that are pending before the SLA. Further, it will
make it easier for the SLA to take into account the suggestions and
comments of each Community Board and individuals who live in the commu-
nities under the jurisdiction of such community boards with regards to
licenses and permits issued by the SLA for the consumption and sale of
alcoholic beverages.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Adds a new Alcoholic Beverage Control Law (ABC Law) section
110-c to authorize the SLA to establish the position of State Liquor
Authority Community Liaison for each community board in the City of New
York. The provisions for the creation and responsibilities of these
community liaison positions are as follows:
1. The authority shall appoint a community liaison for each community
board in the city of New York.
2. The community liaison is required, upon request of such community
board, to ensure that the community board receives in a timely manner
all or a select number of notifications of license or permit issuance or
renewal that are required under the provisions of this chapter. To help
ensure that the number of notifications that are sent to the local
community board are meaningful, such board and the SLA can agree to send
only the most controversial notifications and hearing notices, such as
those related to large establishments that sell alcoholic beverages for
on-premises consumption.
3. The community liaison is responsible for:
(a) regularly attending the meetings of the community board for which he
or she is acting as the liaison, upon request of such community board;
(b) upon the request of the community board, attending at least once a
year, a community board meeting;
(c) submitting reports to the authority with respect to issues of
concern raised by the community board for which he or she is the liai-
son; and
(d), upon request of such community board, informing the community board
of regularly scheduled meetings of the Authority that would be of inter-
est to the local community and providing an agenda for such meeting at
least fifteen days prior to the meeting.
Section 2: Amends ABC Law section 131 to expand the kinds of actions
that are covered by the New York Alcoholic Beverage Control Problem
Premises Task Force to include not only problems occurring at establish-
ments that serve alcohol for on-premises consumption, but also those
situations that could potentially pose a significant threat to the
public health, safety, or welfare of the surrounding community.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The ABC law mandates that the New York State Liquor Authority take into
consideration the opinions of the Community Board before a liquor
license for any establishment is issued, modified, altered, or renewed.
The SLA does notify local community boards of pending applications, but
unfortunately not with enough time for the community board to provide
meaningful comments on such applications, especially for those for
licenses for on-premises consumption. Authorizing the SLA to designate
a community liaison for each community board should help to facilitate
communication between the SLA and community board. This measure is a
pro-active way to provide to the SLA meaningful community input on
applications for alcoholic beverage licenses and permits before they are
issued by the Authority.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2022: S3702
06/08/2017 referred to economic development
01/03/2018 referred to economic development
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
180 Days after it shall have become law.

Statutes affected:
S1712: 131 alcoholic beverage control law