HB-5798, As Passed House, September 24, 2014
SUBSTITUTE FOR
HOUSE BILL NO. 5798
(as amended September 24, 2014)
[A bill to amend 1998 PA 58, entitled
"Michigan liquor control code of 1998,"
by amending sections 105, 405, 525, and 609 (MCL 436.1105,
436.1405, 436.1525, and 436.1609), section 105 as amended by 2005
PA 320, section 525 as amended by 2013 PA 236, and section 609 as
amended by 2014 PA 47.]
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 105. (1) "Alcohol" means the product of distillation of
fermented liquid, whether or not rectified or diluted with water,
but does not mean ethyl or industrial alcohol, diluted or not, that
has been denatured or otherwise rendered unfit for beverage
purposes.
(2) "Alcohol vapor device" means any device that provides for
the use of air or oxygen bubbled through alcoholic liquor to
produce a vapor or mist that allows the user to inhale this
alcoholic vapor through the mouth or nose.
(3) "Alcoholic liquor" means any spirituous, vinous, malt, or
fermented liquor, powder, liquids, and compounds, whether or not
medicated, proprietary, patented, and by whatever name called,
containing
1/2 of 1% or more of alcohol by volume which that are
fit for use for food purposes or beverage purposes as defined and
classified by the commission according to alcoholic content as
belonging to 1 of the varieties defined in this chapter.
(4) "Authorized distribution agent" means a person approved by
the commission to do 1 or more of the following:
(a) To store spirits owned by a supplier of spirits or the
commission.
(b) To deliver spirits sold by the commission to retail
licensees.
(c) To perform any function needed to store spirits owned by a
supplier of spirits or by the commission or to deliver spirits sold
by the commission to retail licensees.
(5) "Bar" means a barrier or counter at which alcoholic liquor
is sold to, served to, or consumed by customers.
(6) "Beer" means any beverage obtained by alcoholic
fermentation of an infusion or decoction of barley, malt, hops, or
other cereal in potable water.
(7) "Brand" means any word, name, group of letters, symbol,
trademark, or combination thereof adopted and used by a supplier to
identify a specific beer, malt beverage, wine, mixed wine drink, or
mixed spirit drink product and to distinguish that product from
another beer, malt beverage, wine, mixed wine drink, or mixed
spirit drink product that is produced or marketed by that or
another supplier. As used in this section and notwithstanding
sections 305(2)(j) and 403(2)(j), "supplier" means a brewer, an
outstate seller of beer, a wine maker, a small wine maker, an
outstate seller of wine, a manufacturer of mixed wine drink, an
outstate seller of a mixed wine drink, a mixed spirit drink
manufacturer, or an outstate seller of mixed spirit drink.
(8) "Brand extension" means any brand which incorporates all
or a substantial part of the unique features of a preexisting brand
of the same supplier. As used in this section and notwithstanding
sections 305(2)(j) and 403(2)(j), "supplier" means a brewer, an
outstate seller of beer, a wine maker, a small wine maker, an
outstate seller of wine, a manufacturer of mixed wine drink, an
outstate seller of a mixed wine drink, a mixed spirit drink
manufacturer, or an outstate seller of mixed spirit drink.
(9) "Brandy" means an alcoholic liquor as defined in 27 CFR
5.22(d) (1980).
(10)
"Brandy manufacturer" means a person wine maker or a
small
wine maker licensed under this act to engage
in the
manufacturing,
rectifying or blending, or both, of manufacture,
rectify,
or blend brandy only and no other distilled
spirit. Only a
licensed
wine maker or a small wine maker is eligible to be a
brandy
manufacturer. The commission may
approve a brandy
manufacturer
to sell at retail brandy which that it manufactures,
blends or rectifies, or both, at its licensed premises or at other
premises authorized in this act.
(11) "Brewer" means a person located in this state that is
licensed to manufacture and sell to licensed wholesalers beer
produced by it.
(12) "Brewpub" means a license issued in conjunction with a
class C, tavern, class A hotel, or class B hotel license that
authorizes the person licensed with the class C, tavern, class A
hotel,
or class B hotel to manufacture and brew not more than 5,000
18,000 barrels of beer per calendar year in Michigan and sell at
those licensed premises the beer produced for consumption on or off
the licensed brewery premises in the manner provided for in
sections 405 and 407.
Sec. 405. (1) Subject to section 407, the commission shall
issue a brewpub license to a person who is licensed as a food
service
establishment under part 129 of the public health code,
1978
PA 368, MCL 333.12901 to 333.12922, the food law, 2000 PA 92,
MCL 289.1101 to 289.8111, and who at the time of application for
the brewpub license is licensed and continues to be licensed as 1
or more of the following:
(a) Class C.
(b) Tavern.
(c) Class A hotel.
(d) Class B hotel.
(2) A brewpub shall possess the necessary equipment for a
satisfactory operation which shall be maintained in good working
order and in a sanitary condition.
(3) Agricultural products processed by a manufacturer shall
comply with state law and with rules of the department of
agriculture.
(4) A brewpub shall not sell beer in this state unless it
provides for each brand or type of beer sold a label that
truthfully describes the content of each container and provides
proof that a valid "application for and certification/exemption of
label/bottle approval" has been obtained and is unrevoked under the
federal
malt beverage labeling requirements as published in title
27,
part 7, subpart C, C.F.R. 1935, 27
CFR 7.20 to 7.29, which are
hereby adopted by reference.
(5) Each location of a brewpub shall have a manufacturing
operation on the licensed premises that complies with subsection
(6). A brewpub shall apply for and obtain a license for each
location
of that brewpub. In determining the 5,000-barrel 18,000-
barrel threshold, all brands and labels of the brewpub produced in
this state shall be combined.
(6) Beer shall be manufactured pursuant to federal malt
beverage
regulations published in title 27, part 25, C.F.R. 1935,
27 CFR 25.1 to 25.301, which are hereby adopted by reference.
(7) Each brewpub shall submit to the commission, on forms
acceptable to the commission and postmarked not later than January
15, April 15, July 15, and October 15 of each year, a beer tax
report of all beer sold under their brewpub license during the
preceding quarter. Each brewpub shall also submit, with the beer
tax report, the payment of the required beer excise tax due
pursuant to section 409.
(8) A brewpub shall be the holder of a "brewers notice" as
issued
by the United States department of treasury, bureau of
alcohol,
tobacco and firearms alcohol
and tobacco tax and trade
bureau
in accordance with title 27, part
25, subpart G, C.F.R.
1935.27 CFR 25.61 to 25.85.
Sec. 525. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section,
the following license fees shall be paid at the time of filing
applications or as otherwise provided in this act and are subject
to allocation under section 543:
(a) Manufacturers of spirits, not including makers, blenders,
and rectifiers of wines containing 21% or less alcohol by volume,
$1,000.00.
(b) Manufacturers of beer, $50.00 per 1,000 barrels, or
fraction of a barrel, production annually with a maximum fee of
$1,000.00, and in addition $50.00 for each motor vehicle used in
delivery to retail licensees. A fee increase does not apply to a
manufacturer of less than 15,000 barrels production per year.
(c) Outstate seller of beer, delivering or selling beer in
this state, $1,000.00.
(d) Wine makers, blenders, and rectifiers of wine, including
makers, blenders, and rectifiers of wines containing 21% or less
alcohol by volume, $100.00. The small wine maker license fee is
$25.00.
(e) Outstate seller of wine, delivering or selling wine in
this state, $300.00.
(f) Outstate seller of mixed spirit drink, delivering or
selling mixed spirit drink in this state, $300.00.
(g) Dining cars or other railroad or Pullman cars selling
alcoholic liquor, $100.00 per train.
(h) Wholesale vendors other than manufacturers of beer,
$300.00 for the first motor vehicle used in delivery to retail
licensees and $50.00 for each additional motor vehicle used in
delivery to retail licensees.
(i) Watercraft, licensed to carry passengers, selling
alcoholic liquor, a minimum fee of $100.00 and a maximum fee of
$500.00 per year computed on the basis of $1.00 per person per
passenger capacity.
(j) Specially designated merchants, for selling beer or wine
for consumption off the premises only but not at wholesale, $100.00
for each location regardless of whether the location is part of a
system or chain of merchandising.
(k) Specially designated distributors licensed by the
commission to distribute spirits and mixed spirit drink in the
original package for the commission for consumption off the
premises, $150.00 per year, and an additional fee of $3.00 for each
$1,000.00 or major fraction of that amount in excess of $25,000.00
of the total retail value of merchandise purchased under each
license from the commission during the previous calendar year.
(l) Hotels of class A selling beer and wine, a minimum fee of
$250.00 and $1.00 for each bedroom in excess of 20, but not more
than $500.00 total.
(m) Hotels of class B selling beer, wine, mixed spirit drink,
and spirits, a minimum fee of $600.00 and $3.00 for each bedroom in
excess of 20. If a hotel of class B sells beer, wine, mixed spirit
drink, and spirits in more than 1 public bar, a fee of $350.00
shall be paid for each additional public bar, other than a bedroom.
(n) Taverns, selling beer and wine, $250.00.
(o) Class C license selling beer, wine, mixed spirit drink,
and spirits, $600.00. Subject to section 518(2), if a class C
licensee sells beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits in more
than 1 bar, a fee of $350.00 shall be paid for each additional bar.
In municipally owned or supported facilities in which nonprofit
organizations operate concession stands, a fee of $100.00 shall be
paid for each additional bar.
(p) Clubs selling beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits,
$300.00 for clubs having 150 or fewer accredited members and $1.00
for each member in excess of 150. Clubs shall submit a list of
members by a sworn affidavit 30 days before the closing of the
license year. The sworn affidavit shall be used only for
determining the license fees to be paid under this subdivision.
This subdivision does not prevent the commission from checking a
membership list and making its own determination from the list or
otherwise. The list of members and additional members is not
required of a club paying the maximum fee. The maximum fee shall
not exceed $750.00 for any 1 club.
(q) Warehousers, to be fixed by the commission with a minimum
fee for each warehouse of $50.00.
(r) Special licenses, a fee of $50.00 per day, except that the
fee for that license or permit issued to any bona fide nonprofit
association, duly organized and in continuous existence for 1 year
before the filing of its application, is $25.00. Not more than 12
special licenses may be granted to any organization, including an
auxiliary of the organization, in a calendar year.
(s) Airlines licensed to carry passengers in this state that
sell, offer for sale, provide, or transport alcoholic liquor,
$600.00.
(t) Brandy manufacturer, $100.00.
(u) Mixed spirit drink manufacturer, $100.00.
(v) Brewpub, $100.00.
(w) Class G-1, $1,000.00.
(x) Class G-2, $500.00.
(y) Motorsports event license, the amount as described and
determined under section 518(2).
(z) Small distiller, $100.00.
(aa) Wine auction license, $50,000.00.
(bb) Nonpublic continuing care retirement center license,
$600.00.
(cc)
Conditional license approved under subsection (5) (6) and
issued
under subsection (6), (7),
$300.00.
(2) The fees provided in this act for the various types of
licenses shall not be prorated for a portion of the effective
period of the license. Notwithstanding subsection (1), the initial
license fee for any licenses issued under section 531(3) or (4) is
$20,000.00. The renewal license fee shall be the amount described
in subsection (1). However, the commission shall not impose the
$20,000.00 initial license fee for applicants whose license
eligibility was already approved on July 20, 2005.
(3) If the commission requires an applicant to submit
fingerprints, the applicant shall have the fingerprints taken by a
House Bill No. 5798 (H-1) as amended September 23, 2014
local law enforcement agency, the department of state police, or
any other person qualified to take fingerprints as determined by
the department of state police. The applicant shall submit the
fingerprints and the appropriate state and federal fees, which
shall be borne by the applicant, to the department of state police
and the federal bureau of investigation for a criminal history
check. [After conducting the criminal history check, the department of
state police shall provide the commission with a report of the criminal
history check. The report shall contain criminal history record
information concerning the person who is the subject of the criminal
history check that is maintained by the department of state police. If a criminal arrest fingerprint card is subsequently submitted to the department of state police and matches against a fingerprint that was submitted pursuant to this act and stored in its automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS) database, the department of state police shall notify the commission.]
(4) (3)
Except in the case of any resort or
resort economic
development license issued under section 531(2), (3), (4), or (5)
or a license issued under section 521a, the commission shall issue
an initial or renewal license not later than 90 days after the
applicant files a completed application. The application is
considered to be received the date the application is received by
any agency or department of this state. If the commission
determines that an application is incomplete, the commission shall
notify the applicant in writing, or make the information
electronically available, within 30 days after receipt of the
incomplete application, describing the deficiency and requesting
the additional information. The determination of the completeness
of an application is not an approval of the application for the
license and does not confer eligibility upon an applicant
determined otherwise ineligible for issuance of a license. The 90-
day period is tolled for the following periods under any of the
following circumstances:
(a) If notice is sent by the commission of a deficiency in the
application, until the date all of the requested information is
received by the commission.
(b) For the time required to complete actions required by a
person, other than the applicant or the commission, including, but
not limited to, completion of construction or renovation of the
licensed premises; mandated inspections by the commission or by any
state, local, or federal agency; approval by the legislative body
of a local unit of government; criminal history or criminal record
checks; financial or court record checks; or other actions mandated
by this act or rule or as otherwise mandated by law or local
ordinance.
(5) (4)
If the commission fails to issue or
deny a license
within the time required by this section, the commission shall
return the license fee and shall reduce the license fee for the
applicant's next renewal application, if any, by 15%. The failure
to issue a license within the time required under this section does
not allow the commission to otherwise delay the processing of the
application, and that application, upon completion, shall be placed
in sequence with other completed applications received at that same
time. The commission shall not discriminate against an applicant in
the processing of the application based upon the fact that the
license fee was refunded or discounted under this subsection.
(6) (5)
If, in addition to a completed
application under this
section, an applicant submits a separate form requesting a
conditional license with an acceptable proof of financial
responsibility form under section 803, and an executed property
document, the commission shall, after considering the arrest and
conviction records or previous violation history in the management,
operation, or ownership of a licensed business, approve or deny a
conditional
license. to any of the following:A conditional license
issued under subsection (7) for the transfer of an existing license
at the same location shall include any existing permits and
approvals held in connection with that license. The following
applicants may request a conditional license:
(a) An applicant seeking to transfer ownership of or interest
in
an existing license at the same location under subsection (3) to
sell alcoholic liquor for consumption on or off the premises.
(b)
An applicant seeking an initial license under subsection
(3),
except for other than a specially designated distributor
license or a license for the sale of alcoholic liquor for
consumption on the premises.
(7) (6)
The commission shall issue a
conditional license to
applicants
approved under subsection (5) (6)
within 20 business
days after receipt of a completed application and a completed
conditional license request form and documentation for a
conditional license at a single location. The commission may take
up to 30 business days to issue conditional licenses to approved
applicants seeking conditional licenses at multiple locations.
(8) (7)
A conditional license approved
under subsection (5)
(6)
and issued under subsection (6) (7) is
nontransferable and
nonrenewable.
A conditional license approved under subsection (5)
(6)
and issued under subsection (6) (7) expires
when the commission
issues an order of denial of the license application that serves as
the basis for the conditional license after all administrative
remedies before the commission have been exhausted, expires 20
business days after the commission issues an order of approval of
the license application that serves as the basis for the
conditional license, expires when the licensee or conditional
licensee notifies the commission in writing that the initial
application should be canceled, or expires 1 year after the date
the conditional license was issued, whichever occurs first. If a
conditionally approved licensee fails to maintain acceptable proof
of its financial responsibility, the commission shall, after due
notice and proper hearing, suspend the conditional license until
the licensee files an acceptable proof of financial responsibility
form under section 803. If a conditional license is revoked, the
conditional licensee shall not recover from a unit of local
government any compensation for property, future income, or future
economic loss due to the revocation.
(9) (8)
Upon issuing a conditional license
under subsection
(6),
(7), the commission shall, until the conditional license
expires
under subsection (7), (8),
place an existing license under
subsection
(3) (4) in escrow in compliance with R 436.1107 of the
Michigan administrative code. If the conditional license expires
because a transfer of an existing license was denied or because the
license was not transferred within the 1-year period, an existing
licensee may do 1 of the following:
(a) Request that the commission release the license from
escrow.
(b) Keep the license in escrow. The escrow date for compliance
with R 436.1107 of the Michigan administrative code shall be the
date the conditional license expires.
(10) (9)
The chair of the commission shall
submit a report by
December 1 of each year to the standing committees and
appropriations subcommittees of the senate and house of
representatives concerned with liquor license issues. The chair of
the commission shall include all of the following information in
the report concerning the preceding fiscal year:
(a) The number of initial and renewal applications the
commission received and completed within the 90-day time period
described
in subsection (3).(4).
(b) The number of applications denied.
(c) The number of applicants not issued a license within the
90-day time period and the amount of money returned to licensees
under
subsection (4).(5).
(11) (10)
As used in this section, "completed
application"
means an application complete on its face and submitted with any
applicable licensing fees as well as any other information,
records, approval, security, or similar item required by law or
rule from a local unit of government, a federal agency, or a
private entity but not from another department or agency of the
state of Michigan.
Sec. 609. (1) Except as provided in this section and sections
605 and 1029, a manufacturer, mixed spirit drink manufacturer,
warehouser, wholesaler, outstate seller of beer, outstate seller of
wine, outstate seller of mixed spirit drink, or vendor of spirits
shall not aid or assist any other vendor by gift, loan of money or
property of any description, or other valuable thing, or by the
giving of premiums or rebates, and a vendor shall not accept the
same. However, if manufacturers of spirits reduce the price of
their products, the manufacturer of spirits may refund the amount
of the price reductions to specially designated distributor
licensees in a manner prescribed by the commission.
(2) A manufacturer, mixed spirit drink manufacturer,
warehouser, wholesaler, outstate seller of beer, outstate seller of
wine, outstate seller of mixed spirit drink, or vendor of spirits
may, in a manner consistent with rules, regulations, and orders
made by the commission, provide another licensee with advertising
items that promote the brands and prices of alcoholic liquor
produced by the manufacturer; sold by the outstate seller of beer,
the outstate seller of wine, or the outstate seller of mixed spirit
drink; or distributed by the wholesaler. Except as otherwise
provided
under subsection (3), or (4), or (5), the advertising
items shall not have any use or value beyond the actual advertising
of brands and prices of the alcoholic liquor.
(3) Except for those orders that were approved for specific
sponsorships or festivals, a manufacturer, mixed spirit drink
manufacturer, warehouser, wholesaler, outstate seller of beer,
outstate seller of wine, outstate seller of mixed spirit drink, or
vendor of spirits may provide goods and services to another
licensee that were approved by the commission pursuant to rules or
orders adopted prior to January 1, 2014 and the following
advertising
items:
(a) Alcoholic liquor recipes literature.
(b) Calendars and matchbooks.
(c) Removable tap markers or signs.
(d) Table tents.
(e) Shelf talkers.
(f) Bottle neckers.
(g) Cooler stickers.
(h) Buttons, blinking and nonblinking.
(i) Menu clip-ons.
(j) Mirrors.
(k) Napkin holders.
(l) Spirits cold shot tap machines.
(m) Alcoholic liquor drink menus.
(n) Keg couplers that are lent to an on-premises retailer.
(o) Sporting event or entertainment tickets.
(4) A wholesaler may sell brand logoed items to an off-
premises licensee if those brand logoed items are contained within
the packaging of an alcoholic liquor product that is to be sold to
a consumer.
(5) (4)
A retailer shall not use or
possess, at its licensed
premises, advertising items that have a use or value beyond the
actual advertising of brands and prices of alcoholic liquor except
for
those allowed in subsection subsections
(3) and (4) or as
otherwise provided in this subsection. A retailer may possess and
use brand logoed barware that advertises spirits as long as those
items are purchased from a manufacturer of spirits, vendor of
spirits, salesperson, broker, or barware retailer. A retailer may
possess and use brand logoed barware that advertises beer or wine
as long as those items are purchased from a barware retailer. A
retailer shall maintain the receipts of all purchased brand logoed
barware for at least 3 years and shall make those receipts
available for inspection by the commission as provided in section
217. Beginning in the 2015 licensing year, a retailer shall
disclose, in a manner as prescribed by the commission on the
application for renewal of an existing license, if any barware was
purchased by the retailer during the immediately preceding license
year.
(6) (5)
In addition to the penalties
provided under section
903, a manufacturer of beer or wine, mixed spirit drink
manufacturer, warehouser, wholesaler, outstate seller of beer,
outstate seller of wine, or outstate seller of mixed spirit drink
that provides or sells barware and is not authorized to provide or
sell barware is subject to a fine in an amount of up to $2,500.00
as determined by the commission. Multiple violations resulting from
the same incident may be treated as a single violation for purposes
of issuance of any penalty imposed under this act.
(7) (6)
An on-premises retailer that hosts
an on-premises
brand promotional event conducted by a wholesaler or supplier has
14 days after the event to remove from the premises any brand
logoed merchandise from the event to maintain compliance with this
section.
(8) (7)
This act and rules promulgated
under this act do not
prevent a retailer that holds an off-premises license only from
purchasing brand logoed inventory and selling that inventory to its
customers.
(9) (8)
Not sooner than 18 months after the effective date of
the
amendatory act that added this subsection, Beginning after
September 25, 2015, the commission may, by rule, add an item to or
remove an item from the definition of barware. The commission shall
not add or remove more than 1 item per rule and shall not
promulgate more than 1 rule at a time on the definition of barware.
The commission shall not issue a rule that adds refrigerator
systems, draft systems, or furniture to the definition of barware.
A rule, regulation, or order adopted after January 1, 2014 that is
not adopted in accordance with this subsection and that is not
consistent with this section or is in conflict with this section is
void and unenforceable.
(10) (9)
As used in this section:
(a) "Barware" means the following brand logoed items:
(i) Trays.
(ii) Coasters.
(iii) Napkins.
(iv) Shirts.
(v) Hats.
(vi) Pitchers.
(vii) Drinkware that is intended to be reused.
(viii) Bar mats.
(ix) Buckets.
(x) Bottle openers.
(xi) Stir rods.
(xii) Patio umbrellas.
(xiii) Any packaging used to hold and deliver the alcoholic
liquor purchased by the retailer.
(xiv) Any other items that have been added by the commission
pursuant
to subsection (8).(9).
(b) "Barware retailer" means a person that offers brand logoed
barware for sale to retailers, whether or not it is in their
ordinary course of business, and that is not licensed as, or
directly or indirectly affiliated with, a manufacturer of beer or
wine, mixed spirit drink manufacturer, warehouser, wholesaler,
outstate seller of beer, outstate seller of wine, or outstate
seller of mixed spirit drink. For purposes of this subdivision, a
licensing agreement that authorizes use of a brand logo does not
constitute a direct or indirect affiliation.
(c) "Broker" means a person, other than an individual, that is
licensed by the commission and that is employed or otherwise
retained by a manufacturer of spirits or a vendor of spirits to
sell, promote, or otherwise assist in the sale or promotion of
spirits.
(d) "Indirectly affiliated" means, for purposes of this
section only, that a person owns 5% or more of the voting interest
of another person.
(e) "Other valuable thing" means any goods, services, or
intangible goods that are given, loaned, leased, or sold to another
licensee that have value regardless of whether the value is nominal
and includes, but is not limited to, goods, services, or intangible
goods that provided any benefit, regardless of how nominal, to the
licensee other than advertising the brands and prices of alcoholic
liquor produced by the manufacturer, sold by the outstate seller of
House Bill No. 5798 (H-1) as amended September 24, 2014
beer, the outstate seller of wine, or the outstate seller of mixed
spirit drink, or distributed by the wholesaler, except for
consumable goods and those goods, services, or intangible goods
approved by rule or order of the commission prior to January 1,
2014.
(f) "Salesperson" means a person who is employed by a vendor
of spirits or a broker and who is licensed by the commission to
sell, deliver, or promote, or otherwise assist in the sale of,
spirits in this state.
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