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March 28, 2024 Rain | 49°F
The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

AN ACT REQUIRING PROOF OF LIQUOR LEGAL LIABILITY INSURANCE BY ALL PERSONS LICENSED TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES FOR ON-PREMISES CONSUMPTION.

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. Section 12 of chapter 138 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby further amended by adding the following paragraph:-

No license shall be issued or renewed under this section until the applicant or licensee provides proof of coverage under a liquor legal liability insurance policy for bodily injury or death for a minimum amount of $250,000 on account of injury to or death of 1 person, and $500,000 on account of any 1 accident resulting in injury to or death of more than 1 person. Proof of the insurance coverage required by this section shall be made by filing a certificate of insurance in a form acceptable to the local licensing authority. The insurance shall be subject to sections 5 and 6 of chapter 175A of the General Laws.

SECTION 2.
Said chapter 138 is hereby further amended by striking out section 64A, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 64A. In any hearing by a licensing authority under the first paragraph of section 64 where a licensing authority finds that a licensee under section 12 has served or sold alcohol or alcoholic beverages either to a person under 21 years of age in violation of section 64 or to an intoxicated person in violation of section 69 within the 24 months immediately preceding the date of the alleged violation that is the subject of the hearing, the licensing authority may require, in addition to imposing any other sanctions, as a condition precedent to any modification, reinstatement or renewal of the license that the licensee provide a certificate of insurance for liquor liability providing security for the liability of the licensee to a limit of not less than $100,000 to any 1 person and $200,000 to all persons; provided, however, if the licensee is required to obtain insurance coverage under said section 12, then the licensing authority may increase the limits set by said section 12. Limits imposed or increased under this section shall be set at the discretion of the licensing authorities.

SECTION 3. Section 64B of said chapter 138, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the first sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- In any case in which a liquor liability insurance policy has been required or the limits of any such policy have been increased as a condition precedent to the modification, reinstatement or renewal of a license as provided in section 64A or section 67, a licensee shall disclose to the insurer that such policy has been required or such policy limits have been increased, shall provide to the liquor liability insurer the mailing address of the licensing authority and shall direct the insurer to include the licensing authority as a recipient of any notice which the insurer is required to issue to the licensee pursuant to chapter 175.

SECTION 4. Section 67 of said chapter 138, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “persons”, in line 49, the following words:- ; provided, however, that if the licensee is required to obtain insurance coverage under said section 12, then the licensing authority may increase the limits set by said section 12.

Approved, May 28, 2010.