Source: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2015/S8140
Timestamp: 2020-08-08 09:34:54
Document Index: 169460982

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 10', '§ 14', '§ 17', '§ 17', '§ 61', '§ 61', '§ 63', '§ 66', '§ 93', '§ 93', '§ 99', '§ 105', '§ 106', '§ 108', '§ 112', '§ 118', '§ 61', '§ 270', '§ 273']

ordered to third reading cal.1928
S8140 (ACTIVE) - Details
S8140 (ACTIVE) - Summary
S8140 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER:  S8140
TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the alcoholic beverage control law
and the executive law, in relation to a reorganization of the
This bill would amend various provisions of the Alcoholic Beverage
Control Law ("ABCL") and make related amendments to other laws to
implement recommendations made by the Alcoholic Beverage Working
Section 1 of the bill would amend ABCL § 10 to state that the Members
of the State Liquor Authority ("Authority") shall consist of a
chairman and two commissioners, rather than three commissioners.
Section 2 of the bill would amend ABCL § 14 to permit the Governor to
appoint a commissioner as Chairman in the case of a vacancy in the
office of Chairman pending the qualification of a new Chairman.
Section 3 of the bill would amend the ABCL § 17(3) to allow the
Authority to impose civil penalties on two new licenses created by
Section 4 of the bill would amend the version of ABCL § 17(3) now
scheduled to become effective in two years to allow the Authority to
impose civil penalties on two new licenses created by this bill.
Section 5 of the bill would add new ABCL § 61-a and § 61-b to create a
combined craft manufacturing license and an importer's license.
Section 6 of the bill would amend ABCL § 63(4) to permit off-premise
liquor and wine stores to sell gift bags and gift wrapping.
Section 7 of the bill would add a new ABCL § 66(3-a) to provide a
license fee for the new importer's license.
Section 8 of the bill would amend ABCL § 93(1) to eliminate the need
for a solicitor's permit for a sales person working for a craft
Section 9 of the bill would amend ABCL§ 93(4) to extend the duration
of a temporary solicitor's permit from sixty days to six months.
Section 10 of the bill would add a new ABCL § 99-h to create a permit
to allow on-premises licensees to sell alcoholic beverages on Sundays
between 8 a.m. and ten o'clock a.m. The permit would be valid for one
calendar day and each on-premises licensee is allowed to apply for
twelve such permits in one calendar year. Each permit application
requires notice to the local municipality. Only on-premises licensees
in a city with populations under one million are eligible to receive
Section 11 of the bill would amend ABCL § 105(5) and (11) to provide
that a winery or farm winery may sell wine in open containers, such as
Section 12 of the bill would amend ABCL § 106(5)(3)(a) to provide that
a winery or farm winery may allow patrons to take opened bottles of
wine away from the licensed premises and to eliminate the
long-standing prohibition against serving alcoholic beverages before
noon on Sundays. This section will allow sales of alcoholic beverages
starting at 10 a.m. on Sundays.
Section 13 of the bill would amend ABCL § 108 to allow a person with
an on-premises liquor or wine license establishment adjacent to such
person's off-premises beer license establishment to transport liquor
and wine through the off-premises establishment.
Section 14 of the bill would amend ABCL § 112 to eliminate the need
for the holder of a solicitor's permit to obtain a surety bond.
Section 15 of the bill would amend ABCL § 118 adding new subdivision 5
limiting the sanctions on prosecutions of combined manufacturing
licenses issued under ABCL § 61-a to apply to only the prosecuted
Sections 16 of the bill would amend Executive Law § 270 to coincide
with changes made by this bill to the ABCL.
Sections 17 of the bill would amend Executive Law § 273 to coincide
Section 18 of the bill would make it effective sixty days after it is
signed into law, provided that: sections 6 and 14 of this bill will
expire and be deemed repealed three years after this bill becomes law;
and section 12 of this bill would take effect immediately upon this
bill being signed into law.
This bill is intended to address the following omissions in the ABCL
as well as unduly burdensome complications within the ABCL. The ABCL
*Does not address who will have administrative power over the agency
in the case of a vacancy in the office of Chairman pending the
qualification of a new Chairman;
*Does not have a license for a company that intends to sell at
wholesale, but only to other wholesalers;
*Unnecessarily requires any solicitor working for a manufacturer,
regardless of the size of the business, to file a surety bond with the
*Unnecessarily requires manufacturers to obtain a permit to allow new
employees to work without a solicitor's permit, but only for sixty
*Prohibits on-premises sales of alcoholic beverages from 8 a.m. until
noon on Sundays;
*Unnecessarily requires a person with multiple manufacturing
operations at one location to obtain multiple licenses;
*Sets limits on the types of items that can be sold at a package
*Prohibits a winery from selling wine in growlers, or letting patrons
leave with an open bottle of wine; and
*Prohibits a person with an on-premises liquor or wine license and an
adjacent off-premises beer license from moving liquor or wine from a
storage area, through the beer premises, and into the on-premises
This bill would incorporate recommendations made by the Governor's
ABCL Working Group, which was tasked with offering suggestions to
improve the law and aid businesses.
*The ABCL does not contain a provision to appoint a temporary Chairman
when a vacancy arises. The bill would authorize the Governor, in the
event of the death, resignation, removal or disability of the
Chairman, to designate one of the Commissioners to serve as acting
Chairman for a period up to nine months until a new Chairman is
nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
*Small businesses that import products into the state to be wholesaled
by other entities must currently choose between: (i) obtaining a
costly wholesale license; or (ii) moving their business outside of New
York State. The importers license will enable them to stay in New York
State and operate with an inexpensive license.
*Small craft manufacturers find the filing of applications and fees
for solicitors permits burdensome. The bill would remove these
requirements for small entities and also remove the requirement of a
bond for solicitor permits for larger entities. Those solicitors are
still regulated but employers are no longer obligated to obtain bonds.
*New York craft manufacturers may manufacture different products under
different licenses at the same location. This practice requires a
separate application, fee and renewal process for each license. This
bill would enable manufacturers to apply for one license for the
selected activities requiring one filing fee and one renewal
*The ABCL requires that wine sold at retail stores for off-premises
consumption be kept in sealed containers. This bill permits wineries
to sell wine in growlers. The ABCL also prohibits an individual from
leaving a winery with an open bottle of wine. This bill would permit
the patron to take the rest of the wine home.
*The ABCL imposes restrictions on the hours of sale of alcoholic
beverages on Sundays, referred to as "Blue Laws." This bill would
enable on-premises licenses throughout the state to begin serving
alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises on Sundays at 10
a.m., rather than noon. Licensees outside of New York City may also
apply for a permit to allow the licensee to serve alcoholic beverages
starting at 8 a.m. on a particular day of the year. Licensees seeking
the permit must notify the local municipality and may only obtain
twelve of these permits each calendar year.
*The ABCL limits package stores and wine stores to selling only
alcoholic beverages and certain other specified items such as wine
glasses. This bill would also allow package stores and wine stores to
sell gift wrapping and gift bags.
*Numerous grocery stores own restaurants adjacent to the grocery
stores. Because wine and liquor may not enter a grocery store,
licensees must take the wine and liquor around the outside of the
grocery store to bring it into the restaurant. This bill would
eliminate this burdensome requirement and allow wine and liquor to
pass through the grocery store en-route to the restaurant.
Effective on the sixtieth day after it shall become law, provided
that: the amendments to section 17 of the ABCL made by section three
shall be subject to the expiration and reversion of such section
pursuant to 2 section 4 of chapter 118 of the laws of 2012, as
act shall take effect; the provisions of sections six and thirteen of
the bill will expire and be deemed repealed three years after this
bill becomes law; and the provisions of section 12 of this bill would
take effect immediately upon this bill being signed into law 4
S8140 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf
Introduced  by  Sen. LANZA -- (at request of the Governor) -- read twice
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