SCS/HCS/HB 1692 - This act allows resorts located in Miller, Morgan and Camden counties to apply for a special permit from the Supervisor of Liquor Control to remain open and sell liquor by the drink until 3:00 a.m. each day of the week and to open at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday.

The applicant must have had gross sales of $100,000 or more in the preceding year and must be a resort. A resort is defined as "any establishment having at least sixty-five rooms for the overnight accommodation of transient guests, having at least three thousand square feet of meeting space and having a restaurant located on the premises".

Any resort holding a special permit must ensure that only overnight guests of the resort are sold liquor between 1:30 a.m. and 3:00 a.m.

This act allows a wholesaler to give a retailer credit for intoxicating liquor with an alcohol content of less than 5% or 3.2% beer in a container with a capacity of four gallons or more that was delivered but not used, if the wholesaler removes the product within seven days of the initial delivery.

This act creates new penalties for licensees that are found by the Supervisor of Liquor Control to have violated liquor control laws. In lieu of suspension or revocation of a license, the Supervisor may assess certain amounts of fines to any licensed solicitor or retailer. Licensees may appeal the issuance of the fine to the Administrative Hearing Commission.

In order to encourage settlement, licensees are afforded the opportunity to meet with the Supervisor of Liquor Control before any disciplinary action is taken. The Supervisor of Liquor Control must provide the licensee with the time and place of the meeting and certain written information about licensee's conduct at issue.

The provisions of this act shall expire on January 1, 2007.

This act is similar to SB 912 and SB 1002 (2002).
JIM ERTLE