SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

SENATE, No. 896

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: MAY 9, 1996

 

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No.896.

      This bill allows the Director of the Divison of Alcoholic Beverage Control in the Department of Law and Public Safety to authorize the renewal of certain inactive Class C (retail) alcoholic beverage licenses for a specified number of years without having to conduct an administrative hearing each year. The bill applies to Class C licenses which have been inactive for a period of two years.

      Current law prohibits the renewal of a Class C alcoholic beverage license if the license has not been actively used in connection with the operation of a licensed premises within the previous two years unless the director, after a hearing and upon good cause shown, authorizes further application. This license renewal procedure, including the administrative component of the process, is an annual requirement.

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