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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Alcoholic |
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Beverage Commission. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 5.01(b), Alcoholic Beverage Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is subject to |
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Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued |
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in existence as provided by that chapter, the commission is |
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abolished and Subchapter A, Chapter 5, expires September 1, 2031 |
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[2019]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 5.022, Alcoholic Beverage Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (d) to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The training program must provide the person with |
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information regarding: |
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(1) the law governing [legislation that created the] |
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commission operations; |
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(2) [and] the [commission's] programs, functions, |
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rules, and budget of the commission; |
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(3) the scope of and limitations on the rulemaking |
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authority of the commission; |
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(4) [(2)] the results of the most recent formal audit |
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of the commission; |
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(5) [(3)] the requirements of: |
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(A) laws relating to open meetings, public |
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information, administrative procedure, and disclosing conflicts of |
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interest; and |
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(B) other laws applicable to members of a state |
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policymaking body in performing their duties; and |
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(6) [(4)] any applicable ethics policies adopted by |
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the commission or the Texas Ethics Commission. |
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(d) The executive director of the commission shall create a |
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training manual that includes the information required by |
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Subsection (b). The executive director shall distribute a copy of |
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the training manual annually to each member of the commission. Each |
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member of the commission shall sign and submit to the executive |
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director a statement acknowledging that the member received and has |
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reviewed the training manual. |
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SECTION 3. Section 11.46(a), Alcoholic Beverage Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The commission or administrator may refuse to issue an |
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original or renewal permit with or without a hearing if it has |
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reasonable grounds to believe and finds that any of the following |
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circumstances exists: |
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(1) the applicant has been convicted in a court of |
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competent jurisdiction of the violation of any provision of this |
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code during the two years immediately preceding the filing of his |
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application; |
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(2) five years have not elapsed since the termination, |
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by pardon or otherwise, of a sentence imposed on the applicant for |
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the conviction of a felony; |
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(3) within the six-month period immediately preceding |
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his application the applicant violated or caused to be violated a |
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provision of this code or a rule or regulation of the commission |
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which involves moral turpitude, as distinguished from a technical |
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violation of this code or of the rule; |
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(4) the applicant failed to answer or falsely or |
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incorrectly answered a question in an original or renewal |
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application; |
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(5) the applicant is indebted to the state for any |
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taxes, fees, or payment of penalty imposed by this code or by rule |
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of the commission; |
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(6) the applicant is not of good moral character or his |
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reputation for being a peaceable, law-abiding citizen in the |
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community where he resides is bad; |
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(7) the applicant is a minor; |
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(8) the place or manner in which the applicant may |
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conduct his business warrants the refusal of a permit based on the |
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general welfare, health, peace, morals, and safety of the people |
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and on the public sense of decency; |
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(9) the applicant has developed an incapacity that |
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prevents or could prevent the applicant from conducting the |
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applicant's business with reasonable skill, competence, and safety |
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to the public [is in the habit of using alcoholic beverages to
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excess or is physically or mentally incapacitated]; |
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(10) the applicant will sell liquor unlawfully in a |
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dry area or in a manner contrary to law or will knowingly permit an |
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agent, servant, or employee to do so; |
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(11) the applicant is not a United States citizen or |
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has not been a citizen of Texas for a period of one year immediately |
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preceding the filing of his application, unless he was issued a |
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permit or renewal permit on or before September 1, 1948, and has at |
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some time been a United States citizen; |
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(12) the applicant does not provide an adequate |
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building available at the address for which the permit is sought |
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before conducting any activity authorized by the permit; |
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(13) the applicant is residentially domiciled with a |
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person whose permit or license has been cancelled for cause within |
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the 12 months immediately preceding the date of his present |
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application; |
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(14) the applicant has failed or refused to furnish a |
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true copy of his application to the commission's district office in |
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the district in which the premises for which the permit is sought |
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are located; or |
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(15) during the six months immediately preceding the |
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filing of the application the premises for which the permit is |
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sought have been operated, used, or frequented for a purpose or in a |
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manner that is lewd, immoral, or offensive to public decency. |
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SECTION 4. Section 61.71(a), Alcoholic Beverage Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The commission or administrator may suspend for not more |
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than 60 days or cancel an original or renewal retail dealer's on- or |
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off-premise license if it is found, after notice and hearing, that |
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the licensee: |
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(1) violated a provision of this code or a rule of the |
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commission during the existence of the license sought to be |
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cancelled or suspended or during the immediately preceding license |
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period; |
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(2) was finally convicted for violating a penal |
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provision of this code; |
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(3) was finally convicted of a felony while holding an |
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original or renewal license; |
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(4) made a false statement or a misrepresentation in |
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the licensee's original application or a renewal application; |
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(5) with criminal negligence sold, served, or |
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delivered an alcoholic beverage to a minor; |
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(6) sold, served, or delivered an alcoholic beverage |
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to an intoxicated person; |
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(7) sold, served, or delivered an alcoholic beverage |
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at a time when its sale is prohibited; |
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(8) entered or offered to enter an agreement, |
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condition, or system which would constitute the sale or possession |
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of alcoholic beverages on consignment; |
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(9) possessed on the licensed premises, or on adjacent |
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premises directly or indirectly under the licensee's control, an |
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alcoholic beverage not authorized to be sold on the licensed |
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premises, or permitted an agent, servant, or employee to do so, |
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except as permitted by Section 22.06, 24.05, or 102.05; |
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(10) permitted a person on the licensed premises to |
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engage in conduct which is lewd, immoral, or offensive to public |
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decency; |
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(11) employed a person under 18 years of age to sell, |
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handle, or dispense beer, or to assist in doing so, in an |
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establishment where beer is sold for on-premises consumption; |
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(12) conspired with a person to violate Section |
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101.41-101.43, 101.68, 102.11-102.15, 104.04, 108.01, or |
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108.04-108.06, or a rule promulgated under Section 5.40, or |
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accepted a benefit from an act prohibited by any of these sections |
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or rules; |
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(13) refused to permit or interfered with an |
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inspection of the licensed premises by an authorized representative |
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of the commission or a peace officer; |
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(14) permitted the use or display of the licensee's |
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license in the conduct of a business for the benefit of a person not |
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authorized by law to have an interest in the license; |
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(15) maintained blinds or barriers at the licensee's |
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place of business in violation of this code; |
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(16) conducted the licensee's business in a place or |
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manner which warrants the cancellation or suspension of the license |
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based on the general welfare, health, peace, morals, safety, and |
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sense of decency of the people; |
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(17) consumed an alcoholic beverage or permitted one |
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to be consumed on the licensed premises at a time when the |
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consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited by this code; |
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(18) purchased beer for the purpose of resale from a |
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person other than the holder of a manufacturer's or distributor's |
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license; |
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(19) acquired an alcoholic beverage for the purpose of |
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resale from another retail dealer of alcoholic beverages; |
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(20) owned an interest of any kind in the business or |
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premises of the holder of a distributor's license; |
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(21) purchased, sold, offered for sale, distributed, |
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or delivered an alcoholic beverage, or consumed an alcoholic |
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beverage or permitted one to be consumed on the licensed premises |
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while the licensee's license was under suspension; |
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(22) purchased, possessed, stored, sold, or offered |
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for sale beer in or from an original package bearing a brand or |
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trade name of a manufacturer other than the brand or trade name |
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shown on the container; |
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(23) has developed an incapacity that prevents or |
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could prevent the license holder from managing the license holder's |
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establishment with reasonable skill, competence, and safety to the |
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public [habitually uses alcoholic beverages to excess, is mentally
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incompetent, or is physically unable to manage the licensee's
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establishment]; |
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(24) imported beer into this state except as |
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authorized by Section 107.07; |
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(25) occupied premises in which the holder of a |
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manufacturer's or distributor's license had an interest of any |
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kind; |
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(26) knowingly permitted a person who had an interest |
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in a permit or license which was cancelled for cause to sell, |
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handle, or assist in selling or handling alcoholic beverages on the |
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licensed premises within one year after the cancellation; |
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(27) was financially interested in a place of business |
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engaged in the selling of distilled spirits or permitted a person |
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having an interest in that type of business to have a financial |
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interest in the business authorized by the licensee's license, |
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except as permitted by Section 22.06, 24.05, or 102.05; |
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(28) is residentially domiciled with or related to a |
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person engaged in selling distilled spirits, except as permitted by |
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Section 22.06, 24.05, or 102.05, so that there is a community of |
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interests which the commission or administrator finds contrary to |
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the purposes of this code; |
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(29) is residentially domiciled with or related to a |
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person whose license has been cancelled within the preceding 12 |
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months so that there is a community of interests which the |
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commission or administrator finds contrary to the purposes of this |
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code; or |
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(30) failed to promptly report to the commission a |
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breach of the peace occurring on the licensee's licensed premises. |
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SECTION 5. Section 61.74(a), Alcoholic Beverage Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The commission or administrator may suspend for not more |
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than 60 days or cancel an original or renewal general, local, or |
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branch distributor's license if it is found, after notice and |
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hearing, that the licensee: |
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(1) violated a provision of this code or a rule of the |
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commission during the existence of the license sought to be |
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cancelled or suspended or during the immediately preceding license |
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period; |
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(2) was finally convicted for violating a penal |
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provision of this code; |
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(3) was finally convicted of a felony while holding an |
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original or renewal license; |
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(4) violated Section 101.41-101.43, 101.68, |
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102.11-102.15, 104.04, 108.01, or 108.04-108.06 [of this code], or |
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a rule or regulation promulgated under Section 5.40 [of this code]; |
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(5) failed to comply with a requirement of the |
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commission relating to the keeping of records or making of reports; |
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(6) failed to pay any tax due the state on any beer he |
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sold, stored, or transported; |
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(7) refused to permit or interfered with an inspection |
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of his licensed premises, vehicles, books, or records by an |
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authorized representative of the commission; |
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(8) consummated a sale of beer outside the county or |
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counties in which he was authorized to sell beer by his license; |
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(9) purchased, sold, offered for sale, distributed, or |
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delivered beer while his license was under suspension; |
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(10) permitted the use of his license in the operation |
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of a business conducted for the benefit of a person not authorized |
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by law to have an interest in the business; |
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(11) made a false or misleading representation or |
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statement in his original application or a renewal application; |
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(12) has developed an incapacity that prevents or |
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could prevent the license holder from managing the license holder's |
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establishment with reasonable skill, competence, and safety to the |
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public [habitually uses alcoholic beverages to excess, is mentally
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incompetent, or is physically unable to manage his establishment]; |
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(13) misrepresented any beer sold by him to a retailer |
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or to the public; |
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(14) with criminal negligence sold or delivered beer |
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to a minor; or |
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(15) purchased, possessed, stored, sold, or offered |
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for sale beer in an original package bearing a brand or trade name |
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of a manufacturer other than the brand or trade name of the |
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manufacturer shown on the container. |
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SECTION 6. Section 5.61, Alcoholic Beverage Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 7. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this |
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section, Section 5.022, Alcoholic Beverage Code, as amended by this |
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Act, applies to a member of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission |
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appointed before, on, or after the effective date of this Act. |
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(b) A member of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission who, |
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before the effective date of this Act, completed the training |
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program required by Section 5.022, Alcoholic Beverage Code, as that |
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law existed before the effective date of this Act, is required to |
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complete additional training only on subjects added by this Act to |
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the training program as required by Section 5.022, Alcoholic |
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Beverage Code, as amended by this Act. A commission member |
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described by this subsection may not vote, deliberate, or be |
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counted as a member in attendance at a meeting of the commission |
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held on or after December 1, 2019, until the member completes the |
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additional training. |
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SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |