Bill Text: NJ S1993 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Concerns certain sales of alcoholic beverages at farm markets.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee [S1993 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-S1993-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator VIN GOPAL
District 11 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Concerns certain sales of alcoholic beverages at farm markets.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning certain sales of alcoholic beverages at farm markets, and amending P.L.2021, c.15.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 9 of P.L.2021, c.15 (C.33:1-98) is amended to read as follows:
9. a. As used in this section:
"Roadside farm stand" means a location owned by a single farmer or producer at which the farmer or producer sells agricultural products only from the farmer's or producer's farm directly to consumers.
"[Seasonal farm] Farm market" means a premises or facility utilized for the primary purpose of selling predominately agricultural or horticultural products [, and which is annually closed to business during an off-season for a period of not less than 90 continuous days].
b. The Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control may, in accordance with regulations or a special ruling issued pursuant to this section, issue to the holder of a limited brewery license, restricted brewery license, craft distillery license, plenary winery license, farm winery license, or cidery and meadery license, as established pursuant to R.S.33:1-10, a daily or annual permit to sell any of the licensee's products in original containers at a [seasonal] farm market for consumption off of the premises of the [seasonal] farm market. The licensee shall obtain a separate permit for each [seasonal] farm market at which the licensee intends to sell its products. The director shall not issue a permit pursuant to this section for use in connection with a roadside farm stand.
c. Subject to regulation or special ruling, a licensee issued a permit pursuant to this section may:
(1) transport the licensee's products in original containers for the purpose of selling them at a [seasonal] farm market; and
(2) offer samples for sampling purposes to persons of the legal age to consume alcoholic beverages in the amounts authorized pursuant to R.S.33:1-10 during each day the [seasonal] farm market is operating.
A licensee or the licensee's employee shall be responsible for checking valid forms of identification to properly verify that consumers are of legal age to sample, consume, or purchase the licensee's products at a farm market.
d. A daily permit shall be valid for the hours during which a [seasonal] farm market is open within the 24-hour period for which the daily permit is issued. An annual permit 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, restricted brewery license, craft distillery license, plenary winery license, farm winery license, or cidery and meadery license, as applicable.
e. Notwithstanding any law or regulation to the contrary, the director may establish a fee, in an amount determined by the director, for the issuance and renewal of a permit under this section.
f. The Director of the
Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control shall issue a special ruling or adopt
regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section. Regulations
shall be effective immediately upon filing with the Office of Administrative
Law for a period not to exceed 18 months, and may, thereafter, be amended,
adopted or readopted in accordance with the provisions of the
"Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410
(C.52:14B-1 et seq.).
(cf: P.L.2021, c.15, s.9)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill concerns certain sales of alcoholic beverages at farm markets.
Currently, the provisions of section 9 of P.L.2021, c.15, applies to seasonal markets. This bill amends the current law in order for the law's provisions to apply to all farm markets, regardless of a farm markets seasonal status. Additionally, the bill requires that a licensee or the licensee's employee in a farm market would be responsible for checking valid forms of identification to properly verify that consumers are of legal age to sample, consume, or purchase the licensee's products at a farm market.
