Provides for the establishment of a New York city liquor authority to license and regulate the retail alcoholic beverage business in the city

Summary of specific provisions

This bill amends the alcohol beverage control law by authorizing the City of New York to create an agency to regulate and enforce the sale of alcoholic beverages within its juris- diction. It provides that a commissioner will be appointed, along with the deputies, officers, employees and hearing officers in order to fulfill the duties of the agency.

This bill lays out the functions, powers and duties of the City Liquor Authority, which include the power to:

* Issue or refuse to issue any license or permit for the sale of alco- holic beverages at retail;

* Limit the number of licenses in each class;

* Revoke, cancel or suspend for cause any license or permit issued pursuant to this chapter and impose a civil penalty;

* Hold hearings in order to determine whether such licenses should be granted, revoked or suspended;

* Make an annual report to the Mayor, Council of the City of New York and the Borough President of its activities for the previous years;

* To appoint advisory committees to provide assistance to the CLA as it deems appropriate.

In determining whether to grant, revoke or suspend a liquor license, the CLA shall notify the local community boards of any pending actions, hearings or determinations within its jurisdiction. The community boards shall be given an opportunity to respond to the CLA regarding these applications.

This bill outlines the powers and duties of the commissioner of the new agency. The powers and duties include, but are not limited to adminis- tration of the agency, retaining records of licenses and permits issued by the CLA, establishing rules and regulations, which shall not be inconsistent with the SLA, and inspecting and enforcing the rules and regulations set out by the CLA.

Justification

The establishment of the City Liquor Authority is needed in the City of New York in order to address the quality of life issues surrounding drinking establishments. The Queens Borough President's office has held a series of meetings of its SLA task force and estab- lished that there are too few enforcement agents allocated to the City, that the SLA has not been as responsive to communities as needed and that the quality of life would be better served if enforcement of the rules and regulations was more local.

Prior legislative history

2007-2008: A.237 - Referred to Economic Development 2005-2006: A.231 - Referred to Economic Development 2003-2004: A.6228 - Referred to Economic Development

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law and shall apply to all licenses issued, renewed, modified or altered on or after such date.