What's happening
This bill requires the State Liquor Authority to appoint community liaisons and increases notification periods for New York City community boards regarding liquor license applications.
Why it matters
Appointing a dedicated community liaison for each NYC community board creates a direct channel between local neighborhoods and the State Liquor Authority, potentially increasing community influence over local licensing decisions.
Longer notification periods (sixty days) for New York City community boards mean more time for public input and preparation regarding new, renewed, or altered liquor licenses, which could affect neighborhood quality of life and business development.
Requiring liaisons to attend community board meetings and relay local concerns and recommendations ensures that community voices are formally documented and considered in the licensing process, potentially leading to more responsive and accountable decision-making.
Enhanced advance notice (thirty days minimum) for hearings about liquor licenses in NYC, compared to municipalities elsewhere, may help prevent last-minute surprises and allow for better-organized community responses to controversial applications.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Notify Neighborhoods on Liquor Licenses
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to investigations and government operations
- Referred to investigations and government operations
Full text
4 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
344
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 4, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PERALTA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations
AN ACT to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to creating a liaison between the state liquor authority and local community boards and providing a sixty day notification period for community boards before the issuance of a new license, renewal of a license or alteration of a license
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The alcoholic beverage control law is amended by adding a new section 110-c to read as follows:
§ 110-c. Authority community liaison. 1. The authority shall appoint a community liaison for each community board in the city of New York.
2. The community liaison is required to ensure that the community board receives all proper notifications of license issuance, renewal or alterations that are required under the provisions of this chapter.
3. The community liaison is responsible for:
(a) attending the meetings of the community board, upon the request of such community board, for which he or she is acting as the liaison;
(b) submitting reports to the authority with respect to issues of concern of the community board for which he or she is the liaison;
(c) submitting any community board recommendations to the authority; and
(d) informing the community board of every regularly scheduled meeting of the liquor authority and providing an agenda for such meeting at least fifteen days prior to the meeting.
§ 2. The opening paragraph of subdivision 1 of section 110-b of the alcoholic beverage control law, as amended by chapter 560 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00065-01-7
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Not less than thirty days before filing any of the following applications with the state liquor authority if a premises is located within a municipality or not less than sixty days before filing any of the following applications with the state liquor authority if a premises is located within the city of New York, an applicant shall notify the municipality or the community board in which the premises is located of such applicant's intent to file such an application:
§ 3. Paragraph (f) of subdivision 7 of section 64 of the alcoholic beverage control law, as amended by chapter 185 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (b) of this subdivision, the authority may issue a license pursuant to this section for a premises which shall be within five hundred feet of three or more existing premises licensed and operating pursuant to this section and sections sixty-four-a, sixty-four-b, sixty-four-c, and/or sixty-four-d of this article if, after consultation with the municipality or community board, it determines that granting such license would be in the public interest. Before it may issue any such license, the authority shall conduct a hearing, upon notice to the applicant and the municipality or community board, and shall state and file in its office its reasons therefor. The hearing may be rescheduled, adjourned or continued, and the authority shall give notice to the applicant and the municipality or community board of any such rescheduled, adjourned or continued hearing. Before the authority issues any said license, the authority or one or more of the commissioners thereof may, in addition to the hearing required by this paragraph, also conduct a public meeting regarding said license, upon notice to the applicant and the municipality or community board. The public meeting may be rescheduled, adjourned or continued, and the authority shall give notice to the applicant and the municipality or community board of any such rescheduled, adjourned or continued public meeting. Notice to the municipality or community board shall mean written notice mailed by the authority to such municipality [or community board] at least fifteen days in advance or to such community board at least thirty days in advance of any hearing scheduled pursuant to this paragraph. Upon the request of the authority, any municipality [or community board] may waive the fifteen day notice requirement or any community board may waive the thirty day requirement. No premises having been granted a license pursuant to this section shall be denied a renewal of such license upon the grounds that such premises are within five hundred feet of a building or buildings wherein three or more premises are licensed and operating pursuant to this section and sections sixty-four-a, sixty-four-b, sixty-four-c, and/or sixty-four-d of this article.
§ 4. Paragraph (d) of subdivision 7 of section 64-a of the alcoholic beverage control law, as amended by chapter 185 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of this subdivision, the authority may issue a license pursuant to this section for a premises which shall be within five hundred feet of three or more existing premises licensed and operating pursuant to this section and sections sixty-four, sixty-four-b, sixty-four-c, and/or sixty-four-d of this article if, after consultation with the municipality or community board, it determines that granting such license would be in the public interest. Before it may issue any such license, the authority shall conduct a hearing, upon notice to the applicant and the municipality or community board, and shall state and file in its
S. 344 3
office its reasons therefor. Notice to the municipality or community board shall mean written notice mailed by the authority to such municipality [or community board] at least fifteen days in advance or to such community board at least thirty days in advance of any hearing scheduled pursuant to this paragraph. Upon the request of the authority, any municipality [or community board] may waive the fifteen day notice requirement or any community board may waive the thirty day notice requirement. The hearing may be rescheduled, adjourned or continued, and the authority shall give notice to the applicant and the municipality or community board of any such rescheduled, adjourned or continued hearing. Before the authority issues any said license, the authority or one or more of the commissioners thereof may, in addition to the hearing required by this paragraph, also conduct a public meeting regarding said license, upon notice to the applicant and the municipality or community board. The public meeting may be rescheduled, adjourned or continued, and the authority shall give notice to the applicant and the municipality or community board of any such rescheduled, adjourned or continued public meeting. No premises having been granted a license pursuant to this section shall be denied a renewal of such license upon the grounds that such premises are within five hundred feet of a building or buildings wherein three or more premises are licensed and operating pursuant to this section and sections sixty-four, sixty-four-b, sixty-four-c, and/or sixty-four-d of this article.
§ 5. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 11 of section 64-c of the alcoholic beverage control law, as amended by chapter 185 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of this subdivision, the authority may issue a license pursuant to this section for a premises which shall be within five hundred feet of three or more existing premises licensed and operating pursuant to this section and sections sixty-four, sixty-four-a, sixty-four-b and/or sixty-four-d of this article if, after consultation with the municipality or community board, it determines that granting such license would be in the public interest. Before it may issue any such license, the authority shall conduct a hearing, upon notice to the applicant and the municipality or community board, and shall state and file in its office its reasons therefor. The hearing may be rescheduled, adjourned or continued, and the authority shall give notice to the applicant and the municipality or community board of any such rescheduled, adjourned or continued hearing. Before the authority issues any said license, the authority or one or more of the commissioners thereof may, in addition to the hearing required by this paragraph, also conduct a public meeting regarding said license, upon notice to the applicant and the municipality or community board. The public meeting may be rescheduled, adjourned or continued, and the authority shall give notice to the applicant and the municipality or community board of any such rescheduled, adjourned or continued public meeting. Notice to the municipality or community board shall mean written notice mailed by the authority to such municipality [or community board] at least fifteen days in advance or to such community board at least thirty days in advance of any hearing scheduled pursuant to this paragraph. Upon the request of the authority, any municipality [or community board] may waive the fifteen day notice requirement or any community board may waive the thirty day notice requirement. No premises having been granted a license pursuant to this section shall be denied a renewal of such license upon the grounds that such premises are within five hundred feet of a building or
S. 344 4
buildings wherein three or more premises are operating and licensed pursuant to this section or sections sixty-four, sixty-four-a, sixtyfour-b and/or sixty-four-d of this article.
§ 6. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to creating a liaison between the state liquor authority and local community boards and providing a sixty day notification period for community boards before the issuance of a new license, renewal of a license or alteration of a license
Purpose or general idea of bill
The liaison will act as the intermediary between the New York State Liquor Authority and the Community Boards with 60 days prior notice of license renewal. This will make it easier for the New York State Liquor Authority to take into account the suggestions of the Community Boards in regards to issuing liquor licenses.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends the alcoholic beverage control law by adding a new section 110-c, establishing the position of authority community liaison for each community board in the City of New York. The provisions for the creation, requirements and responsibilities of these community liaison positions are as follows: 1. The authority shall appoint a community liaison for each community board in the city of New York. 2. The community liaison is required to ensure that the community board receives all proper notifications of license issuance or renewal that are required under the provisions of this chapter. 3. The community liaison is responsible for: (a) regularly attending the meetings of the community board for which he or she is acting as the liaison; (b) submitting reports to the authority with respect to issues of concern of the community board for which he or she is the liaison; (c) submitting any community board recommendations to the authority; and (d) informing the community board of every regularly scheduled meeting of the liquor authority and providing an agenda for such meeting at least fifteen days prior to the meeting.
Sections 2-5 of the bill amend several sections of the alcoholic beverage control law in order to extend the period of notice to community boards before a license may be issued, renewed or altered.
Section 6 of the bill sets forth the effective date.
Justification
The ABC law mandates that the New York State Liquor Authority take into consideration the opinions of the Community Board before a liquor license for any establishment is issued or renewed. The New York State Liquor Authority does so, but most of the time the Community Boards' requests are not fulfilled because the New York State Liquor Authority has already issued the license or renewal.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.