ASSEMBLY LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1859

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: FEBRUARY 3, 1997

      The Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1859 with Assembly committee amendments.

      Assembly Bill No. 1859, as received by the committee, prohibited the sale of alcoholic beverages in a building or on property owned or under the control of the New Jersey Transit Corporation.

      The bill, as amended by the committee, would allow the sale of alcoholic beverages in buildings or on property owned or under the control of New Jersey Transit provided the establishment obtains the approval of New Jersey Transit and the issuing authority in the municipality in which the building or property is located.                 Establishments permitted or licensed to sell alcoholic beverages in a New Jersey Transit building or on its property prior to the effective date of the act are exempt from its provisions.

      The bill's purpose, according to the sponsor, is to prevent local businesses from losing customers to these establishments and counter any adverse impact sales by the establishments might have on the quality of life in the surrounding neighborhoods.