SB 489
Department of Legislative Services
Maryland General Assembly
2021 Session
FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
Third Reader - Revised
Senate Bill 489 (Senators Beidle and Elfreth)
Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Economic Matters
Anne Arundel County - Alcoholic Beverages - Class MT License
This bill establishes a Class MT (movie theater) beer and wine license in Anne Arundel
County. The Anne Arundel County Board of License Commissioners may issue the license
to the owner of a movie theater in the county that holds a crowd control training
certification. The license authorizes the sale of beer and wine for on-premises consumption,
as specified. The license holder is authorized to sell beer and wine from 4:00 p.m. to
midnight and is subject to specified alcohol awareness training requirements. The
annual license fee is $1,200. The bill takes effect July 1, 2021.
Fiscal Summary
State Effect: None.
Local Effect: Anne Arundel County license revenues increase by approximately
$3,600 annually beginning in FY 2022, as discussed below. Anne Arundel County can
monitor additional licenses with existing resources.
Small Business Effect: Minimal overall but potentially meaningful for movie theaters
obtaining a license under the bill.
Analysis
Bill Summary: The Class MT beer and wine license requires beer and wine to only be
sold in single-serve containers and from a counter separate from a counter serving food
and nonalcoholic beverages. Beer and wine may be consumed only in the lobby or public
viewing theater of the licensed premises. License holders are authorized to serve a patron
only a single serving of beer or wine at a time, with a maximum of two servings of beer or
wine per patron per day. License holders are prohibited from allowing alcohol purchased
at the movie theater to be removed from the licensed premises and are not required to obtain
an additional license to provide alcoholic beverages on Sunday.
The holder of an alcoholic beverages license for a movie theater may only renew the license
as a Class MT beer and wine license.
Current Law: Generally, an alcoholic beverages license holder in Anne Arundel County
or an individual designated by the license holder who is employed in a supervisory capacity
must be certified by an approved alcohol awareness program and be present on the licensed
premises at all times when alcoholic beverages may be sold. A license holder who violates
this requirement is subject to a $100 fine for a first offense. For each subsequent offense,
the license holder is subject to a fine of up to $500, or a suspension or revocation of the
license, or both.
Local Fiscal Effect: Anne Arundel County revenues increase by $1,200 annually for
each Class MT license issued under the bill. The board estimates issuing three to
four Class MT licenses in the county. If the board issues three Class MT licenses, revenues
increase $3,600 annually beginning in fiscal 2022. Any increase in inspection and
enforcement activity can be absorbed with existing resources.
Additional Information
Prior Introductions: HB 651 of 2020, a similar bill, passed the House with amendments
and was referred to the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee,
but no further action was taken. Its cross file, SB 360, passed the Senate with amendments
and was referred to the House Economic Matters Committee, but no further action was taken.
Designated Cross File: HB 679 (Delegate Rogers) - Economic Matters.
Information Source(s): Anne Arundel County; Department of Legislative Services
Fiscal Note History: First Reader - February 16, 2021
rh/tso Third Reader - March 19, 2021
Revised - Amendment(s) - March 19, 2021
Analysis by: Hillary J. Cleckler Direct Inquiries to:
(410) 946-5510
(301) 970-5510
SB 489/ Page 2


Statutes affected:
Text - First - Anne Arundel County - Alcoholic Beverages - Class MT License: 11-102 Alcoholic Beverages, 11-1006.2 Alcoholic Beverages, 11-2004 Alcoholic Beverages
Text - Third - Anne Arundel County - Alcoholic Beverages - Class MT License: 11-102 Alcoholic Beverages, 11-1006.2 Alcoholic Beverages, 11-2004 Alcoholic Beverages