SPONSOR:

Rep. Ramone & Rep. Michael Smith & Sen. Pettyjohn

Reps. Briggs King, D. Short, Shupe, Yearick; Sen. Sokola

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 23

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 546, Title 4 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 546. Limit on number of retail licenses.

(b) The Commissioner shall refuse to grant a license for the sale of alcoholic liquor by any restaurant, taproom, hotel, store or other establishment for consumption off the premises where sold if the Commissioner has substantial evidence that would reasonably support a belief that the applicant, or any of the applicant’s directors, officers or shareholders, or any of the applicant’s partners, corporations, proprietorships or other legal entities engaged in any undertaking, industry or business is singularly, or in combination with the applicant, the holder of 2 3 or more retail licenses, or has any financial, pecuniary, beneficial, management, supervisory or other interest whatsoever, direct or indirect, and however small, in 2 3 or more retail licenses; provided, however, that nothing herein shall require any person who, prior to April 1, 1992, acquired an interest in more than 2 3 retail licenses to surrender, dispose of, or release their interest in any such license; nor shall anything herein affect such person’s right to continue to hold, use and renew any such license.

SYNOPSIS

This Act increases by one the number of licenses for the sale of alcoholic liquor an individual or entity may have an interest in, from two to three.