Bill H.226

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 365 FILED ON: 1/10/2019

HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 226

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Shawn Dooley

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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 the establishment of a commission for fairness in liquor licensing.

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PETITION OF:

Name:	District/Address:	Date Added:
Shawn Dooley	9th Norfolk	1/10/2019
Michael J. Soter	8th Worcester	1/27/2019
Todd M. Smola	1st Hampden	1/31/2019

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 365 FILED ON: 1/10/2019

HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 226

By Mr. Dooley of Norfolk, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 226) of Shawn Dooley, Michael J. Soter and Todd M. Smola for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to fairness in liquor licensing. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 145 OF 2017-2018.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act relative to the establishment of a commission for fairness in liquor licensing.

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

SECTION 1. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be established a special commission to study and report on the feasibility of providing municipalities the power to grant for municipal use liquor licenses. The commission shall be comprised of 5 members; 2 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house, and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house; 2 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the senate president, and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and 1 member appointed by the Governor.

The scope of the commission shall include, but shall not be limited to, studying: the impact of current liquor laws in municipalities throughout the commonwealth; the financial and employment impacts on businesses within the commonwealth; ensuring that this system is fair to existing license holders and does not create a devaluing of their business by creating unfair competitive advantages to new businesses.

(b) The commission shall report the results of its investigation and study and its recommendations by filing the same with the clerk of the senate, the clerk of the house of representatives, the alcoholic beverages control commission under the office of the state treasurer, and the joint committee on consumer protection and licensure no later than one year after the first meeting of the commission is convened.