ASSEMBLY OVERSIGHT, REFORM AND FEDERAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE, No. 1958

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  SEPTEMBER 13, 2018

The Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments the Senate Substitute for Senate Bill No. 1958.

      As amended and reported by the committee, the Senate Substitute for Senate Bill No. 1958 allows a seasonal retail consumption license holder to obtain one-day permits to sell alcoholic beverages on off-season dates.

      Under current law, the holder of a seasonal retail consumption license is allowed to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on the licensed premises by the glass or other open receptacle similar to the holder of a plenary retail consumption license, but only during a summer or winter season. The summer seasonal license allows for the sale of alcoholic beverages from May 1 through November 14; the winter seasonal license allows for the sale of alcoholic beverages from November 15 until April 30.

      As amended, the substitute requires the Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, upon the request of a seasonal retail consumption license holder, to issue one-day permits to sell alcoholic beverages on off-season dates.  Under the substitute, a licensee would be allowed to obtain a maximum of 14 one-day permits during a calendar year.  A one-day permit would be valid for 24 consecutive hours.  As amended, the substitute establishes a fee of $500 for each one-day permit.

      The substitute allows the governing body of a municipality to place reasonable conditions on a one-day permit for the purpose of maintaining public safety on the licensed premises and immediately surrounding area.  The costs associated with the reasonable conditions placed on the one-day permit would be assumed by the seasonal retail consumption license holder.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the substitute to:

      1) clarify that the seasonal retail consumption licensee is required to request the one-day permit prior to its issuance;

      2) reduce from 23 to 14 the number of one-day permits that a license holder may annually obtain;

      3) allow the governing body of a municipality to place reasonable conditions on a one-day permit for the purpose of maintaining public safety on the licensed premises and immediately surrounding area.  The costs associated with the conditions are to be assumed by the license holder; and

      4) increase from $150 to $500 the fee for each one-day permit.