What's happening
This bill authorizes temporary permits for the sale of alcoholic beverages at the New York State Fair and repeals related old provisions.
Why it matters
Expands access for vendors. By allowing concessionaires at the New York State Fair to obtain temporary permits for alcohol sales, the bill could enable more local businesses and manufacturers to participate and generate revenue during the Fair, potentially increasing economic activity and diversity of offerings.
Clarifies rules and simplifies compliance. The law specifies how existing license holders (like those with on-premises or manufacturing licenses) can operate at the Fair without needing an additional temporary permit, reducing regulatory confusion and administrative burdens for both businesses and regulators.
Modernizes Fair alcohol policy. By repealing outdated provisions and establishing a clear, updated framework for alcohol sales and storage at the Fair, the bill aims to streamline operations and ensure state oversight aligns with current practices and Fair operations.
Sets clear conditions and limits. The law restricts the sale and storage to specific timeframes around the Fair, sets a defined permit fee, and requires compliance with both liquor authority rules and Fair concession agreements, balancing business flexibility with public safety and control.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Fair Alcohol Sales
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Signed chap.174
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.382
- Substituted for A6916B
- Referred to codes
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Amended on third reading 4812b
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
Show 4 earlier actions
- 1st report cal.652
- Print number 4812a
- Amend (t) and recommit to investigations and government operations
- Referred to investigations and government operations
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Allow Alcohol Sales at Fair
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor William Magnarelli
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4812--B Cal. No. 652
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 26, 2019
Introduced by Sens. MAY, ANTONACCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption at the New York state fair; and to repeal subdivision 9 of section 76 and subdivision 3 of section 97 of such law relating thereto
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 97-b to read as follows:
§ 97-b. Sale of alcoholic beverages at the New York state fair. 1. For purposes of this section, the New York state fair and New York state fairgrounds shall have the same meaning and purpose as in article two-a of the agriculture and markets law.
2. In addition to any license issued pursuant to section fifty-five, sixty-four, sixty-four-a, sixty-four-c, sixty-four-d, eighty-one or eighty-one-a of this chapter for a premises located upon the New York state fairgrounds, the liquor authority is hereby authorized to issue a temporary permit to the holder of a concessionaire's license issued by the division of the New York state fair in the department of agriculture and markets.
3. (a) Such permit shall allow for the sale of alcoholic beverages by the permit holder for consumption upon the premises known as the New York state fairgrounds during the annual New York state fair for the calendar year such permit is issued.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10858-03-9
S. 4812--B 2
(b) Such a permit shall also allow the holder thereof to store alcoholic beverages upon the New York state fairgrounds, in areas designated by the concessionaire's license, during the seven days immediately preceding and the seven days immediately following the state fair for which the permit has been issued.
(c) Such permit holder must display its permit at all locations as authorized by the concessionaire's license and the authority.
4. The holder of an on-premises license issued for a premises located upon the New York state fairgrounds may exercise the privileges of a permit issued under this section without the need to obtain such permit. Provided, however, that the licensee may only sell such alcoholic beverages as may be sold under the terms of its license.
5. The holder of a manufacturing license issued pursuant to section thirty-one, fifty-one, fifty-one-a, fifty-eight, fifty-eight-c, seventy-six or seventy-six-a of this chapter or subdivision two-c of section sixty-one of this chapter may exercise the privileges of a permit issued under this section without need to obtain such permit. Provided, however, that the licensee: (a) holds a concessionaire's license issued by the division of the New York state fair in the department of agriculture and markets; and (b) may only sell such alcoholic beverages as may be sold for on-premises consumption at its licensed premises under the terms of its license.
6. The exercise of the privileges of a permit under this section shall be subject to: (a) such rules of the liquor authority as it deems necessary; and (b) the provisions of a concessionaire's agreement between the permit holder or licensee and the division of the New York state fair in the department of agriculture and markets.
7. The fee for such permit shall be two hundred sixty dollars.
§ 2. Subdivision 9 of section 76 of the alcoholic beverage control law is REPEALED.
§ 3. Subdivision 3 of section 97 of the alcoholic beverage control law is REPEALED.
§ 4. 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 the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption at the New York state fair; and to repeal subdivision 9 of section 76 and subdivi- sion 3 of section 97 of such law relating thereto
Purpose
The purpose of the bill is to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law
(ABC Law) to facilitate the permitting process for New York State Fair concessionaires by authorizing the State Liquor Authority to issue a temporary permit for the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises of the New York state fairgrounds, to the holders of a concessionaire's license issued by the Division of the New York State Fair in the Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill adds a new section97-b to the ABC Law.
Section 2 repeals ABC Law section 76(9). Section 3 repeals ABC Law section 97(3).
Section 4 would provide for an immediate effective date.
Justification
Existing provisions of the ABC Law Sections 76(9) and 97(3) allow the holders of New York State Fair ("Fair") concessionaires' licenses to sell wine, as well as New York State wine and beer, at the Fair but require separate permits. Under this proposal, concessionaire permit holders that already hold on-premises retail licenses from the SLA at the New York State fairgrounds would no longer need an additional permit from the SLA to sell their alcoholic beverages to patrons for consump- tion anywhere on the fairgrounds. The proposal would allow concessio- naires to sell any type of alcoholic beverage at the Fair upon obtaining a permit from the SLA. The proposal would also authorize the holders of an on-premises license issued for a premises located at the Fair, as well as the holders of manufacturing licenses, to enjoy the privileges of the State Fair permit without the need to obtain and pay for such permit.
The Fair gets many questions about ABC Law licensing; and reports that vendors are often confused about which license to apply for. The proposal would be very helpful for the Fair as well as its vendors; since it would streamline and simplify ABC Law permits for use at the Fair.
The Fair has approximately 30 vendors selling alcohol. The proposal would not only make it easier for these vendors to obtain the ABC Law permits they need; it would allow vendors to sell the full range of alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, cider and distilled spirits.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.