STATE OF NEW JERSEY
217th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2016 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman CRAIG J. COUGHLIN
District 19 (Middlesex)
Assemblyman DECLAN J. O'SCANLON, JR.
District 13 (Monmouth)
Assemblyman SCOTT T. RUMANA
District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)
Assemblyman JAMEL C. HOLLEY
District 20 (Union)
Assemblyman BOB ANDRZEJCZAK
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Assemblyman ROBERT AUTH
District 39 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman ERIC HOUGHTALING
District 11 (Monmouth)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen N.Munoz, Caride, Assemblymen C.A.Brown, Dancer, Assemblywomen Lampitt and Vainieri Huttle
SYNOPSIS
Permits certain breweries to sell beer at community farm markets.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning alcoholic beverages and supplementing Title 33 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
"Community farm market" means two or more producers or farmers who assemble at a location used seasonally for the wholesale or retail marketing and sale of the agricultural output of a farm, and products that contribute to farm income, excluding roadside farm stands.
“Roadside farm stand” means a location owned by a single farmer or producer at which the farmer or producer sells agricultural products from the farmer’s or producer’s farm directly to consumers.
b. The director may, subject to rules and regulations, issue to the holder of a limited brewery license or restricted brewery license a permit to sell beer produced by the brewery at a community farm market for consumption off the premises of the community farm market. A person shall obtain a separate permit for each community farm market where the person intends to sell beer. The director shall not issue a permit to sell beer at a community farm market located in a municipality where the sale of alcoholic beverages has been prohibited by referendum under R.S.33:1-44 through R.S.33:1-47 or municipal ordinance or resolution.
c. Subject to rules and regulations, a person issued a permit pursuant to this section may:
(1) transport beer for the purpose of selling it at a community farm market; and
(2) offer samples of beer at a community farm market.
d. A permit issued pursuant to this section shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance. The director may renew a permit provided the permit holder continues to hold a limited brewery license or restricted brewery license.
e. The director may establish a fee not to exceed $75 for the issuance and renewal of a permit under this section.
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following enactment.
STATEMENT
The bill permits the Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control to issue a permit to the holder of a limited or restricted brewery license to sell beer at a community farm market.
Under the bill, a permit to sell beer at a community farm market would be valid for one year from the date it is issued and may be renewed as long as the person to whom it was issued continues to hold a limited or restricted brewery license. The bill authorizes the director to impose a fee not to exceed $75 for the issuance or renewal of a permit.
Persons holding a valid permit would be entitled to transport their beer for the purpose of selling it at a community farm market, but would not be able to sell it at a community farm market located in a municipality where the sale of alcoholic beverages has been prohibited.
The bill defines a "community farm market" as two or more producers or farmers who assemble at a location used seasonally for the wholesale or retail marketing and sale of the agricultural output of a farm, and products that contribute to farm income, excluding roadside farm stands.
Other states, such as California, Maryland, and Washington, allow certain breweries – namely, in-state microbreweries – to sell their beer at farm markets. These states issue annual permits for a fee of $50 to $100.