HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1551        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 253

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Paul McMurtry

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to retail licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages at continuing care retirement communities.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1551        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 253

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2699 OF 2011-2012.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act relative to retail licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages at continuing care retirement communities.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION1. Chapter 138 of the General laws is hereby amended by inserting, after section 14, the following section:-

Section 14A. (a) In a city or town wherein the granting of licenses to sell all alcoholic beverages or wines and malt beverages only is authorized under this chapter, special licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages or wines and malt beverages only, or either of them, may be issued by the local licensing authority, to the manager or concessionaire of the continuing care community or retirement community as defined by section 76 of chapter 93 of assisted living residence under chapter 19D; provided, however, that in any city or town wherein the granting of licenses to sell all alcoholic beverages is authorized under this chapter, special licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages or wines and malt beverages only, or any of them, may be issued by the local licensing authority to the responsible manager of any organization that is a continuing care community or retirement community under section 76 of chapter 93. In no event shall such beverages be served to persons under the age of 21. The fees for the licenses granted under this section shall be fixed form time to time by the local licensing authority and need not be uniform.

A license under this section shall not be granted to any person while this application for a license under section 12 is pending before the licensing authority.

(b) Licenses issued under this section are restaurant liquor licenses; provided, however, that the   following additional restrictions and privileges shall apply:

(1) Licenses issued under this section are not subject to quota restrictions

(2) Sales of all alcoholic beverages and wines or malt beverages may not occur from 2:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.; provided, further, that sales may not occur prior to 1:00 p.m. or after 10:00 p.m. on Sunday.

(3) All alcoholic beverages and wines or malt beverages sold or furnished by the licensee may be possessed anywhere within the continuing care retirement community regardless of whether that portion of the premises is licensed. However, no alcoholic beverages or wines and malt beverages sold or furnished by the licensee may be taken beyond the confines of the continuing care retirement communities.

(4) Sales of alcoholic beverages or wines and malt beverages may occur in those portions of the premises licensed by the authority as well as in rooms that are lived in or used by residents of the continuing care retirement community. Sales of alcoholic and wines and malt beverages are limited to residents of the continuing care retirement community and the guests of residents in conjunction with the normal, regularly scheduled dining, entertainment or social activities of the continuing care retirement community.

(5) Licenses issued under this section are subject to the General Laws relating to employment of minors, with the exception that the minimum age threshold for employment on licensed premises shall be 18.  The prohibition against minors under the age of 21 dispensing or serving alcohol shall remain in effect. Residents who reside in continuing care retirement communities shall also have the right to have cocktail parties and furnish their own alcohol for said parties to be consumed on the premises of continuing care retirement communities.