BILL NUMBER: S2521
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to the
approval of seven day licenses to sell liquor at retail for consumption
off the premises
 
PURPOSE:
This bill would change the "public convenience and advantage" standard
regarding approving and transferring retail licenses to sell liquor/wine
for off-premises consumption to the "good cause for disapproval" stand-
ard that currently applies to on-premises licenses.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Subdivision 6 of Section 63 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control
Law is amended to remove the "public convenience and advantage standard"
concerning approving liquor store licenses, allowing approvals and
transfers to be made "unless there is good cause shown for disapproval
by the SLA."
Section 2: Subdivision 4 of Section 79 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control
Law is similarly amended to extend the same standard to wine store
licenses.
Section 3: Sets effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The "public convenience and advantage standard" is an evaluation made by
the State Liquor Authority (SLA) when issuing retail licenses to sell
wine and liquor for off-premises consumption. However, it is a burden-
some standard with no precise definition, creating problems for both the
applicant and the SLA. Allowing the SLA to award off-premises
wine/liquor licenses "unless good cause is shown for disapproval" will
generate greater faith and certainty in the licensing process for appli-
cants while still ultimately allowing the SLA to determine whether there
is a factual rationale to deny an application.
 
FISCAL IMPACT ON THE STATE:
None.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Senate
2023: NJA
2024: S9201, Referred to Commerce, Economic Development, and Small Busi-
ness
Assembly
2023: No Assembly Same-As
2024: No Assembly Same-As
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S2521: 63 alcoholic beverage control law, 63(6) alcoholic beverage control law, 79 alcoholic beverage control law, 79(4) alcoholic beverage control law