HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4284        FILED ON: 10/12/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3954

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

October 12, 2017

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives,

Pursuant to Article LVI, as amended by Article XC, Section 3 of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I am returning to you for amendment House Bill No. 3754, “An Act Authorizing the Town of Dracut to Grant 4 Additional Licenses for the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages to be Drunk on the Premises.”

At the annual town meeting held on June 6, 2016, the town of Dracut voted to petition the General Court for special legislation authorizing the local licensing authority to grant four additional licenses for the on-site sale and consumption of all alcoholic beverages. The vote did not restrict those licenses as to location. The bill, however, authorizes the issuance and transfer of those four additional licenses to only establishments located in specified business districts.

The town of Dracut believes its original petition best supports the town’s interests and business plan.

I, therefore, recommend that House Bill No. 3754 be amended by striking out the text thereof and inserting in place thereof the following text:-

SECTION 1.  (a) Notwithstanding section 17 of chapter 138 of the General Laws, the licensing authority of the town of Dracut may grant 4 additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises pursuant to section 12 of said chapter 138.  The licenses shall be subject to all of said chapter 138 except said section 17.

(b) Once issued, the licensing authority shall not approve the transfer of a license granted pursuant to this section to any other location, but it may grant the license to a new applicant at the same location if the applicant files with the licensing authority a letter from the department of revenue and a letter from the department of unemployment assistance indicating that the license is in good standing with those departments and that all applicable taxes, fees and contributions have been paid. 

(c) If a license granted pursuant to this section is cancelled, revoked or no longer in use, it shall be returned physically, with all legal rights, privileges and restrictions pertaining thereto, to the licensing authority and the licensing authority may then grant the license to a new applicant at any location under the same conditions as specified in this section.

SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Thank you for your prompt consideration.

Respectfully submitted,

Charles D. Baker,

Governor