This bill amends Section 3-7-19 of the General Laws, which pertains to the issuance of retail licenses for the sale of beverages. It introduces new language that allows adjoining property owners to object to the issuance of certain licenses if the building in question is within 200 feet of their property. Additionally, the bill prohibits the issuance of certain licenses for buildings within 200 feet of any public, private, or parochial school or place of public worship, with a specific provision for the city of East Providence extending this distance to 500 feet. However, the bill also includes exemptions for existing license holders and grants the board of licenses in certain cities and towns the authority to exempt proposed retailer Class B, C, or I licenses from these proximity restrictions, with detailed descriptions of the areas in Providence, Newport, Warren, and Bristol where such exemptions can be applied.

Furthermore, the bill outlines a series of location-specific exemptions for different classes of retailer's licenses (Class B, Class C, Class I, Class BV, Class BX, and Class BL) in various Rhode Island cities and towns. These exemptions are contingent upon the applicants being current in the payment of local and state taxes and are granted after application to the respective local licensing boards. The bill includes an insertion that allows the board of licenses of the city of Providence to exempt a proposed retailer Class B or Class BV license at 79 Ives Street from the current legal provisions. The act is effective immediately upon passage, as clarified by the Legislative Council.

Statutes affected:
3069: 3-7-19