Bill Text: NJ A3397 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Permits theaters with 250 seats or more to apply for liquor license. *
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-07 - Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading [A3397 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A3397-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman PETER J. BARNES, III
District 18 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Eliminates requirement that nonprofit theater have 1,000 seats to apply for liquor license.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning plenary retail consumption licenses and amending P.L.1985, c.151.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1985, c.151 (C.33:1-19.7) is amended to read as follows:
1. It shall be lawful for the governing board or body of any municipality, upon the approval of the Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, to issue a plenary retail consumption license to a nonprofit corporation, which conducts musical or theatrical performances or concerts on premises [with a seating capacity of 1,000 persons or more], authorizing the sale of alcoholic beverages by the nonprofit corporation or its restaurant operator who has been approved pursuant to procedures established by the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control for consumption on the licensed premises only during performances and the two hours immediately preceding and the two hours immediately following performances.
For the purposes of this section, "licensed premises" shall include the premises where the musical or theatrical performance or concert is held and any adjacent premises owned and operated by the licensee.
A license issued under the provisions of this act shall not be counted in determining the number of licenses under P.L.1947, c.94 (C.33:1-12.13 et seq.) or under P.L.1968, c.277 (C.40:48-2.40 et seq.).
(cf: P.L.1994, c.18, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would eliminate the requirement that nonprofit theatres or concert halls have a minimum of 1,000 seats to be eligible to apply for a license to serve alcoholic beverages.
Under current law, municipalities are authorized to issue a plenary retail consumption license to a nonprofit corporation which conducts musical or theatrical performances or concerts on the premises if there is a seating capacity of 1,000 persons or more. A licensee may serve alcoholic beverages during the performance, as well as two hours before and two hours after the performance.
This bill eliminates the 1,000 seat requirement to also allow smaller theaters to serve alcoholic beverages to their patrons.
