ASSEMBLY OVERSIGHT, REFORM AND FEDERAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1318

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 8, 2018

     The Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1318.

This bill permits a municipality to issue a retail liquor license to sell alcoholic beverages for on-premise consumption to the highest qualified bidder to purchase an abandoned historic tavern.  The bill defines historic tavern as a building constructed prior to 1920, which is included in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places, and at which the sale and service of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises was the primary and principal business prior to 1920.  The provisions of the bill would apply to taverns that were in operation prior to the ratification of the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which commenced an era in America known as prohibition.

     The bill provides that the holder of the retail license is prohibited from transferring the license for use in connection with another premises.  A license issued under this bill is not subject to the population limitations that restrict a municipality from issuing more than one plenary retail consumption license for each 3,000 people residing in that municipality.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2018-2019 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.