PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the summary and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. 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 to civic auditoriums as defined in section 2, subsection 15, paragraph C 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.
 
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.  Bottle service of spirits; designated areas.     A civic auditorium licensee may sell spirits in original containers for service in a civic auditorium club suite under the following conditions:
 
A.  Spirits to be consumed in the club suite are provided exclusively by the civic auditorium licensee;
 
B.  Spirits containers provided for consumption in the club suite must remain in the club suite for the duration of the event for which they were provided;
 
C.  The number of spirits containers provided for consumption in the club suite may not exceed 6; and
 
D.  The registered tenant of the club suite or individual specifically granted access to the club suite by the civic auditorium signs a contract with the civic auditorium agreeing that no person under 21 years of age will be provided or served alcoholic beverages in the club suite.
 
For purposes of this subsection, "club suite" means a designated area within a civic auditorium designed to provide premium viewing of an event in the auditorium and to which access is limited to registered tenants, invited guests and those who have been specifically granted access by the operator of the civic auditorium and is not accessible to the general public or civic auditorium patrons with tickets that provide for general admission to that event at the auditorium. A club suite must have a clearly designated point of access for the registered tenant or person specifically granted access by the operator of the civic auditorium to ensure that persons present in the suite are limited to invited guests and employees providing services to the club suite.
Sec. 2. Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations to amend rule. No later than December 1, 2015, the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations shall amend its rules governing the presence of a person under 18 years of age when that person is providing entertainment as part of an entertainment performance group at a licensed premises where alcoholic beverages are sold or consumed. The rule must allow for a person under 18 years of age to be present at a Class A restaurant, club, civic auditorium or hotel function room when part of an entertainment performance group and may require that a person under 17 years of age when part of an entertainment performance group be supervised by a parent or legal guardian or by a responsible adult designated as a guardian.’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill. The amendment clarifies that a license to serve alcoholic beverages under a civic auditorium license may be issued to the owner of the auditorium, a contracted operator or the vendor who provides alcoholic beverages to patrons of the auditorium. The amendment, like the bill, repeals the requirement that a civic auditorium provide at least 24 hours' notice prior to holding any event where alcoholic beverages will be served. The amendment also provides for a definition of "club suite" and establishes limitations under which spirits may be sold in original containers for service within the suite, including a limit of 6 containers of spirits products. Finally, the amendment directs the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations to amend rules governing the presence of persons 18 years of age or younger at a venue where they are part of a performance group providing entertainment where alcoholic beverages may be sold.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)