0001| HOUSE BILL 263 | 0002| 43rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 1997 | 0003| INTRODUCED BY | 0004| MIGUEL P. GARCIA | 0005| | 0006| | 0007| | 0008| | 0009| | 0010| AN ACT | 0011| RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CLARIFYING AND EXPANDING THE | 0012| GROUNDS FOR DENYING AN APPLICATION FOR A LICENSE AND FOR | 0013| REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION OF A LICENSE PURSUANT TO THE LIQUOR | 0014| CONTROL ACT; AMENDING AND ENACTING SECTIONS OF THE NMSA 1978. | 0015| | 0016| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: | 0017| Section 1. Section 60-6B-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1981, | 0018| Chapter 39, Section 38, as amended) is amended to read: | 0019| "60-6B-2. APPLICATIONS.-- | 0020| A. Before any new license authorized by the Liquor | 0021| Control Act may be issued by the director, the applicant for | 0022| the license shall: | 0023| (1) submit to the director a written | 0024| application for the license under oath, in the form prescribed | 0025| by and stating the information required by the director, | 0001| together with a nonrefundable application fee of one hundred | 0002| fifty dollars ($150); | 0003| (2) submit to the director for his approval a | 0004| description, including floor plans, in a form prescribed by the | 0005| director, which shows the proposed licensed premises for which | 0006| the license application is submitted. The area represented by | 0007| the approved description shall become the licensed premises; | 0008| (3) if the applicant is a corporation, be | 0009| required to submit as part of its application the following: | 0010| (a) a certified copy of its articles of | 0011| incorporation or, if a foreign corporation, a certified copy of | 0012| its certificate of authority; | 0013| (b) the names and addresses of all | 0014| officers and directors and those stockholders owning ten | 0015| percent or more of the voting stock of the corporation and the | 0016| amounts of stock held by each stockholder; provided, however, a | 0017| corporation may not be licensed if an officer, manager, | 0018| director or holder of more than ten percent of the stock would | 0019| not be eligible to hold a license pursuant to the Liquor | 0020| Control Act, except that the provision of Subsection [B] D | 0021| of Section 60-6B-1 NMSA 1978 shall not apply if the stock is | 0022| listed with a national securities exchange; | 0023| (c) the name of the resident agent of | 0024| the corporation authorized to accept service of process for all | 0025| purposes, including orders and notices of the director, which | 0001| agent shall be approved by the director with respect to his | 0002| character; | 0003| (d) a duly executed power of attorney | 0004| authorizing the agent described in Subparagraph (c) of this | 0005| paragraph to exercise full authority, control and | 0006| responsibility for the conduct of all business and transactions | 0007| of the corporation within the state relative to the sale of | 0008| alcoholic beverages under authority of the license requested; | 0009| and | 0010| (e) such additional information | 0011| regarding the corporation as the director may require to assure | 0012| full disclosure of the corporation's structure and financial | 0013| responsibility; | 0014| (4) if the applicant is a limited partnership, | 0015| submit as part of its application the following: | 0016| (a) a certified copy of its certificate | 0017| of limited partnership; | 0018| (b) the names and addresses of all | 0019| general partners and of all limited partners contributing ten | 0020| percent or more of the total value of contributions made to the | 0021| limited partnership or entitled to ten percent or more of the | 0022| profits earned or other income paid by the limited partnership. | 0023| No limited partnership shall receive a license if any partner | 0024| designated in this subsection would not be eligible to hold a | 0025| license issued pursuant to the Liquor Control Act; and | 0001| (c) such additional information | 0002| regarding the limited partnership as the director may require | 0003| to assure full disclosure of the limited partnership's | 0004| structure and financial responsibility; and | 0005| (5) obtain approval for the issuance from the | 0006| governing body of the local option district in which the | 0007| proposed licensed premises are to be located in accordance with | 0008| the provisions of the Liquor Control Act. | 0009| B. Every applicant for a new license or for a | 0010| transfer of ownership of a license, if an individual or general | 0011| partnership, shall file with the application two complete sets | 0012| of fingerprints of each individual, taken under the supervision | 0013| of and certified to by an officer of the New Mexico state | 0014| police, a county sheriff or a municipal chief of police. If | 0015| the applicant is a corporation, it shall file two complete sets | 0016| of fingerprints for each stockholder holding ten percent or | 0017| more of the outstanding stock, principal officer, director and | 0018| the agent responsible for the operation of the licensed | 0019| business. The fingerprints shall be taken and certified to as | 0020| provided for an individual or partnership. If the applicant is | 0021| a limited partnership, it shall file two complete sets of | 0022| fingerprints for each general partner and for each limited | 0023| partner contributing ten percent or more of the total value of | 0024| contributions made to the limited partnership or entitled to | 0025| ten percent or more of the profits earned or other compensation | 0001| by way of income paid by the limited partnership. The | 0002| fingerprints shall be taken and certified to as provided for an | 0003| individual or partnership. | 0004| C. Upon submission of a sworn affidavit from each | 0005| person who is required to file fingerprints stating that the | 0006| person has not been convicted of a felony in any jurisdiction | 0007| and pending the results of background investigations, a | 0008| temporary license for ninety days may be issued. The temporary | 0009| license may be extended by the director for an additional | 0010| ninety days if the director determines there is not sufficient | 0011| time to complete the background investigation or obtain reviews | 0012| of fingerprints from appropriate agencies. A temporary license | 0013| shall be surrendered immediately upon order of the director. | 0014| D. An applicant who files a false affidavit shall | 0015| be denied a license. When the director determines a false | 0016| affidavit has been filed, he shall refer the matter to the | 0017| attorney general or district attorney for prosecution of | 0018| perjury. | 0019| E. If an applicant is not a resident of New Mexico, | 0020| fingerprints may be taken under supervision and certification | 0021| of comparable officers in the state of residence of the | 0022| applicant. | 0023| F. Every applicant for a new license or a transfer | 0024| of ownership of a license shall file with the application two | 0025| current photographs of the applicant or, if the applicant is a | 0001| legal entity, two current photographs of the agent responsible | 0002| for operation of the licensed business for the applicant. The | 0003| director shall determine the size and type of photographs to be | 0004| submitted. One photograph shall be affixed to the license and | 0005| the other shall be retained on file by the department. | 0006| [F.] G. Before issuing a license, the | 0007| department shall hold a public hearing within thirty days after | 0008| receipt of the application pursuant to Subsection [H] L of | 0009| this section. | 0010| [G.] H. An application for transfer of | 0011| ownership shall be filed with the department no later than | 0012| thirty days after the date a person acquired an ownership | 0013| interest in a license; shall contain documentation of the | 0014| actual purchase price paid for the license, and the actual date | 0015| of sale of the license; and shall be accompanied by a sworn | 0016| affidavit from the owner of record of the license agreeing to | 0017| the sale of the license to the applicant as well as attesting | 0018| to the accuracy of the information required by this section to | 0019| be filed with the department. No license shall be transferred | 0020| unless it will be placed into operation in an actual location | 0021| within one hundred twenty days of issuance of the license, | 0022| unless for good cause shown the director grants an additional | 0023| extension not to exceed one hundred twenty days. | 0024| [H.] I. Whenever it appears to the director | 0025| that there will be more applications for new licenses than the | 0001| available number of new licenses during any time period, a | 0002| random selection method for the qualification, approval and | 0003| issuance of new licenses shall be provided by the director. | 0004| The random selection method shall allow each applicant an equal | 0005| opportunity to obtain an available license, provided that all | 0006| dispenser's and retailer's licenses issued in any calendar year | 0007| shall be issued to residents of the state. For the purposes of | 0008| random selection, the director shall also set a reasonable | 0009| deadline by which applications for the available licenses shall | 0010| be filed. No person shall file more than one application for | 0011| each available license and no more than three applications per | 0012| calendar year. | 0013| [I.] J. After the deadline set in accordance | 0014| with Subsection [H] I of this section, no more than ten | 0015| applications per available license shall be selected at random | 0016| for priority of qualification and approval. Within thirty days | 0017| after the random selection for the ten priority positions for | 0018| each license, a hearing pursuant to Subsection [K] L of | 0019| this section shall be held to determine the qualifications of | 0020| the applicant having the highest priority for each available | 0021| license. If necessary, such a hearing shall be held on each | 0022| selected application by priority until a qualified applicant | 0023| for each available license is approved. Further random | 0024| selections for priority positions shall also be held pursuant | 0025| to this section as necessary. | 0001| [J.] K. All applications submitted for a | 0002| license shall expire upon the director's final approval of a | 0003| qualified applicant for that available license. | 0004| [K.] L. The director shall notify the applicant | 0005| by certified mail of the date, time and place of the hearing. | 0006| The hearing shall be held in Santa Fe. The director may | 0007| designate a hearing officer to take evidence at the hearing. | 0008| The director or the hearing officer shall have the power to | 0009| administer oaths. [L.] M. In determining whether | 0010| a license shall be issued, the director shall take into | 0011| consideration the provisions of Section 60-6B-2.1 NMSA 1978 | 0012| and all other requirements of the Liquor Control Act. In | 0013| the issuance of a license, the director shall specifically | 0014| consider the nature and number of prior violations of the | 0015| Liquor Control Act by the applicant or of any citations issued | 0016| within the prior five years against a license held by the | 0017| applicant or in which the applicant had an ownership interest | 0018| required to be disclosed under the Liquor Control Act. The | 0019| director shall disapprove the issuance or give preliminary | 0020| approval of the issuance of the license based upon a review of | 0021| all documentation submitted and any investigation deemed | 0022| necessary by the director. | 0023| [M.] N. Before any new license is issued for a | 0024| location, the director shall cause a notice of the application | 0025| therefor to be posted conspicuously, on a sign not smaller than | 0001| thirty inches by forty inches, on the outside of the front wall | 0002| or front entrance of the immediate premises for which the | 0003| license is sought or, if no building or improvements exist on | 0004| the premises, the notice shall be posted at the front entrance | 0005| of the immediate premises for which the license is sought, on a | 0006| billboard not smaller than five feet by five feet. The | 0007| contents of the notice shall be in the form prescribed by the | 0008| department, and such posting shall be over a continuous period | 0009| of twenty days prior to preliminary approval of the license. | 0010| [N.] O. No license shall be issued until the | 0011| posting requirements of Subsection [M] N of this section | 0012| have been met. | 0013| [O.] P. All costs of publication and posting | 0014| shall be paid by the applicant. | 0015| [P.] Q. It is unlawful for any person to remove | 0016| or deface any notice posted in accordance with this section. | 0017| Any person convicted of a violation of this subsection shall be | 0018| punished by a fine of not more than three hundred dollars | 0019| ($300) or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than | 0020| one hundred twenty days or by both. | 0021| [Q.] R. Any person aggrieved by any decision | 0022| made by the director as to the approval or disapproval of the | 0023| issuance of a license may appeal to the district court of | 0024| jurisdiction by filing a petition in the court within thirty | 0025| days from the date of the decision of the director, and a | 0001| hearing on the matter may be held in the district court. If | 0002| the disapproval is based upon local option district disapproval | 0003| pursuant to Subsection H of Section 60-6B-4 NMSA 1978, the | 0004| local option district shall be a necessary party to any appeal. | 0005| The decision of the director shall continue in force, pending a | 0006| reversal or modification by the district court, unless | 0007| otherwise ordered by the court. Any appeal from the decision | 0008| of the district court to the supreme court shall be permitted | 0009| as in other cases of appeals from the district court to the | 0010| supreme court." | 0011| Section 2. A new section of the Liquor Control Act, | 0012| Section 60-6B-2.1 NMSA 1978, is enacted to read: | 0013| "60-6B-2.1. [NEW MATERIAL] GROUNDS FOR REFUSAL TO | 0014| ISSUE A LICENSE.--The director may refuse to approve an | 0015| application for issuance of a new license or transfer of | 0016| ownership of a license under the Liquor Control Act if the | 0017| director has reasonable grounds to believe that: | 0018| A. the granting of the license is not demanded by | 0019| public interest or convenience; | 0020| B. the applicant: | 0021| (1) is in the habit of using alcoholic | 0022| beverages, habit-forming drugs or controlled substances to | 0023| excess; | 0024| (2) has made false statements to the director | 0025| or any employee of the department; | 0001| (3) is incompetent or physically unable to | 0002| carry on the management of the establishment proposed to be | 0003| licensed; | 0004| (4) has been convicted of a violation of an | 0005| alcoholic beverage law of this state or a political subdivision | 0006| of the state or has been convicted at any time of a felony; | 0007| (5) is not of good repute and moral character; | 0008| (6) if previously licensed under the Liquor | 0009| Control Act, did not have a record of compliance with that act | 0010| or the regulations adopted pursuant to that act when licensed; | 0011| (7) is not the legitimate owner of the | 0012| business proposed to be licensed or has not disclosed any | 0013| person who has an ownership interest in the applicant's | 0014| business that is required to be disclosed; or | 0015| (8) cannot demonstrate financial | 0016| responsibility sufficient to adequately meet the requirements | 0017| of the business proposed to be licensed; or | 0018| C. there is a history of serious and persistent | 0019| problems involving disturbances, lewd or unlawful activities or | 0020| noise either on the premises proposed to be licensed or | 0021| involving patrons of the establishment in the immediate | 0022| vicinity of the premises if the activities in the immediate | 0023| vicinity of the premises are related to the sale or service of | 0024| alcoholic beverages by a person licensed under the Liquor | 0025| Control Act. Behavior that constitutes grounds for refusal of | 0001| a license pursuant to this subsection, where related to the | 0002| sale or service of alcoholic beverages, includes but is not | 0003| limited to obtrusive or excessive noise, music or sound | 0004| vibrations; public drunkenness; fights; altercations; | 0005| harassment; unlawful drug sales; litter related to or resulting | 0006| from the consumption of alcoholic beverages; trespassing on | 0007| private property; and public urination. A history of such | 0008| behavior in or related to premises currently or previously | 0009| operated by the applicant may be considered when reasonable | 0010| inference may be made that similar activities will occur in or | 0011| related to the premises proposed to be licensed." | 0012| Section 3. Section 60-6B-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1981, | 0013| Chapter 39, Section 41) is amended to read: | 0014| "60-6B-5. EXPIRATION AND RENEWAL OF LICENSES.--All | 0015| licenses provided for in the Liquor Control Act shall expire on | 0016| June 30 of each year and may be renewed from year to year under | 0017| the rules and regulations of the department, which shall | 0018| include a requirement that the licensee include with his | 0019| license renewal two current photographs of the licensee or, if | 0020| the licensee is a legal entity, two current photographs of the | 0021| agent responsible for operation of the licensed premises. The | 0022| director shall determine whether any of the licensees under his | 0023| jurisdiction are delinquent in any taxes administered by the | 0024| taxation and revenue department as of June 1 of each year. The | 0025| director shall also determine whether or not there exists any | 0001| other reason why a license should not be renewed. If the | 0002| director determines that the license should not be renewed, he | 0003| shall enter an order requiring the licensee, after notice, to | 0004| show cause why his license should be renewed, and he shall | 0005| conduct a hearing on the matter. If, after the hearing, the | 0006| director finds that the licensee is qualified, he shall renew | 0007| the license." | 0008| Section 4. Section 60-6C-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1981, | 0009| Chapter 39, Section 97, as amended) is amended to read: | 0010| "60-6C-1. GROUNDS FOR SUSPENSION, REVOCATION OR | 0011| ADMINISTRATIVE FINE--REPORTING REQUIREMENT.-- | 0012| A. The director may suspend or revoke the license | 0013| or permit or fine the licensee in an amount not more than ten | 0014| thousand dollars ($10,000), or both, when he finds that any | 0015| licensee [has]: | 0016| (1) has violated any provision of the Liquor | 0017| Control Act or any regulation or order promulgated pursuant to | 0018| that act; | 0019| (2) has been convicted of a felony pursuant | 0020| to the provisions of the Criminal Code, the Liquor Control Act | 0021| or federal law; [or] | 0022| (3) is in the habit of using alcoholic | 0023| beverages, habit-forming drugs or controlled substances to | 0024| excess; | 0025| (4) is insolvent, incompetent or physically | 0001| unable to carry on the management of the establishment that is | 0002| the licensed premises; or | 0003| [(3)] (5) has permitted his licensed | 0004| premises to remain a public nuisance in the neighborhood where | 0005| it is located after written notice from the director that | 0006| investigation by the department has revealed that the | 0007| establishment is a public nuisance in the neighborhood. The | 0008| licensee's establishment shall be considered a public nuisance | 0009| if the director finds that there is a history of serious and | 0010| persistent problems involving disturbances, lewd or unlawful | 0011| activities or noise either on the licensed premises or | 0012| involving patrons of the establishment in the immediate | 0013| vicinity of the licensed premises if the activities in the | 0014| immediate vicinity of the licensed premises are related to the | 0015| sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages on the licensed | 0016| premises. Behavior that constitutes a public nuisance when | 0017| related to the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages | 0018| includes but is not limited to obtrusive or excessive noise, | 0019| music or sound vibrations; public drunkenness; fights; | 0020| altercations; harassment; unlawful drug sales; litter related | 0021| to or resulting from the consumption of alcoholic beverages; | 0022| trespassing on private property; and public urination. | 0023| B. The director shall suspend or revoke the license | 0024| or permit and may fine the licensee in an amount not to exceed | 0025| ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both, when he finds that any | 0001| licensee or: | 0002| (1) his employee or agent knowingly has sold, | 0003| served or given any alcoholic beverage to a minor in violation | 0004| of Section 60-7B-1 NMSA 1978 or to an intoxicated person in | 0005| violation of Section 60-7A-16 NMSA 1978, on two separate | 0006| occasions within any twelve-month period; or | 0007| (2) his agent has made any material false | 0008| statement or concealed any material facts in his application | 0009| for the license or permit granted him pursuant to the | 0010| provisions of the Liquor Control Act. | 0011| C. In addition to other penalties provided in this | 0012| section, any retailer or dispenser who violates the provisions | 0013| of Section 60-7A-16 or 60-7B-1 NMSA 1978 by selling, serving or | 0014| delivering alcoholic beverages to an intoxicated person or a | 0015| minor through a drive-up window at a minimum shall have: | 0016| (1) upon a first violation of this subsection, | 0017| the privilege to sell alcoholic beverages or any other goods | 0018| from his drive-up window suspended by the director for a period | 0019| of two weeks; | 0020| (2) upon a second violation of this | 0021| subsection, the privilege to sell alcoholic beverages or any | 0022| other goods from his drive-up window suspended by the director | 0023| for a period of thirty days; | 0024| (3) upon a third violation of this subsection, | 0025| the privilege to sell alcoholic beverages or any other goods | 0001| from his drive-up window suspended by the director for a period | 0002| of sixty days; and | 0003| (4) upon a fourth violation of this subsection | 0004| within two years of any other violations of Section 60-7A-16 or | 0005| 60-7B-1 NMSA 1978, the privilege to sell alcoholic beverages or | 0006| any other goods from his drive-up window revoked by the | 0007| director and the drive-up window permanently closed. | 0008| D. Any licensee aggrieved by a revocation, | 0009| suspension or fine proposed to be imposed by the director | 0010| pursuant to this section shall be entitled to the hearing | 0011| procedures set forth in [Article 6C of] Chapter 60, Article | 0012| 6C NMSA 1978 before the revocation, suspension or fine shall | 0013| be effective. | 0014| E. Any charge filed against a licensee by the | 0015| department and the resulting disposition of the charge shall be | 0016| reported to the department of public safety and local law | 0017| enforcement agencies whose jurisdictions include the licensed | 0018| establishment." | 0019| Section 5. A new section of the Liquor Control Act is | 0020| enacted to read: | 0021| "[NEW MATERIAL] DISPLAY OF LICENSE WITH CURRENT | 0022| PHOTOGRAPH.--It is a violation of the Liquor Control Act for a | 0023| licensee not to post in a conspicuous place on the licensed | 0024| premises his license that includes a current photograph of the | 0025| licensee or the licensee's agent who is responsible for | 0001| operation of the licensed premises." | 0002|  |