HP0645, LD 846, item 1, 123rd Maine State Legislature
An Act To Increase the Distance from a School within Which an Agency Liquor Store May Not Be Located

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An Act To Increase the Distance from a School within Which an Agency Liquor Store May Not Be Located
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 28-A MRSA §351, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1997, c. 373, §38, is further amended to read:
 
1.  Agency liquor store may not be located within 750 feet of school or church.~~The alcohol bureau may not establish a state liquor store or the~~Except as provided in subsection 3, beginning October 1, 2007, the bureau may not license or renew the existing license of an agency liquor store within ~~300~~750 feet of any public or private school~~,~~or 300 feet of any church, chapel or parish house. Prior to October 1, 2007, the bureau shall notify by certified mail any existing agency liquor store within 750 feet of a public or private school of the requirements prescribed in subsection 3.
 
~~A~~.   ~~The bureau, after holding a public hearing near the proposed location, may locate an agency liquor store within 300 feet of a church, chapel, parish house or postsecondary school.~~
Sec. 2.  28-A MRSA §351, sub-§3  is enacted to read:
 
3.  Exception.   The bureau may locate an agency liquor store within 750 feet of a public or private school after holding a public hearing near the proposed location. Spirits sold by an agency liquor store located within 750 feet of a public or private school must be kept in a locked display case to be accessed only by an employee of the agency liquor store who is 17 years of age or older.
 
SUMMARY
This bill extends from 300 to 750 feet the distance from a school within which an agency liquor store may not be located. The bill provides an exception stating that an agency liquor store may be located within 750 feet of a school after a public hearing if spirits are kept in a locked display case.

HP0645, LR 1113, item 1, First Regular Session - 123rd Maine Legislature, page