Bill Text: NJ A4619 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Waives population restriction for issuance of alcoholic beverage licenses to operate brew pub in downtown area.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-06-29 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Regulatory Oversight Committee [A4619 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A4619-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GORDON M. JOHNSON
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Waives population restriction for issuance of alcoholic beverage licenses to operate brew pub in downtown area.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning certain alcoholic beverage licenses 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 act:
"Downtown area" means an area designated by a municipality, by ordinance, that shall include, but not be limited to, pedestrian walkways, public seating, outdoor cafes, trees, flower plantings, traffic signs, fire hydrants, street lighting, ornamental signs, trash receptacles, marquees, awnings, and any other fixture, equipment, or facility which in the judgment of the governing body of a municipality will benefit the community.
"Downtown business zone" means a zone designated by a municipality, by ordinance, in order to promote the economic growth of the municipality through the encouragement of business improvements within the downtown area.
b. The provisions of section 2 of P.L.1947, c.94 (C.33:1-12.14) shall not apply to the issuance of an additional plenary retail consumption license to a person for the purpose of operating a restricted brewery in a downtown business zone. The holder of a plenary retail consumption license issued pursuant to this section shall obtain a restricted brewery license issued pursuant to R.S.33:1-10.
c. A plenary retail consumption license issued pursuant to this section shall not be transferred to any premises other than a premises located within the same downtown business zone.
d. Pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the director may adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act.
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill waives the population restriction placed on the issuance of plenary retail consumption licenses granted for the purpose of operating a brew pub in a downtown business zone.
Under current law, a municipality may issue plenary retail consumption licenses (for bars and restaurants) until the combined total number in the municipality is fewer than one license for each 3,000 persons. This bill waives this population restriction if the license is issued for the purpose of establishing a brew pub in a location designated to promote economic growth through the encouragement of business improvements within a downtown area. The bill specifies that the plenary retail consumption license may not be transferred to a premises located outside of the downtown business zone.
Under the bill, a plenary retail consumption licensee operating a brew pub in the downtown business zone would be required to obtain a restricted brewery license in accordance with current law. A restricted brewery license permits the holder to brew beer for sale to restaurant patrons and wholesalers. This license is only issued to a person who also holds a plenary retail consumption license which is operated in conjunction with a restaurant that has a full service kitchen and dining facilities.
