pa022301

Act No. 223

Public Acts of 2001

Approved by the Governor

January 2, 2002

Filed with the Secretary of State

January 2, 2002

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 22, 2002

STATE OF MICHIGAN

91ST LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2001

Introduced by Senator Steil

ENROLLED SENATE BILL No. 331

AN ACT to amend 1998 PA 58, entitled "An act to create a commission for the control of the alcoholic beverage traffic within this state, and to prescribe its powers, duties, and limitations; to provide for powers and duties for certain state departments and agencies; to impose certain taxes for certain purposes; to provide for the control of the alcoholic liquor traffic within this state and to provide for the power to establish state liquor stores; to provide for the care and treatment of alcoholics; to provide for the incorporation of farmer cooperative wineries and the granting of certain rights and privileges to those cooperatives; to provide for the licensing and taxation of activities regulated under this act and the disposition of the money received under this act; to prescribe liability for retail licensees under certain circumstances and to require security for that liability; to provide procedures, defenses, and remedies regarding violations of this act; to provide for the enforcement and to prescribe penalties for violations of this act; to provide for allocation of certain funds for certain purposes; to provide for the confiscation and disposition of property seized under this act; to provide referenda under certain circumstances; and to repeal acts and parts of acts," by amending sections 107, 525, 531, and 537 (MCL 436.1107, 436.1525, 436.1531, and 436.1537), section 531 as amended by 2000 PA 399, and by adding section 532.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 107. (1) "Cash" means money in hand, bank notes, demand deposits at a bank, or legal tender, which a creditor must accept according to law. Cash does not include call loans, postdated checks, or promissory notes.

(2) "Class C license" means a place licensed to sell at retail beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits for consumption on the premises.

(3) "Class G-1 license" means a place licensed to sell at retail beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits for consumption on the premises at a golf course having at least 18 holes that measure at least 5,000 yards and which license is issued only to a facility which permits member access by means of payments that include annual paid membership fees.

(4) "Class G-2 license" means a place licensed to sell at retail beer and wine for consumption on the premises at a golf course having at least 18 holes that measure at least 5,000 yards and which license is issued only to a facility which permits member access by means of payments that include annual paid membership fees.

(5) "Club" means a nonprofit association, whether incorporated or unincorporated, organized for the promotion of some common purpose, the object of which is owning, hiring, or leasing a building, or space in a building, of an extent and character as in the judgment of the commission may be suitable and adequate for the reasonable and comfortable use and accommodation of its members and their guests, but does not include an association organized for a commercial or business purpose.

(6) "Commission" means the liquor control commission provided for and created in section 209.

(7) "Church" means an entire house or structure set apart primarily for use for purposes of public worship, and which is tax exempt under the laws of this state, and in which religious services are held and with which a clergyman is associated, and the entire structure of which is kept for that use and not put to any other use inconsistent with that use.

(8) "Distiller" means any person licensed to manufacture and sell spirits or alcohol, or both, of any kind.

(9) "Hotel" means a building or group of buildings located on the same or adjoining pieces of real property, which provide lodging to travelers and temporary residents and which may also provide food service and other goods and services to registered guests and to the public.

(10) "Class A hotel" means a hotel licensed by the commission to sell beer and wine for consumption on the premises only, which provides for the rental of, and maintains the availability for rental of, not less than 25 bedrooms if located in a local governmental unit with a population of less than 175,000 or not less than 50 bedrooms if located in a local governmental unit with a population of 175,000 or more.

(11) "Class B hotel" means a hotel licensed by the commission to sell beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits for consumption on the premises only, which provides for the rental of, and maintains the availability for rental of, not less than 25 bedrooms if located in a local governmental unit with a population of less than 175,000 or not less than 50 bedrooms if located in a local governmental unit with a population of 175,000 or more.

(12) "License" means a contract between the commission and the licensee granting authority to that licensee to manufacture and sell, or sell, or warehouse alcoholic liquor in the manner provided by this act.

Sec. 525. (1) The following license fees shall be paid at the time of filing applications or as otherwise provided in this act:

(a) Manufacturers of spirits, but not including makers, blenders, and rectifiers of wines containing 21% or less alcohol by volume, $10,000.00.

(b) Manufacturers of beer, $50.00 per 1,000 barrels, or fraction of a barrel, production annually with a maximum fee of $1,000.00, and in addition $50.00 for each motor vehicle used in delivery to retail licensees. A fee increase shall not apply to a manufacturer of less than 15,000 barrels production per year.

(d) Wine makers, blenders, and rectifiers of wine, including makers, blenders, and rectifiers of wines containing 21% or less alcohol by volume, $100.00. The small wine maker license fee shall be $25.00.

(e) Outstate seller of wine, delivering or selling wine in this state, $300.00.

(f) Outstate seller of mixed spirit drink, delivering or selling mixed spirit drink in this state, $300.00.

(g) Dining cars or other railroad or Pullman cars selling alcoholic liquor, $100.00 per train.

(h) Wholesale vendors other than manufacturers of beer, $300.00 for the first motor vehicle used in delivery to retail licensees and $50.00 for each additional motor vehicle used in delivery to retail licensees.

(i) Watercraft, licensed to carry passengers, selling alcoholic liquor, a minimum fee of $100.00 and a maximum fee of $500.00 per year computed on the basis of $1.00 per person per passenger capacity.

(j) Specially designated merchants, for selling beer or wine for consumption off the premises only but not at wholesale, $100.00 for each location regardless of the fact that the location may be a part of a system or chain of merchandising.

(k) Specially designated distributors licensed by the commission to distribute spirits and mixed spirit drink in the original package for the commission for consumption off the premises, $150.00 per year, and an additional fee of $3.00 for each $1,000.00 or major fraction of that amount in excess of $25,000.00 of the total retail value of merchandise purchased under each license from the commission during the previous calendar year.

(l) Hotels of class A selling beer and wine, a minimum fee of $250.00 and, for all bedrooms in excess of 20, $1.00 for each additional bedroom, but not more than $500.00.

(m) Hotels of class B selling beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits, a minimum fee of $600.00 and, for all bedrooms in excess of 20, $3.00 for each additional bedroom. If a hotel of class B sells beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits in more than 1 public bar, the fee shall entitle the hotel to sell in only 1 public bar, other than a bedroom, and a license shall be secured for each additional public bar, other than a bedroom, the fee for which shall be $350.00.

(n) Taverns, selling beer and wine, $250.00.

(o) Class C license selling beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits, $600.00. If a class C licensee sells beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits in more than 1 bar, a fee of $350.00 shall be paid for each additional bar. In municipally owned or supported facilities in which nonprofit organizations operate concession stands, a fee of $100.00 shall be paid for each additional bar.

(p) Clubs selling beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits, $300.00 for clubs having 150 or fewer duly accredited members and $1.00 for each additional member. The membership list for the purpose only of determining the license fees to be paid under this section shall be the accredited list of members as determined by a sworn affidavit 30 days before the closing of the license year. This section shall not prevent the commission from checking a membership list and making its own determination from the list or otherwise. The list of members and additional members shall not be required of a club paying the maximum fee. The maximum fee shall not exceed $750.00 for any 1 club.

(q) Warehousers, to be fixed by the commission with a minimum fee for each warehouse of $50.00.

(r) Special licenses, a fee of $50.00 per day, except that the fee for that license or permit issued to any bona fide nonprofit association, duly organized and in continuous existence for 1 year before the filing of its application, shall be $25.00. Not more than 5 special licenses may be granted to any organization, including an auxiliary of the organization, in a calendar year.

(s) Airlines licensed to carry passengers in this state which sell, offer for sale, provide, or transport alcoholic liquor, $600.00.

(t) Brandy manufacturer, $100.00.

(u) Mixed spirit drink manufacturer, $100.00.

(v) Brewpub, $100.00.

(w) Class G-1, $1,000.00.

(x) Class G-2, $500.00.

(2) The fees provided in this act for the various types of licenses shall not be prorated for a portion of the effective period of the license.

Sec. 531. (1) A public license shall not be granted for the sale of alcoholic liquor for consumption on the premises in excess of 1 license for each 1,500 of population or major fraction thereof. On-premises escrowed licenses issued under this subsection may be transferred subject to local legislative approval under section 501(2) to an applicant whose proposed operation is located within any local governmental unit in a county with a population of under 500,000 or a county with a population of over 700,000 in which the escrowed license was located. If the local governmental unit within which the former licensee's premises were located spans more than 1 county, an escrowed license is available subject to local legislative approval under section 501(2) to an applicant whose proposed operation is located within any local governmental unit in either county. If an escrowed license is activated within a local governmental unit other than that local governmental unit within which the escrowed license was originally issued, the commission shall count that activated license against the local governmental unit originally issuing the license. This quota does not bar the right of an existing licensee to renew a license or transfer the license and does not bar the right of an on-premise licensee of any class to reclassify to another class of on-premises license in a manner not in violation of law or this act, subject to the consent of the commission. The upgrading of a license resulting from a request under this subsection shall be approved by the local governmental unit having jurisdiction.

(2) In a resort area, the commission may issue 1 or more licenses for a period not to exceed 12 months without regard to a limitation because of population, but not in excess of 550, and with respect to the resort license the commission, by rule, shall define and classify resort seasons by months and may issue 1 or more licenses for resort seasons without regard to the calendar year or licensing year.

(3) In addition to the resort licenses authorized in subsection (2), the commission may issue not more than 10 additional licenses per year for the years 2001 and 2002 to establishments whose business and operation, as determined by the commission, is designed to attract and accommodate tourists and visitors to the resort area, whose primary purpose is not for the sale of alcoholic liquor, and whose capital investment in real property, leasehold improvement, and fixtures for the premises to be licensed is $75,000.00 or more. Further, the commission shall issue 1 license under this subsection for the years 2001 and 2002 to an applicant located in a rural area that has a poverty rate, as defined by the latest decennial census, greater than the statewide average, or that is located in a rural area that has an unemployment rate higher than the statewide average for 3 of the 5 preceding years. In counties having a population of less than 50,000, as determined by the last federal decennial census or as determined pursuant to subsection (11) and subject to subsection (16) in the case of a class A hotel or a class B hotel, the commission shall not require the establishments to have dining facilities to seat more than 50 persons. The commission may cancel the license if the resort is no longer active or no longer qualifies for the license. Before January 16 of each year the commission shall transmit to the legislature a report giving details as to the number of applications received under this subsection; the number of licenses granted and to whom; the number of applications rejected and the reasons; and the number of the licenses revoked, suspended, or other disciplinary action taken and against whom and the grounds for revocation, suspension, or disciplinary action.

(4) In addition to any licenses for the sale of alcoholic liquor for consumption on the premises that may be available in the local governmental unit under subsection (1) and the resort licenses authorized in subsections (2) and (3), the commission may issue not more than 20 resort economic development licenses per year for the years 2001 and 2002. A person is eligible to apply for a resort economic development license under this subsection upon submitting an application to the commission and demonstrating all of the following:

(a) The establishment's business and operation, as determined by the commission, is designed to attract and accommodate tourists and visitors to the resort area.

(b) The establishment's primary business is not the sale of alcoholic liquor.

(c) The capital investment in real property, leasehold improvement, fixtures, and inventory for the premises to be licensed is in excess of $1,500,000.00.

(d) The establishment does not allow or permit casino gambling on the premises.

(5) In governmental units having a population of 50,000 persons or less, as determined by the last federal decennial census or as determined pursuant to subsection (11), in which the quota of specially designated distributor licenses, as provided by commission rule, has been exhausted, the commission may issue not more than a total of 10 additional specially designated distributor licenses per year for the years 2001 and 2002 to established merchants whose business and operation, as determined by the commission, is designed to attract and accommodate tourists and visitors to the resort area. A specially designated distributor license issued pursuant to this subsection may be issued at a location within 2,640 feet of existing specially designated distributor license locations. A specially designated distributor license issued pursuant to this subsection shall not bar another specially designated distributor licensee from transferring location to within 2,640 feet of said licensed location. A specially designated distributor license issued pursuant to R 436.1141 of the Michigan administrative code may be located within 2,640 feet of a specially designated distributor license issued pursuant to this subsection.

(6) In addition to any licenses for the sale of alcoholic liquor for consumption on the premises that may be available in the local governmental unit under subsection (1), and the resort or resort economic development licenses authorized in subsections (2), (3), and (4), and notwithstanding section 519, the commission may issue not more than 5 additional special purpose licenses in any calendar year for the sale of beer and wine for consumption on the premises. A special purpose license issued pursuant to this subsection shall be issued only for events which are to be held from May 1 to September 30, are artistic in nature, and which are to be held on the campus of a public university with an enrollment of 30,000 or more students. A special purpose license shall be valid for 30 days or for the duration of the event for which it is issued, whichever is less. The fee for a special purpose license shall be $50.00. A special purpose license may be issued only to a corporation which is all of the following:

(a) Is a nonprofit corporation organized pursuant to the nonprofit corporation act, 1982 PA 162, MCL 450.2101 to 450.3192.

(b) Has a board of directors constituted of members of whom half are elected by the public university at which the event is scheduled and half are elected by the local governmental unit.

(7) Notwithstanding the local legislative body approval provision of section 501(2) and notwithstanding the provisions of section 519, the commission may issue, without regard to the quota provisions of subsection (1) and with the approval of the governing board of the university, either a tavern or class C license which may be used only for regularly scheduled events at a public university's established outdoor program or festival at a facility on the campus of a public university having a head count enrollment of 10,000 students or more. A license issued under this subsection may only be issued to the governing board of a public university, a person that is the lessee or concessionaire of the governing board of the university, or both. A license issued under this subsection is not transferable as to ownership or location. A license issued under this subsection may not be issued at an outdoor stadium customarily used for intercollegiate athletic events.

(8) In issuing a resort or resort economic development license under subsection (3), (4), or (5), the commission shall consider economic development factors of the area in the issuance of licenses to establishments designed to stimulate and promote the resort and tourist industry. The commission shall not transfer a resort or resort economic development license issued under subsection (3), (4), or (5) to another location. If the licensee goes out of business the license shall be surrendered to the commission.

(9) The limitations and quotas of this section are not applicable to the issuance of a new license to a veteran of the armed forces of the United States who was honorably discharged or released under honorable conditions from the armed forces of the United States and who had by forced sale disposed of a similar license within 90 days before or after entering or while serving in the armed forces of the United States, as a part of the person's preparation for that service if the application for a new license is made for the same governmental unit in which the previous license was issued and within 60 days after the discharge of the applicant from the armed forces of the United States.

(10) The limitations and quotas of this section shall not be applicable to the issuance of a new license or the renewal of an existing license where the property or establishment to be licensed is situated in or on land on which an airport owned by a county or in which a county has an interest is situated.

(11) For purposes of implementing this section a special state census of a local governmental unit may be taken at the expense of the local governmental unit by the federal bureau of census or the secretary of state under section 6 of the home rule city act, 1909 PA 279, MCL 117.6. The special census shall be initiated by resolution of the governing body of the local governmental unit involved. The secretary of state may promulgate additional rules necessary for implementing this section pursuant to the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328.

(12) Before granting an approval as required in section 501(2) for a license to be issued under subsection (2), (3), or (4), a local legislative body shall disclose the availability of transferable licenses held in escrow for more than 1 licensing year within that respective local governmental unit. Public notice of the meeting to consider the granting of the license by the local governmental unit shall be made 2 weeks before the meeting.

(13) The person signing the application for an on-premise resort or resort economic development license shall state and verify that he or she attempted to secure an on-premise escrowed or quota license and that, to the best of his or her knowledge, an on-premise escrowed or quota license is not readily available within the local governmental unit in which the applicant for the on-premise resort or resort economic development license proposes to operate.

(14) The commission shall not issue an on-premise resort or resort economic development license if the local governmental unit within which the resort or resort economic development license applicant proposes to operate has not issued all on-premise licenses available under subsection (1) or if an on-premise escrowed license exists and is readily available within the local governmental unit in which the applicant for the on-premise resort or resort economic development license proposes to operate. The commission may waive the provisions of this subsection upon a showing of good cause.

(15) The commission shall annually report to the legislature the names of the businesses issued licenses under this section and their locations.

(16) The commission shall not require a class A hotel or a class B hotel licensed pursuant to subsection (2), (3), or (4) to provide food service to registered guests or to the public.

(17) Subject to the limitation and quotas of subsection (1) and to local legislative approval under section 501(2), the commission may approve the transfer of ownership and location of an on-premises escrowed license within the same county to a class G-1 or class G-2 license or may approve the reclassification of an existing on-premises license at the location to be licensed to a class G-1 license or to a class G-2 license, subject to subsection (1). Resort or economic development on-premises licenses created under subsection (3) or (4) may not be issued as, or reclassified to, a class G-1 or class G-2 license.

(18) As used in this section:

(a) "Escrowed license" means a license in which the rights of the licensee in the license or to the renewal of the license are still in existence and are subject to renewal and activation in the manner provided for in R 436.1107 of the Michigan administrative code.

(b) "Readily available" means available under a standard of economic feasibility, as applied to the specific circumstances of the applicant, that includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(i) The fair market value of the license, if determinable.

(ii) The size and scope of the proposed operation.

(iii) The existence of mandatory contractual restrictions or inclusions attached to the sale of the license.

Sec. 532. (1) A club license allows the licensee to sell, for consumption on the licensed premises, beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits only to bona fide members of the club who have attained the age of 21 years. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2), the commission shall not issue a license to a club unless the club has been in existence for a period of not less than 2 years before the application for the license.

(2) Public notice of the intent of the commission to issue the club license shall be given by publication in some newspaper published or in general circulation within the local governmental unit at least 10 days before the issuance of the license. A club that is a chapter of a national organization that has had a license for 10 or more years may apply for a license without a waiting period. Public notice of the commission's intent to renew the club license is not required.

(3) Except in the case of a club paying a maximum fee, within 10 days after February 1 of each year the club shall file with the commission a list of names and residences of its members and make a similar filing of the name and residence with the commission within 10 days after the election of an additional member. The annual filing shall also include a statement that the club's annual aggregate membership fees or dues and other income, exclusive of the proceeds from the sale of alcoholic liquor, are sufficient to defray the annual rental of its leased or rented premises or, if the premises are owned by the club, are sufficient to meet the taxes, insurance, repairs, and interest on a mortgage on the premises.

(4) The affairs and management of the club shall be conducted by a board of directors, executive committee, or similar body chosen by the members. A member, officer, agent, or employee of the club shall not be paid, or directly or indirectly receive in the form of salary or other compensation, profits from the disposition of alcoholic liquor to the club or to the members of the club, beyond the amount of salary fixed and voted at meetings by the members or by its directors or other governing body and as reported by the club to the commission, within 3 months after the meeting.

Sec. 537. (1) The following classes of vendors may sell alcoholic liquors at retail as provided in this section:

(a) Taverns where beer and wine may be sold for consumption on the premises only.

(b) Class C license where beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits may be sold for consumption on the premises.

(c) Clubs where beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits may be sold for consumption on the premises only to bona fide members where consumption is limited to these members and their bona fide guests, who have attained the age of 21 years.

(d) Hotels of class A where beer and wine may be sold for consumption on the premises and in the rooms of bona fide registered guests. Hotels of class B where beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits may be sold for consumption on the premises and in the rooms of bona fide registered guests.

(e) Specially designated merchants, where beer and wine may be sold for consumption off the premises only.

(f) Specially designated distributors where spirits and mixed spirit drink may be sold for consumption off the premises only.

(g) Special licenses where beer and wine or beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits may be sold for consumption on the premises only.

(h) Dining cars or other railroad or Pullman cars, watercraft, or aircraft, where alcoholic liquor may be sold for consumption on the premises only, subject to rules promulgated by the commission.

(i) Brewpubs where beer manufactured on the premises by the licensee may be sold for consumption on or off the premises by any of the following licensees:

(i) Class C.

(ii) Tavern.

(iii) Class A hotel.

(iv) Class B hotel.

(j) Micro brewers where beer produced by the micro brewer may be sold to a consumer for consumption on or off the brewery premises.

(k) Class G-1 license where beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits may be sold for consumption on the premises only to members required to pay an annual membership fee and consumption is limited to these members and their bona fide guests.

(l) Class G-2 license where beer and wine may be sold for consumption on the premises only to members required to pay an annual membership fee and consumption is limited to these members and their bona fide guests.

(2) A wine maker may sell wine made by that wine maker in a restaurant for consumption on or off the premises if the restaurant is owned by the wine maker or operated by another person under an agreement approved by the commission and located on the premises where the wine maker is licensed.

(3) A wine maker, with the prior written approval of the commission, may conduct wine tastings of wines made by that wine maker and may sell the wine made by that wine maker for consumption off the premises at a location other than the premises where the wine maker is licensed to manufacture wine, under the following conditions:

(a) The premises upon which the wine tasting occurs conforms to local and state sanitation requirements.

(b) Payment of a $100.00 fee per location is made to the commission.

(d) Wine tasting does not take place between the hours of 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. Monday through Saturday, or between 2 a.m. and 12 noon on Sunday.

(e) The premises and the licensee comply with and are subject to all applicable rules promulgated by the commission.

Secretary of the Senate.

Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Approved

Governor.