Bill Text - HB279 (2024)

Increasing the penalty for on-premises licensees overserving alcohol.


Revision: Jan. 9, 2023, 9:46 a.m.

HB 279-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2023 SESSION

23-0004

08/04

 

HOUSE BILL 279-FN

 

AN ACT increasing the penalty for on-premises licensees overserving alcohol.  

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Mooney, Hills. 12; Rep. Adjutant, Graf. 16; Rep. M. Cahill, Rock. 10; Rep. Dutzy, Hills. 6

 

COMMITTEE: Commerce and Consumer Affairs

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill increases the penalty for on-premises licensees overserving alcohol.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

23-0004

08/04

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three

 

AN ACT increasing the penalty for on-premises licensees overserving alcohol.  

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Short Title.  This act shall be known as the "Elizabeth Croke Law."

2  New Paragraph; Prohibited Sales; Serving of Intoxicated Persons; Penalties In Cases of Injury or Death.  Amend RSA 179:5 by inserting after paragraph I the following new paragraph:

I-a.  An on-premises licensee that violates paragraph I by serving an individual who is visibly intoxicated or who a reasonable and prudent person would know is intoxicated, and such intoxicated person directly causes the serious injury or death of another person or persons, shall be fined $7,500 and shall have such license suspended for up to 30 days.  If the licensee closes due to the license suspension, the licensee shall post the following message on the doors of the premises and on the public Internet website, if applicable, "Closed due to mandatory suspension by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission for overserving of alcohol in accordance with RSA 179:5."

3  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 

LBA

23-0004

12/21/22

 

HB 279-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT increasing the penalty for on-premises licensees overserving alcohol.  

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [    ] County               [    ] Local              [    ] None

 

 

 

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2023

FY 2024

FY 2025

FY 2026

   Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Revenue

$0

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

   Expenditures

$0

$0

$0

$0

Funding Source:

  [ X ] General            [    ] Education            [    ] Highway           [ X ] Other - Liquor Fund

 

 

 

 

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill increases the penalty for on-premises licensees overserving alcohol. The Liquor Commission indicates it is not able to forecast how many overserving incidents may occur and cannot predict how much additional revenue may be generated from the $7,500 fine.  Existing Commission rules provide for a fine of $2,500 and a 10-day suspension for a first offense, $5,000 and a suspension of 30-60 days for a second offense, and license revocation for a third offense.  

 

It is assumed that any fiscal impact would occur after FY 2023.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Liquor Commission