The bill amends Section 3-7-19 of the General Laws in Chapter 3-7, which governs retail licenses, by establishing specific proximity restrictions for the issuance of Retailers’ Class B, C, N, and I licenses. It stipulates that these licenses cannot be issued within 200 feet of any building if the majority landowner within that radius objects, nor within 200 feet of any public, private, or parochial school or place of worship. An exception is made for East Providence, where Class A licenses cannot be issued within 500 feet of such institutions. The bill also clarifies the definition of "private school" and provides exemptions for licenses issued before January 1, 1978, or for transfers where the establishment predates the nearby school or place of worship.

Furthermore, the bill empowers local licensing boards in various municipalities, including Providence, Newport, and others, to grant exemptions from these proximity restrictions for proposed retailer Class B, C, or I licenses in designated business districts or specific locations. It introduces new legal language that allows for the issuance of a Class BV liquor license for a specific property in Providence and outlines the authority of local boards and councils to exempt certain proposed licenses from existing regulations. The bill does not include any deletions from current law but significantly expands local governance flexibility in managing retail licensing through targeted exemptions.

Statutes affected:
756: 3-7-19