- Committee -

SCS/SB 298 - This act removes a provision of the liquor control law which has been found unconstitutional, a board of directors of a school or the managing board of a church may no longer grant a waiver for the sale of intoxicating liquor within one hundred feet of their respective school, church, or other building regularly used as a place of religious worship. However, this provision shall not apply to a holder of a license issued pursuant to Section 311.090, Section 311.218, Section 311.482, RSMo, or a holder of such a license issued prior to January 1, 2004.

The act allows the governing body of any city, town or village by ordinance to prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquor within three hundred feet of a school, church, or other building regularly used as a place of religious worship.

Any person licensed to sell malt liquor containing alcohol in excess of three and two-tenths percent by weight and not in excess of five percent by weight under Section 311.200(2), RSMo, may also sell malt liquor at retail between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and midnight on Sunday.

A fee of twenty five dollars shall be required of all licensees who may sell malt liquor at retail by the drink for consumption on the premises where sold, pursuant to Section 311.200(3), RSMo. Such license holders may sell malt liquor at retail between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and midnight on Sunday.

The act adds an exemption to the limit of three liquor licenses pursuant to Section 311.260, RSMo, for establishments having at least thirty rooms for the overnight accommodation of transient guests.

The act adds a new subsection to Section 311.280, RSMo, which prohibits a licensed retailer from selling liquor or nonintoxicating beer with an alcohol content below five percent by weight to a customer in an original carton, if the carton has been mutilated, torn apart, or cut apart. Additionally the retailer may not repackage said substance in a misleading manner or if required labeling would be omitted or obscured.

The act combines the subsections of Section 311.290, RSMo, which addresses the prohibition of the sale, gift, or other disposal of intoxicating liquor between the hours of 1:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. by a license holder.

The act allows a license holder for the sale of intoxicating liquor to make such sales between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and midnight on sundays upon receipt of a special licenses for such purpose.

The act adds a subsection to Section 311.220 RSMo, which states that a manufacturer-sealed container describing the intoxicating liquor therein need not be opened or tested to verify said liquid is contained therein. An alleged violator may challenge that the contents of the container are not an nonintoxicating liquor, but the burden of proof is on the alleged violator.

The act clarifies that Section 311.328, RSMo, applies only to a valid or unexpired operator's or chauffeur's license.

The act removes subsection 2 of Section 311.360, RSMo, which addresses the sale of malt liquor that is manufactured at a facility other than that of the individual who's name appears on the label.

The act in section 311.630 RSMo, allows peace officers designated under the director of liquor control to make arrests and searches and seizures related to violations of intoxicating liquor and nonintoxicating beer pursuant to chapters 311 and 312 RSMo. Further they may make such arrests and searches and seizures related to violations of Section 407.924 to 407.934 RSMo, which relate to tobacco products. The act removes the training requirements for such peace officers and only requires that they be appointed, qualified under Section 311.620, RSMo, and hold a valid peace officer license under Chapter 590, RSMo.

The act states that a manufacturer-sealed container of nonintoxicating beer need not be opened or tested to verify said liquid is contained therein. A violator may allege that the contents of the container are not nonintoxicating beer or liquor but the burden of proof is on the alleged violator.

The act under Section 312.410, RSMo, modifies current language and prevents a license holder from selling, giving or permitting consumption of any nonintoxicating beer between the hours of one-thirty a.m., and six a.m. upon or about the license holders premises.

RICHARD MOORE