The bill amends Section 3-7-19 of the General Laws, which pertains to the issuance of various classes of retail licenses for the sale of beverages. It specifies that no such licenses shall be issued within 200 feet of any building if the majority landowner objects or within 200 feet of any school or place of worship, with an exception for the city of East Providence where the distance is increased to 500 feet for retailer’s Class A licenses. The bill clarifies the definition of "private school" and provides exemptions for licenses issued before January 1, 1978, or for establishments that predate nearby schools or places of worship. Additionally, it allows for exemptions in certain areas of Providence, Newport, Warren, and Bristol, where the board of licenses may grant licenses despite the proximity restrictions after an application process. The bill includes insertions of new provisions and definitions but does not indicate any deletions from the current law.

Furthermore, the bill grants authority to local boards and town councils in various Rhode Island cities and towns to exempt proposed retailer Class B and other specified classes of licenses from existing proximity restrictions to places of worship and schools. These exemptions are specific to certain tax assessor plats and lots within the municipalities, including Providence, Middletown, East Greenwich, Lincoln, Cumberland, Central Falls, Woonsocket, Westerly, and East Providence. The bill details the exact locations where exemptions can be applied and includes insertions for new exemptions, with no deletions from the current law. The act would take effect immediately upon passage, allowing for the issuance of liquor licenses at the specified locations.

Statutes affected:
8224: 3-7-19