Delaware General Assembly

CHAPTER 383

FORMERLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 588

Section 1. Amend §541 of Title 4 of the Delaware Code by deleting subsection (b) in its entirety and substituting in lieu thereof the following:

"(b) If ten (10) or more persons who reside or own property within 1 mile of the premises where the license is to operate or in any incorporated areas located within 1 mile of the premises where the license is to operate file a protest against the issuance of the license with the Commissioner within thirty (30) days from the filing of the application, then a hearing must be held to consider the application and protest, and, specifically, the concerns of the members of the community within which the license is to operate. The Commissioner may hold a hearing in the absence of a protest. The Commissioner shall cause notice of the time and location of the hearing to be published in two consecutive issues of the same newspapers within which the applicant published notice of the applicant's application for the license. The Commissioner shall send notice of the time and location of the hearing to the applicant and to each of the persons who signed the protest and provided a legible name and address; provided, however, that it is sufficient for the Commissioner to send notice to the attorney of a person who is represented by legal counsel. The Commissioner shall conduct the hearing, and shall make and keep a record of the hearing. The record must include the evidence, the Commissioner's findings of fact, the Commissioner's decision, and a brief statement of the reasons therefor. The Commissioner's decision must show the manner in which the Commissioner construed the law and applied it to the facts, must recite any objections presented by the community, and must show how and the extent to which the Commissioner took community concerns into account and gave them due consideration when making the decision.".