SENATE BILL No. 929

 

 

April 28, 2016, Introduced by Senators MEEKHOF, KOWALL, HORN, HANSEN, PROOS and SHIRKEY and referred to the Committee on Michigan Competitiveness.

 

 

 

     A bill to amend 1998 PA 58, entitled

 

"Michigan liquor control code of 1998,"

 

by amending sections 533, 541, and 543 (MCL 436.1533, 436.1541, and

 

436.1543), section 533 as amended by 1998 PA 416, section 541 as

 

amended by 2016 PA 84, and section 543 as amended by 2010 PA 213,

 

and by adding section 903b.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 533. (1) A retail vendor licensed under this act to sell

 

for consumption on the premises may apply for a license as a

 

specially designated merchant. The commission shall not issue a new

 

specially designated merchant license or transfer an existing

 

specially designated merchant license unless the applicant is an

 

approved type of business. An applicant is not an approved type of

 

business unless the applicant meets 1 or more of the following

 

conditions:


     (a) The applicant holds and maintains a retail food

 

establishment license issued under section 4125 of the food law,

 

2000 PA 92, MCL 289.4125.

 

     (b) The applicant holds and maintains an extended retail food

 

establishment license issued under section 4125 of the food law,

 

2000 PA 92, MCL 289.4125.

 

     (c) The applicant holds or the commission approves the

 

issuance of a specially designated distributor license to the

 

applicant.

 

     (d) The applicant holds or the commission approves the

 

issuance of a class C license to the applicant.

 

     (e) The applicant holds or the commission approves the

 

issuance of a class A hotel license to the applicant.

 

     (f) The applicant holds or the commission approves the

 

issuance of a class B hotel license to the applicant.

 

     (g) The applicant holds or the commission approves the

 

issuance of a club license to the applicant.

 

     (h) The applicant holds or the commission approves the

 

issuance of a tavern license to the applicant.

 

     (i) The applicant holds or the commission approves the

 

issuance of a class G-1 license to the applicant.

 

     (j) The applicant holds or the commission approves the

 

issuance of a class G-2 license to the applicant.

 

     (2) A specially designated distributor may apply for a license

 

as a specially designated merchant.

 

     (3) In cities, incorporated villages, or townships, the

 

commission shall issue only 1 specially designated distributor


license for each 3,000 of population , or fraction of 3,000 of

 

population. The commission may waive the quota requirement may be

 

waived at the discretion of the commission under this subsection if

 

there is no existing specially designated distributor licensee

 

within 2 miles of the applicant, measured along the nearest traffic

 

route.

 

     (4) Except as otherwise provided in this section, in cities,

 

incorporated villages, or townships, the commission shall issue

 

only 1 specially designated merchant license for each 1,000 of

 

population. The quota under this subsection does not apply to any

 

of the following:

 

     (a) An applicant for a specially designated merchant license

 

that is an applicant for or the holder of a license listed in

 

subsection (1)(d) to (j).

 

     (b) An applicant for or the holder of a specially designated

 

merchant license whose licensed establishment meets 1 or more of

 

the following conditions:

 

     (i) Meets both of the following conditions:

 

     (A) The licensed establishment is at least 20,000 square feet.

 

     (B) The licensed establishment's gross receipts derived from

 

the sale of food are at least 20% of the total gross receipts.

 

     (ii) The licensed establishment's gross receipts derived from

 

the sale of prescription drugs as that term is defined in section

 

17708 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.17708, are at

 

least 20% of the total gross receipts.

 

     (c) A secondary location permit issued to a specially

 

designated merchant under section 541.


     (5) The commission may waive the quota under subsection (4) if

 

there is no existing specially designated merchant within 2 miles

 

of the applicant, measured along the nearest traffic route.

 

     (6) The commission shall waive the quota under subsection (4)

 

if all of the following apply:

 

     (a) The proposed licensed establishment is located in a city,

 

incorporated village, or township in which the quota under

 

subsection (4) is exhausted as of the effective date of the

 

amendatory act that added subsection (4).

 

     (b) The applicant applies for the specially designated

 

merchant license within 60 days after the effective date of the

 

amendatory act that added subsection (4).

 

     (c) The applicant is a retail dealer that holds a license

 

issued under section 6(1) of the motor fuels quality act, 1984 PA

 

44, MCL 290.646. The applicant shall include a copy of the license

 

described in this subdivision with the applicant's application

 

under this subsection. As used in this subdivision, "retail dealer"

 

means that term as defined in section 2 of the motor fuels quality

 

act, 1984 PA 44, MCL 290.642.

 

     (7) A specially designated merchant license issued under this

 

section may be transferred to an applicant whose proposed operation

 

is located within any local governmental unit in a county in which

 

the specially designated merchant license was located. If the local

 

governmental unit within which the former licensee's premises were

 

located spans more than 1 county, a specially designated merchant

 

license may be transferred to an applicant whose proposed operation

 

is located within any local governmental unit in either county. If


a specially designated merchant license is transferred to a local

 

governmental unit other than that local governmental unit within

 

which the specially designated merchant license was originally

 

issued, the commission shall count that transferred specially

 

designated merchant license against the local governmental unit

 

originally issuing the specially designated merchant license.

 

     (8) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (9), the quota

 

under subsection (4) does not bar the right of an existing

 

specially designated merchant to renew the specially designated

 

merchant license or transfer the specially designated merchant

 

license. This subsection applies to a specially designated merchant

 

license issued or renewed before, on, or after the effective date

 

of the amendatory act that added subsection (4).

 

     (9) A specially designated merchant license issued after the

 

effective date of the amendatory act that added subsection (4) to a

 

person described in subsection (4)(a) or (b) is not transferable as

 

to location.

 

     (10) For purposes of this section, population is determined by

 

the last federal decennial census, by a special census under

 

section 6 of the home rule city act, 1909 PA 279, MCL 117.6, or

 

section 7 of the Glenn Steil state revenue sharing act of 1971,

 

1971 PA 140, MCL 141.907, or by the latest census and corrections

 

published by the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of

 

the Census, whichever is later.

 

     Sec. 541. (1) Except as provided in subsections (2) to (6),

 

(5), the commission shall not allow an applicant for or the holder

 

of a specially designated distributor license or specially


designated merchant license from owning or operating to own or

 

operate motor vehicle fuel pumps on or adjacent to the licensed

 

premises, unless both of the following conditions are met:

 

     (a) One or both of the following conditions exist:

 

     (i) The applicant or licensee is located in a neighborhood

 

shopping center.

 

     (ii) Subject to subsection (9), the The applicant or licensee

 

maintains a minimum inventory on the premises, excluding alcoholic

 

liquor and motor vehicle fuel, of not less than $250,000.00, at

 

cost, of those goods and services customarily marketed by approved

 

types of businesses.

 

     (b) The site of payment and selection of alcoholic liquor is

 

not less than 5 feet from that point where motor vehicle fuel is

 

dispensed.

 

     (2) The commission shall not prohibit an applicant for or the

 

holder of a specially designated distributor license or specially

 

designated merchant license from owning or operating motor vehicle

 

fuel pumps on or adjacent to the licensed premises, if all of the

 

following conditions are met:

 

     (a) The applicant is located in a township with a population

 

of 7,000 or less that is not contiguous with any other township.

 

For purposes of this subdivision, a township is not considered

 

contiguous by water.

 

     (b) The applicant or licensee maintains a minimum inventory on

 

the premises, excluding alcoholic liquor and motor vehicle fuel, of

 

not less than $12,500.00, at cost, of those goods and services

 

customarily marketed by approved types of businesses.


     (c) The applicant has the approval of the township, as

 

evidenced by a resolution duly adopted by the township and

 

submitted with the application to the commission.

 

     (3) The commission shall not prohibit an applicant for or the

 

holder of a specially designated merchant license from owning or

 

operating motor vehicle fuel pumps on or adjacent to the licensed

 

premises if both of the following conditions are met:

 

     (a) The applicant or licensee is located in any of the

 

following:

 

     (i) A city, incorporated village, or township with a

 

population of 3,500 or less and a county with a population of

 

31,000 or more.

 

     (ii) A city, incorporated village, or township with a

 

population of 4,000 or less and a county with a population of less

 

than 31,000.

 

     (iii) A township in which the applicant or licensee is the

 

only person that owns or operates motor fuel pumps within the

 

township on the date of application. The commission shall not

 

revoke a license that was granted under this subparagraph if a

 

second person that owns or operates motor fuel pumps opens within

 

the township after the original application was filed.

 

     (b) The applicant or licensee maintains a minimum inventory on

 

the premises, excluding alcoholic liquor and motor vehicle fuel, of

 

not less than $10,000.00, at cost, of those goods and services

 

customarily marketed by approved types of businesses.

 

     (3) (4) The commission shall not prohibit an applicant for or

 

the holder of a specially designated distributor license from


owning or operating motor vehicle fuel pumps on or adjacent to the

 

licensed premises if both of the following conditions are met:

 

     (a) The applicant or licensee is located in either of the

 

following:

 

     (i) A city, incorporated village, or township with a

 

population of 3,500 or less and a county with a population of

 

31,000 or more.

 

     (ii) A city, incorporated village, or township with a

 

population of 4,000 or less and a county with a population of less

 

than 31,000.

 

     (b) The applicant or licensee maintains a minimum inventory on

 

the premises, excluding alcoholic liquor and motor vehicle fuel, of

 

not less than $12,500.00, at cost, of those goods and services

 

customarily marketed by approved types of businesses.

 

     (4) (5) A person that was issued a specially designated

 

merchant license or specially designated distributor license at a

 

location at which another person owned, operated or maintained

 

motor vehicle fuel pumps at the same location may have or acquire

 

an interest in the ownership, operation or maintenance of those

 

motor vehicle fuel pumps.

 

     (5) (6) The commission may transfer ownership of a specially

 

designated merchant license or specially designated distributor

 

license to a person that owns or is acquiring an interest in motor

 

vehicle fuel pumps already in operation at the same location at

 

which the license is issued.

 

     (6) The commission shall not prohibit an applicant for or the

 

holder of a specially designated merchant license from owning or


operating motor vehicle fuel pumps on or adjacent to the licensed

 

premises if the site of payment is not less than 5 feet from that

 

point where motor vehicle fuel is dispensed.

 

     (7) If a specially designated merchant's licensed premises are

 

a primary location, the commission may issue a secondary location

 

permit to the specially designated merchant, as an extension of the

 

specially designated merchant's license, for the sale of beer,

 

wine, or both, at the secondary location. The commission shall

 

issue a secondary location permit only to a specially designated

 

merchant to which both of the following apply:

 

     (a) The holder of the specially designated merchant license

 

for the primary location premises or a subsidiary or affiliate of

 

the license holder owns or leases the secondary location.

 

     (b) The holder of the specially designated merchant license

 

for the primary location or a subsidiary or affiliate of the

 

license holder owns or operates motor vehicle fuel pumps at the

 

secondary location. under subsection (1).

 

     (8) An applicant for a secondary location permit shall submit

 

an application to the commission in a format provided by the

 

commission and accompanied by an application and initial permit fee

 

of $100.00. The application must include a diagram of the secondary

 

location with building dimensions and a depiction of the distance

 

measurement described in subsection (1)(b). (6). The secondary

 

location permit expires on the same date as the specially

 

designated merchant license and may be renewed in conjunction with

 

the specially designated merchant license. The secondary location

 

permit holder may renew the secondary location permit by submitting


a permit renewal fee of $100.00 and a completed renewal

 

application.

 

     (9) After a specially designated merchant is issued a

 

secondary location permit under subsection (7) and if the specially

 

designated merchant's licensed premises are a primary location that

 

is not a neighborhood shopping center, for purposes of determining

 

the minimum inventory condition described in subsection (1)(a)(ii),

 

the primary location and the secondary location are considered 1

 

premises.

 

     (9) (10) After a specially designated merchant is issued a

 

secondary location permit under subsection (7), if a subsidiary or

 

affiliate of the specially designated merchant owns or operates the

 

secondary location and the subsidiary or affiliate shares the same

 

ultimate controlling party of the specially designated merchant,

 

the secondary location may receive and sell beer, wine, or both

 

under the specially designated merchant's license.

 

     (10) (11) The holder of a secondary location permit shall

 

prominently display the secondary location permit at the secondary

 

location in the point-of-sale area.

 

     (11) (12) As used in this section:

 

     (a) "Neighborhood shopping center" means 1 commercial

 

establishment, or a group of commercial establishments organized or

 

operated as a unit, that is related in location, size, and type of

 

shop to the trade area that the unit serves, and consists of not

 

less than 50,000 square feet of leasable retail space, and has

 

access to off-street parking spaces.

 

     (b) "Primary location" means licensed premises that meet meets


both of the following conditions: under subsection (1).

 

     (i) One or both of the following conditions exist:

 

     (A) The applicant or licensee is located in a neighborhood

 

shopping center.

 

     (B) The applicant or licensee maintains a minimum inventory on

 

the premises, excluding alcoholic liquor and motor vehicle fuel, of

 

not less than $250,000.00, at cost, of those goods and services

 

customarily marketed by approved types of businesses.

 

     (ii) The site of payment and selection of alcoholic liquor is

 

not less than 5 feet from that point where motor vehicle fuel is

 

dispensed.

 

     (c) "Secondary location" means a business operation of the

 

holder of a specially designated merchant license for a primary

 

location, or a subsidiary or affiliate of that license holder, that

 

takes place on real property, that includes at least 1 building and

 

1 or more motor vehicle fuel pumps, and that is located on or

 

adjacent to the primary location. Upon On commission approval of

 

the secondary location permit, the secondary location is considered

 

licensed premises and an extension of the licensed primary

 

location.

 

     Sec. 543. (1) Quarterly, upon on the commission's

 

recommendation, of the commission, the state shall pay pursuant to

 

appropriation in the manner prescribed by law to the city, village,

 

or township in which a full-time police department or full-time

 

ordinance enforcement department is maintained or, if a police

 

department or full-time ordinance enforcement department is not

 

maintained, to the county, to be credited to the sheriff's


department of the county in which the licensed premises are

 

located, 55% of the amount of the proceeds of the retailers'

 

license fees and license renewal fees collected in that

 

jurisdiction, for the specific purpose of enforcing this act and

 

the rules promulgated under this act. Forty-one and one-half

 

percent of the amount of the proceeds of retailers' license and

 

license renewal fees collected shall must be deposited in a special

 

fund to be annually appropriated to the commission for carrying out

 

the licensing and enforcement provisions of this act. Any

 

unencumbered or uncommitted money in the special fund shall must

 

revert to the general fund of the this state 12 months after the

 

end of each fiscal year in which the funds were collected. The

 

legislature shall appropriate 3-1/2% of the amount of the proceeds

 

of retailers' license and license renewal fees collected to be

 

credited to a special fund in the state treasury for the purposes

 

of promoting and sustaining programs for the prevention,

 

rehabilitation, care, and treatment of alcoholics. This subsection

 

does not apply to retail license fees collected for railroad or

 

Pullman cars, watercraft, aircraft, or wine auctions or to the

 

transfer fees provided in section 529.

 

     (2) All license and license renewal fees, other than retail

 

license and license renewal fees and wholesale vendor license and

 

license renewal fees, shall must be credited to the grape and wine

 

industry council created in section 303, to be used as provided in

 

section 303. Money credited to the grape and wine industry council

 

shall must not revert to the state general fund at the close of the

 

fiscal year, but shall must remain in the account to which it was


credited to be used as provided in section 303.

 

     (3) All retail license fees collected for railroad or Pullman

 

cars, watercraft, or aircraft and the transfer fees provided in

 

section 529 shall must be deposited in the special fund created in

 

subsection (1) for carrying out the licensing and enforcement

 

provisions of this act.

 

     (4) The license fee enhancement imposed for licenses issued

 

under section 531(3) and (4) shall must be deposited into a special

 

fund to be annually appropriated to the commission for enforcement

 

and other related projects determined appropriate by the

 

commission. The money representing that amount of the license fees

 

for identical licenses not issued under section 531(3) and (4)

 

shall must be allocated and appropriated under subsection (1).

 

     (5) The license fee imposed on direct shipper licenses and any

 

violation fines imposed by the commission shall must be deposited

 

into the direct shipper enforcement revolving fund. The direct

 

shipper enforcement revolving fund is created within the state

 

treasury. The state treasurer shall direct the investment of the

 

fund. The state treasurer shall credit to the fund interest and

 

earnings from fund investments. Money in the fund at the close of

 

the fiscal year shall must remain in the fund and shall must not

 

lapse to the general fund. The commission shall expend money from

 

the fund, upon on appropriation, only for enforcement of the

 

provisions of section 203 and related projects.

 

     (6) One hundred percent of the wine auction license fee

 

imposed in section 525(1)(aa) shall must be deposited into the

 

general fund.


     (7) As used in this section, "license fee enhancement" means

 

the money representing the difference between the license fee

 

imposed for a license under section 525(1) and the additional

 

amount imposed for resort and resort economic development licenses

 

under section 525(2).

 

     (7) (8) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section,

 

the additional $160.00 license fee imposed upon any on a licensee

 

selling alcoholic liquor between the hours of 7 a.m. on Sunday and

 

12 noon on Sunday is allocated to the general fund.

 

     (8) Wholesale vendor license fees and license renewal fees

 

must be deposited into the liquor control enforcement and license

 

investigation revolving fund created under subsection (9).

 

     (9) The liquor control enforcement and license investigation

 

revolving fund is created within the state treasury. The state

 

treasurer shall direct the investment of the fund. The state

 

treasurer shall credit to the fund interest and earnings from fund

 

investments. Money in the fund at the close of the fiscal year must

 

remain in the fund and must not lapse to the general fund. The

 

commission shall expend money from the fund, on appropriation, only

 

for enforcement of this act and the rules promulgated under this

 

act and for license investigations. The commission shall not use

 

more than 35% of the money appropriated to the fund under this

 

subsection on license investigations.

 

     (10) As used in this section, "license fee enhancement" means

 

the money representing the difference between the license fee

 

imposed for a license under section 525(1) and the additional

 

amount imposed for resort and resort economic development licenses


under section 525(2).

 

     Sec. 903b. A retailer or a retailer's clerk, servant, agent,

 

or employee that makes a payment to a wholesaler, the commission,

 

or this state by any means that has been dishonored by a financial

 

institution for lack of sufficient funds is subject to enforcement

 

action by the commission for issuing a dishonored payment

 

instrument.

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days

 

after the date it is enacted into law.