AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF NORTON TO GRANT 2 ADDITIONAL LICENSES FOR THE SALE OF ALL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES NOT TO BE DRUNK ON THE PREMISES
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 section 17 of chapter 138 of the General Laws, the licensing authority of the town of Norton may grant 2 additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises under section 15 of said chapter 138 to establishments located within the 2 development zones as those areas are defined in subsection (b). A license granted under this act shall be clearly marked on its face “East Main Street” or “Old Colony Road” and shall be subject to all of said chapter 138 except said section 17.
(b) The licensing authority shall restrict the 2 licenses as follows: (1) One license shall be issued to an establishment within an area located on East Main street between its intersection with interstate highway route 495 and the town of Easton town line; and (2) one license shall be issued to an establishment within an area located on Old Colony road between its intersection with North Worcester street and South Worcester street and the city of Attleboro city line.
(c) The licensing authority shall not approve the transfer of a license granted under this act to a location outside of the area for which the license was initially granted, but it may grant a license to a new applicant within the area for which the license was initially granted 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.
(d) A license granted under this section shall not be sold or transferred by the licensee. If a licensee terminates or fails to renew a license granted under this act or the license granted under this act is cancelled, revoked or no longer in use, the license shall be returned physically, with all of the legal rights, privileges and restrictions pertaining thereto, to the licensing authority and the licensing authority may then grant the license to a new applicant under the same conditions specified in this act.
(e) A license granted pursuant to this act shall be issued within 2 years after the effective date of this act; provided, however, that a license originally granted within that time period may be granted to a new applicant pursuant to subsections (c) and (d) thereafter.
SECTION 2. The select board of the town of Norton may establish a liquor license review committee and a competitive procedure for allocating liquor licenses that are now available or that may become available in the future subject to the approval of the select board and chapter 138 of the General Laws.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved, January 4, 2023.