SPECIAL LIQUOR LICENSES FOR NATIONAL

AND INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENTS

House Bill 5730

Sponsor:  Rep. Shelley Taub

House Bill 5731

Sponsor: Rep. Bill McConico                                                          

Committee:  Regulatory Reform

Complete to 5-3-04

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 5730 AND 5731 AS INTRODUCED 3-31-04

The bills would amend the Michigan Liquor Control Code to allow the Liquor Control Commission to issue national and international sporting event licenses for on-premises consumption of alcoholic liquor under certain circumstances.  Such licenses would be issued for not more than 30 consecutive days and would not be transferable.  The application fee for a license would be $1,000.  The two bills are tie-barred to each other.  House Bill 5730 would address international sporting event licenses; House Bill 5731 would address national sporting event licenses.  Otherwise the provisions of the two bills are substantially the same.

Under the bills, these special licenses could be issued if the LCC found the following circumstances to exist:

1) the governmental unit in which the sporting event is to be conducted is the host governmental unit for the event;

2) the premises to be licensed are to be located in a theme area or theme areas designated by the governing body of the host governmental unit in connection with the sporting event or are operated in conjunction with that event;

3) the LCC determines that the event will attract a substantial number of tourists from outside the state;

4) the sporting event is conducted under auspices of an international or national sanctioning body; and

5) the applicant is either a current Michigan on-premise licensee; the promoter of the event or an affiliate of the promoter; a person who has entered into a written concession or catering agreement with the promoter or its affiliate, with the agreement approved by the LCC; or an organization qualified for licensure as a special licensee under Section 111 of the code and commission rules.

Such a license would be for a period of not more than 30 consecutive days and would not be transferable as to owner or location.  Each license would be for specific designated time periods that include the sporting event and activities associated with the event.  No more than 40 national sporting event licenses and 40 international event license could be issued for use at the same time in a theme area or theme areas.

The governing body of a host local governmental unit would have to supply the LCC for review a list of the applicants and locations of the premises to be licensed.  The governing body would have to recommend the number of licenses to be issued in the theme area or areas.  The LCC could not issue any licenses not recommended by the local unit.  The local governing body would also have to provide written certification to the commission that all premises to be licensed comply with applicable state and local building, safety, and health laws, rules, and regulations.  A licensee would not have to meet the usual requirements about proximity to a church or school.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Chris Couch 

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.