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An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding the Sale of Liquor
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 28-A MRSA §83-C, sub-§§8 and 9, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 476, Pt. A, §9, are amended to read:
 
8. Establish performance standards for contracts.   Establish performance standards for any contract awarded under this Title, subject to applicable laws relating to public contracts; and
 
9. Report on expenditures.   Report annually on expenditures and investments made by the bureau, including, but not limited to, reductions in the list price at which spirits are sold and incentives offered to agency liquor stores, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over alcoholic beverage matters. The report must include the impact of those spending initiatives on the number of cases of spirits sold in the State and on sales of spirits generally.; and
Sec. 2.  28-A MRSA §83-C, sub-§10  is enacted to read:
 
10.  Alcohol server and seller training program.     Establish a required training program for persons who serve or sell alcoholic beverages.
Sec. 3.  28-A MRSA §709, sub-§1, ¶C  is enacted to read:
 
C.  A person under 18 years of age may not entertain, with or without compensation, at a licensed premises while liquor is being sold or consumed, unless the person is a member of an entertainment performance group entertaining in a civic auditorium, Class A restaurant, club or hotel dining room.
Sec. 4. 28-A MRSA §1070, as amended by PL 1997, c. 373, §§94 and 95, is further amended to read:
§ 1070.Civic auditoriums
 
1. Issuance of licenses.   The bureau may issue licenses under this section for the sale of spirits, wine and malt liquor to civic auditoriums as defined in section 2, subsection 15, paragraph C. The license may be issued to the owner of the civic auditorium, the operator of the civic auditorium or the entity providing alcoholic beverages to the public in the civic auditorium.
 
2. Events on licensed premises only.   Licenses issued to civic auditoriums may be used only in conjunction with a function or event held on the licensed premises.
 
3. No sales during events for minors.   Licensees may not sell spirits, wine or malt liquor during any school activities or events primarily attended by minors in the rooms where these activities are taking place. Licensees may sell spirits, wine or malt liquor in areas of the civic auditorium where these activities are not taking place, including club seats, suites and meeting spaces.
 
4.  Licensee must notify bureau.     The civic auditorium licensee shall give written notice to the bureau at least 24 hours before a function or event.
 
5.  Sale of spirits, wine and malt liquor in original containers.     Licensees may sell or resell spirits, wine and malt liquor in original containers within club seats, suites or meeting spaces in civic auditoriums.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows a license for the sale of alcoholic beverages at a civic auditorium to be issued to the civic auditorium owner or operator or to the entity providing the alcoholic beverages. The bill provides that, in specific areas of the civic auditorium, such as club seats, suites or meeting spaces, alcoholic beverages may be sold in their original containers. The bill provides that alcoholic beverages may be sold during an event at a civic auditorium primarily attended by minors as long as they are sold in areas where the event is not taking place. The bill repeals the requirement that a licensee give written notice to the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations at least 24 hours before a function or event at a civic auditorium.
The bill also requires the bureau to establish a required training program for persons who serve or sell alcoholic beverages.
The bill permits a person under 18 years of age to entertain at a licensed premises while liquor is being sold or consumed if the performance takes place in a civic auditorium, Class A restaurant, club or hotel dining room and the person is a member of an entertainment performance group.