This bill makes commercial passenger bus operators eligible to apply for a permit to sell wine or other alcoholic beverages for consumption on its premises. The permit fee for a commercial passenger bus permit will be $1,250.
This bill defines "commercial passenger bus" to mean a vehicle that:
(1) Is designed and used for intercity transportation of passengers for compensation;
(2) Is regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration;
(3) Is at least 45 feet in length;
(4) Has an elevated passenger deck over a baggage compartment;
(5) Has passenger seating to accommodate at least 16 persons, but not more than 36 persons;
(6) Has a separate galley area; and
(7) While transporting passengers for compensation, also transports an attendant who is not the operator of the bus and holds a valid server permit from the alcoholic beverage commission.
A commercial passenger bus licensed under this bill is prohibited from selling alcoholic beverages or beer while:
(1) The bus is stopped for the purposes of loading or unloading passengers within the boundaries of a local government that has not approved the sale of alcoholic beverages; or
(2) The bus is on a route that is less than 100 miles one-way to its destination.
The open container law will not apply to a passenger of a commercial passenger bus licensed under this bill.
ON APRIL 3, 2023, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 993, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes to this bill:
(1) Revises the provisions of this bill applicable to a commercial passenger bus to, instead, be applicable to a commercial passenger bus company;
(2) Defines a "commercial passenger bus company" as a company that offers commercial passenger bus service in this state using a passenger bus and meets the seven requirements mentioned above;
(3) Clarifies that for requirement (1) above, the service must be used for regularly scheduled transportation;
(4) Clarifies that a galley area, as required by requirement (6) above, must have a sink, refrigerator, and adequate counterspace to prepare food;
(5) Adds to requirement (7) above that the attendant must sell or give away prepared food to its customers; and
(6) Adds that a bus company must not sell alcoholic beverages or beer to a passenger who has been served four alcoholic beverages or beer by the attendant or on private, reserved trips that are not regularly scheduled and advertised intercity trips to the general public.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 57-4-101, 57-4-102, 57-4-301(b)(1), 57-4-301, 57-4-201(b)(1), 57-4-201, 57-4-201(d)(2), 57-4-201(d)(6)