2023 Tennessee Code › Title 57 - INTOXICATING LIQUORS (§§ 57-1-101 — 57-10-102) › Chapter 3 - LOCAL OPTION-TRAFFIC IN INTOXICATING LIQUORS (§§ 57-3-101 — 57-3-1103) › Part 7 - EMPLOYEE AND SERVER PERMITS (§§ 57-3-701 — 57-3-710) › Section 57-3-703 - Application requirements for employee permit

(a)
Any individual may be eligible for an employee permit by completing an application for such a permit on the forms provided by the commission. An applicant for an employee permit must demonstrate to the commission that the applicant is at least eighteen (18) years of age and:
(1)
Has not been convicted of a felony offense involving theft, dishonesty, deceit, or intoxication within the previous eight (8) years;
(2)
Has not been convicted of any crime involving the sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages or beer, Schedules I and II controlled substances, or controlled substance analogues or any sex-related crime or embezzlement within the previous eight (8) years;
(3)
Has not had an employee permit or any similar permit issued by the state, any local jurisdiction, or any foreign jurisdiction revoked by any issuing authority within the previous five (5) years; and
(4)
Has not had an ownership interest in any licensee or permittee, licensed or permitted pursuant to §
57-3-203
, §
57-3-204
, §
57-3-207
, §
57-4-101
or §
57-5-103
which has had its license or permit revoked by the issuing authority within the previous eight (8) years.
(b)
If an applicant does not meet the requirements of subdivisions (a)(1)-(4), but is otherwise eligible for a permit, then the applicant's application shall be initially denied pursuant to this subsection (b). Within thirty (30) days of such initial denial, the applicant may request a hearing to be held pursuant to the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5. At such hearing, the administrative law judge or hearing officer may consider any evidence the administrative law judge or hearing officer deems relevant to the matter and may, if in the administrative law judge's or hearing officer's judgment the principles of equity require, approve the application and grant the employee permit, notwithstanding the requirements of subdivisions (a)(1)-(4).
(c)
(1)
If an applicant does not request a hearing pursuant to subsection (b) within the required period, then the application's denial will be final and the applicant may not reapply for an employee permit until the relevant time period described in subdivisions (a)(1)-(4) has expired. If a person applies for an employee permit in violation of this subdivision (c)(1), then such application shall be denied and subsection (b) shall not apply.
(2)
If the administrative law judge, hearing officer, or commission denies an application at a hearing held pursuant to subsection (b), then the application's denial will be final and the applicant may not reapply for an employee permit or apply for a server permit pursuant to §
57-3-704
until the relevant time period described in subdivision (a)(1)-(4) has expired. If a person applies for an employee or server permit in violation of this subdivision (c)(2), then such application shall be denied and subsection (b) or §
57-3-704(b)
shall not apply.
(d)
If a person is convicted of an offense described in subdivision (a)(1) or (a)(2) after being issued an employee permit pursuant to this section, the commission may institute proceedings to revoke the person's employee permit pursuant to §
57-3-214
; provided, that the administrative law judge or hearing officer may, if in the administrative law judge's or hearing officer's judgment the principles of equity require, refuse to revoke the person's employee permit, notwithstanding a finding that the person has been convicted of an offense described in subdivision (a)(1) or (a)(2). If the administrative law judge, hearing officer, or commission revokes an employee permit pursuant to this subsection (d), then the applicant may not reapply for an employee permit or apply for a server permit pursuant to §
57-3-704
until the relevant time period described in subdivision (a)(1) or (a)(2) has expired. If a person applies for an employee or server permit in violation of this subsection (d), then such application shall be denied and subsection (b) or §
57-3-704(b)
shall not apply.
(e)
The commission may promulgate rules and regulations to enforce and administer this section pursuant to the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act.
Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 147,s 12, eff. 4/17/2017.
Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 719,s 1, eff. 4/6/2016.
Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 973,s 1, eff. 7/1/2014.
Acts 1995, ch. 396, § 1.