ASSEMBLY LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1712

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 25, 1996

      The Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1712.

      Assembly Bill No. 1712 amends section 1 of P.L.1977, c.246 (C.33:1-12.39) to allow the Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to authorize the renewal of certain inactive Class C licenses for a specified number of years without having to conduct an administrative hearing each year.

      The provisions of the bill apply to Class C licenses which have been inactive for a period of two years. A Class C license is a retail alcoholic beverage license.

      Under current law, a Class C license which has not been actively used for a period of two years may not be renewed unless the director, after an administrative hearing and for good cause shown, so authorizes. This license renewal procedure, including the administrative hearing component of the process, is an annual requirement.

      It is the committee's understanding that this change will eliminate costly and unnecessary administrative hearings.