Bill Text: NJ A4750 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Waives the issuance and renewal fees for certain alcoholic beverage manufacturing licenses during COVID-19 pandemic.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-10-08 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee [A4750 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A4750-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ROY FREIMAN
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Waives the issuance and renewal fees for certain alcoholic beverage manufacturing licenses during COVID-19 pandemic.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning alcoholic beverage manufacturing license fees.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this act:
"Alcoholic beverage manufacturers license" means a plenary winery license, farm winery license, out-of-State winery license, limited brewery license, restricted brewery license, cidery and meadery license, and craft distillery license issued pursuant to R.S.33:1-10.
"Alcoholic beverage manufacturing facility" means a brewery, winery, distillery, cidery, or meadery.
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S.33:1-10 or any other section of law to the contrary, during the period this section remains in effect, the Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control shall waive the license fees established pursuant to R.S.33:1-10 to hold an alcoholic beverage manufacturers license that was issued in connection with an alcoholic beverage manufacturing facility that was newly acquired, constructed, or began serving customers during the period this act remains in effect.
c. The holder of an alcoholic beverage manufacturers license who paid a license issuance fee after March 9, 2020 but prior to the expiration of this enactment shall be reimbursed the fee amount.
2. This act shall take effect immediately, be retroactive to March 9, 2020, and expire on: (a) the date of expiration, termination, or rescission of any and all executive or administrative orders issued by the Governor or Commissioner of Health establishing coronavirus-related occupancy or customer seating restrictions applicable to a licensed premises; or (b) the first day of the thirteenth month following the date of enactment, whichever date occurs later.
STATEMENT
This bill waives the license fees for a brewery, winery, distillery, cidery, or meadery that was newly acquired, constructed, or began serving customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fees are codified by R.S.33:1-10 and vary based on the amount of alcoholic beverages that each licensee annually manufactures.
This bill would take effect immediately and be retroactive to March 9, 2020, which is the date on which the Governor declared a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. License holders who had already paid their fee following March 9th would be entitled to receive a reimbursement for the cost of the fee.
