Section 1. Section 1 of Chapter 138 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting in line 7, after the words “degrees Fahrenheit” the following:-

“Chain Store”, means two (2) or more section 15 licenses held by the same person, or by the same partnership or corporation in either case having identical ownership, or two (2) or more such licenses with common ownership having executed a chain store agreement, engaged in operations designed to achieve a common result in the purchasing of alcoholic beverages, the pricing of alcoholic beverages, marketing, use of a common trade name, accounting and purchasing insurance.

“Chain Store Agreement”, is a written agreement between section 15 licenses having common ownership, but not identical ownership, authorizing the licenses within the retail chain to achieve a common result in the purchasing of alcoholic beverages, the pricing of alcoholic beverages, and marketing, use of a common trade name, accounting and purchasing insurance.

Section 2. Section 1 of Chapter 138 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting in line 30, after the words “chapter 10” the following:-

“Common Ownership”, the same person, or the same partnership or corporation in either case having identical ownership, holding at least fifty-one (51%) percent ownership, but less than one hundred (100%) percent ownership, of two (2) or more licenses issued under section 15.

Section 3. Section 15 of Chapter 138 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting in line 31, after the words “in a city” the following:-

“Upon application the commission shall issue to a person, partnership, corporation or common ownership, holding two (2) or more licenses, not to exceed seven (7) licenses, a chain store designation for the purpose of allowing the purchase of alcoholic beverages for all such licenses as a single chain store.”

Section 4. Section 15 of Chapter 138 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting in line 96, after the words “in a city” the following:-

“Upon application the commission shall issue to a person, partnership, corporation or common ownership, holding two (2) or more licenses, not to exceed nine (9) licenses, a chain store designation for the purpose of allowing the purchase of alcoholic beverages for all such licenses as a single chain store.”