An Act Regarding State Licensure for the Sale ~f Spirits for Off-premises Consumption
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1357
Committee Amendment CA_A_H201 (House)
Amends: 28-A MRSA §453-A

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to H.P. 979, L.D. 1357, Bill, "An Act 
Regarding State Licensure for the Sale ~f Spirits for Off-premises Consumption" 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 3 the following: 
'Sec. 4. 28-A MRSA §453-A, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2005, c. 596, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
5. Licensing decisions. The bureau shall conduct an investigation to determine the 
feasibility of the location and type of facility for the agency liquor store and shall may 
issue the license to one or more of the applicants, taking into consideration the absence of 
an existing agency liquor store with less than 3,000 square feet of retail space in a 
downtown location and any other factors the bureau considers appropriate. The bureau is 
not required to consider the availability of parking spaces for motor vehicles for the 
issuance of an agency liquor store license to a store with less than 3,000 square feet of 
retail space in a downtown location. When considering the issuance of a license, the 
bureau shall consider the proximity of the proposed agency store to existing agency stores 
and the potential impact the location of the proposed agency store may have on an 
existing agency store. The bureau may deny a license if the bureau dete1mines the 
proposed agency store location is in too close proximity to an existing agency store. For 
purposes of this subsection, "downtown" has the same meaning as in Title 30-A, section 
4301, subsection 5-A.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the minority report of the committee, clarifies that when 
the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages 
and Lottery Operations gives public notice that any agency liquor store may be 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
, c;\. 
:s, 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to H.P. 979, L.D. 1357 
established in a particular municipality or unincorporated place, the bureau has discretion 
to not issue a license if, for example, the bureau determines that no applicant meets the 
criteria for licensure. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/27/19 feac 
LD 1357 
LR 1869(02) 
An Act Regarding State Licensure for the Sale of Spirits for Off-premises Consumption 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment :;t\" ( /{.,..-2,() f) 
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor revenue increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
This bill changes the methodology for determining the number of agency liquor stores in a municipality from being 
determined by population to being determined by the municipality, places ownership limits on applications for 
agency liquor stores and allows the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations (BABLO) the option of 
not issuing a license if certain criteria are not met. The removal of a population-based limit on agency liquor stores 
in a municipality may generate additional General Fund revenue. However, because the number of new licenses 
issued is dependent upon the number of agency liquor stores authorized by a municipality, no estimate of additional 
revenue is made at this time. 
LRl 869(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1