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SB282 SUB2 Senate Bill 282 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

Senate Bill No. 282

(By Senators Tomblin (Mr. President) and Caruth,

By Request of the Executive)

____________

[Originating in the Committee on Finance;

reported March 26, 2009.]

____________


A BILL to amend and reenact §60-3A-2, §60-3A-2a, §60-3A-4, §60-3A-6, §60-3A-7, §60-3A-8, §60-3A-10, §60-3A-10b, §60-3A- 11, §60-3A-12 and §60-3A-18 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §60-3A-10d, all relating to the sale of liquor; classifying retail licenses for the sale of liquor; setting forth legislative findings; defining certain terms; authorizing the Alcohol Beverage Control Commissioner to issue retail licenses for the sale of liquor; establishing certain standards for the issuance of licenses within market zones; limiting the issuance of retail licenses to operate mixed retail liquor outlets; authorizing the commissioner to adopt certain standards for retail outlets; increasing the maximum percentage of retail licenses a person may own; providing a purchase option for active retail licensees seeking to operate a freestanding liquor retail outlet; providing for financing for the purchase of a retail license for a freestanding liquor retail outlet; authorizing emergency rules; and permitting the sale of liquor on election day.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §60-3A-2, §60-3A-2a, §60-3A-4, §60-3A-6, §60-3A-7, §60-3A-8, §60-3A-10, §60-3A-10b, §60-3A-11, §60-3A-12 and §60-3A-18 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted; and that said code be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §60-3A-10d, all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 3A. SALES BY RETAIL LIQUOR LICENSEES.
§60-3A-2. Legislative findings and declaration; legislative purpose.

(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the sale of liquor at retail should no longer be by the state, but rather by retail licensees; that there is a need for the state to control the wholesale sales of liquor; that the health and welfare of the citizens of this state will be adequately protected by the licensing and control of such retail licensees; that the sale of liquor through retail licensees will satisfy reasonable consumer concerns of availability and price; and that the operation and efficiency of state government will be improved by removing the state from the retail sale of liquor and permitting sales of liquor by retail licensees under licenses issued by the state together with strict enforcement of laws and rules relating to the sale of liquor.
(b) It is the purpose of the Legislature in providing for the retail sale of liquor to:
(1) Continue revenue to the state from the wholesale sale of liquor by requiring all retail licensees to purchase all liquor (other than wine) from the commissioner and by further requiring all private clubs licensed under the provisions of article seven of this chapter to purchase all liquor (other than wine) from retail licensees;
(2) Provide a system of controls, through limitations on the numbers of retail outlets and application of the police power of the state, to discourage the intemperate use of liquor;
(3) Preserve and continue the tax base of counties and municipalities derived from the retail sale of liquor; and
(4) Obtain revenue for the state financial gain from the issuance of retail licenses;
(5) Facilitate the responsible marketing and growth of existing retail outlets; and
(6) Encourage the sale of liquor in freestanding liquor retail outlets that offer a wide variety of liquor at competitive prices.
§60-3A-2a. Further legislative findings, declarations and purpose.
(a) In addition to the findings and declarations set forth in subsection (a), section two of this article, the Legislature hereby finds and declares that:
(1) The provisions of this article as enacted during the regular session of the Legislature in 1990 were intended to require that all licenses issued for the retail sale of liquor expire as of July 1, 2000, and that the issuance of retail licenses for the ten-year period beginning July 1, 2000, and for each ten-year period thereafter, be based on sealed competitive bids except as provided in section ten-b of this article;
(2) It is the intention of the Legislature to provide that all retail licenses issued beginning July 1, 2000, expire ten years from the date of issuance and that every ten years the issuance of retail licenses be based on competitive bids except as provided in section ten-b of this article;
(3) The purposes set forth in subsection (b), section two of this article remain the purposes of the Legislature;
(4) Many of those persons who currently hold retail licenses have not only provided the services to the public contemplated by this article, but in many instances have provided employment, invested significant time and money into their businesses and otherwise made substantial contributions to the economic and civic development of the communities in which they conduct business and, therefore, current retail licensees should be afforded special consideration if their bids for the licenses issued for the ten-year period beginning July 1, 2000, and July 1 every ten years thereafter, be unsuccessful;
(5) Those persons who are issued a retail license for the ten-year period beginning on July 1, 2000, and for any ten-year period thereafter should also be afforded special consideration if they operate or seek to operate a freestanding liquor retail outlet or if their bids for a retail license are unsuccessful; and
(6) Further statutory changes are desirable to effect the purposes set forth in subsection (b), section two of this article.
(b) It is, therefore, the further purposes of the Legislature in providing for the retail sale of liquor to:
(1) Require that all licenses issued for the ten-year period beginning July 1, 2000, and for each ten-year period thereafter be based on sealed competitive bids except as provided in section ten-b of this article;
(2) Provide active retail licensees who operate or seek to operate a freestanding liquor retail outlet the opportunity to pay a purchase option for a Class A retail license or licenses for the ten-year period beginning July 1, 2010, and for each ten-year period thereafter;
(2) (3) Provide current retail licensees who, having bid in the manner required by a manner consistent with the provisions of this article, fail to submit the highest bid for licenses issued for the ten-year period beginning the first day of July, two thousand July 1, 2010, and for each ten-year period thereafter an additional opportunity to obtain the license; and
(3) (4) Effect statutory changes to further the purposes provided in this section and section two of this article.
§60-3A-4. Definitions.
(a) "Active retail license" means a current license for a retail outlet that has been open and in continuous operation for a period of not less than twelve months prior to July 1, 2010, or July 1 every ten years thereafter.
(b) "Active retail licensee" means a person who holds an active retail license at the time of the effective date of the amendments to this section during the regular session of the Legislature in 2009 or that person's successor or any person who holds an active retail license when it expires at the end of a ten-year period.
(a) (c) "Applicant" means any person who elects to pay a purchase option for a Class A retail license, who bids for a retail license or who seeks the commissioner's approval to purchase or otherwise acquire a retail license from a retail licensee in accordance with the provisions of this article.
(b) (d) "Application" means the form prescribed by the commissioner which must be filed with the commissioner by any person bidding for a retail license.
(c) (e) "Board" means the retail liquor licensing board created by this article.
(d) (f) "Class A retail license" means a retail license permitting the retail sale of liquor at more than one a retail outlet a freestanding liquor retail outlet.
(e) (g) "Class B retail license" means a retail license permitting the sale of liquor at only one retail outlet a mixed retail liquor outlet.
(f) (h) "Current retail licensee" means a person who holds a retail license at the time of the reenactment of this section in the year one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine effective date of the amendments to this section during the regular session of the Legislature in 2009 or that person's successor or any person who holds a retail license when it expires at the end of a ten-year period.
(g) (i) "Designated areas" means one or more geographic areas within a market zone designated as such by the board.
(h) (j) "Executive officer" means the president or other principal officer, partner or member of an applicant or retail licensee, any vice president or other principal officer, partner or member of an applicant or retail licensee in charge of a principal business unit or division, or any other officer, partner or member of an applicant or retail licensee who performs a policy-making function.
(k) "Freestanding liquor retail outlet" means a retail outlet that sells only liquor, beer, nonintoxicating beer and other alcohol-related products, including tobacco-related products.
(i) (l) "Liquor" means alcoholic liquor as defined in section five, article one of this chapter and also includes both wine and fortified wines as those terms are defined in section two, article eight of this chapter.
(j) (m) "Market zone" means a geographic area designated as such by the board for the purpose of issuing retail licenses.
(n) "Mixed retail liquor outlet" means a retail outlet that sells liquor, beer, nonintoxicating beer and other alcohol-related products, including tobacco-related products in addition to convenience and other retail products.
(k) (o) "Person" means an individual, firm, corporation, association, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company or other entity, regardless of its form, structure or nature.
(l) (p) "Retail license" means a license issued under the provisions of this article permitting the sale of liquor at retail.
(m) (q) "Retail licensee" means the holder of a retail license.
(n) (r) "Retail outlet" means a specific location where liquor may be lawfully sold by a retail licensee under the provisions of this article.
§60-3A-6. General powers and duties of board and commissioner.
(a) The board shall create, based on economic and demographic factors, market zones within the state for the issuance of Class A and Class B retail licenses. and, if deemed necessary or desirable by the board may create one or more designated areas within such market zones for the issuance of Class B retail licenses
(b) The commissioner shall:
(1) Prescribe application forms for persons desiring to acquire retail licenses and adopt an orderly procedure and timetable for investigating, processing and approving applications;
(2) Develop a form of retail license to be issued to each retail licensee under the provisions of this article;
(3) Disseminate to the public information relating to the issuance of retail licenses;
(4) Promulgate standards for advertising the sale, availability, price and selection of liquor;
(5) Set minimum standards for retail outlets regarding the amount and variety of alcoholic liquors which they liquor a licensee must offer for sale at each retail outlet; the size, space and design of each retail outlet; the amount of inventory and/or displayed inventory of liquor in each retail outlet; order quantities sufficient to qualify for delivery to each retail outlet; phone, computer and internet requirements for each retail outlet; the verification of liquor orders; liquor delivery dates and routes for each retail outlet; and such other requirements the commissioner deems necessary;
(6) Set minimum standards for the display of inventory in retail outlets operating pursuant to a Class A retail license which shall include, without limitation, the requirement that a minimum square footage of displayed inventory available for retail purchase at the retail outlet be composed of liquor, beer and nonintoxicating beer products and that liquor, beer and nonintoxicating beer products available for sale are placed for sale throughout the entire retail area of the retail outlet including the retail floor space and shelving;
(7) Set minimum standards for the display of inventory in retail outlets operating pursuant to a Class B retail license which shall include, without limitation, the requirements that a minimum square footage of the displayed inventory available for purchase at the retail outlet be composed of liquor products; that liquor available for sale in the retail outlet is placed only in an area of the retail outlet that prominently displays signage identifying the area as a restricted liquor area and stating that no one under the age of twenty-one may purchase liquor; and that the area is separate from and not highly visible to persons outside of the restricted liquor area.
(6) (8) Enforce the provisions of this article;
(7) (9) Impose civil penalties upon retail licensees;
(8) (10) Enter the retail outlet of any retail licensee at reasonable times for the purpose of inspecting the same and determining the compliance of such retail licensee with the provisions of this article and any rules promulgated by the board or the commissioner pursuant to the provisions of this article; and
(9) (11) Issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum for the purpose of conducting hearings under the provisions of section twenty-six or section twenty-eight of this article, which subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum shall be issued in the time, for the fees, and shall be enforced in the manner specified in section one, article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code with like effect as if such section was set forth in extenso herein.
(c) The board and the commissioner shall each:
(1) Engage accounting, legal and other necessary professional consultants to assist them in carrying out their respective duties under this article; and
(2) Adopt, promulgate, amend or repeal such procedural, interpretive and legislative rules, consistent with the policy and objectives of this article, as they may deem necessary or desirable for the public interest in carrying out the provisions of this article. Such rules shall be adopted, amended and repealed in accordance with the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. ; and
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, proposed legislative rules for this article filed in the State Register by September 1, 2009, may be filed as emergency rules.
§60-3A-7. Market zones; Class A and Class B retail licenses.
(a) The market zones established by the board for the retail sale of liquor within this state under the enactment of this section in 1990 may not be modified by the board unless authorized by the Legislature. For each market zone established by the board, the commissioner may issue one Class A retail license and one or more Class B retail licenses one or more Class A retail licenses and one or more Class B retail licenses within the market zone: Provided, That Each Class A retail license shall permit the holder of the license to operate the number of retail outlets the board authorized for that market zone the number of Class B retail licenses to be issued by the commissioner within each a market zone shall not exceed one hundred fifty percent of the number of Class A retail outlets authorized for the Class A retail license for that market zone, except as otherwise authorized by subsection (e) (d) of this section or section twenty-seven-a of this article: Provided, however, That, except as authorized by subsection (e) (d) of this section or section twenty-seven-a of this article, in a market zone where the number of retail outlets authorized under the Class A retail license Class A retail licenses issued by the commissioner is an odd number, the number of Class B retail licenses which may be issued in that market zone shall be rounded up to the next highest whole number following that number which is equal to one hundred fifty percent of the number of retail outlets authorized under the Class A retail license Class A retail licenses issued by the commissioner.
(b) If the board determines that a market zone is not suited for the issuance of a Class A retail license, then only Class B retail licenses may be authorized for that market zone and the board shall determine the maximum number of Class B retail licenses which may be issued for that market zone.
(c) (b) When authorizing Class B retail licenses for a market zone, the board may create one or more designated areas within the market zone and authorize one Class B retail license for each designated area. For each market zone, the commissioner may issue additional Class B retail licenses for retail outlets to be located outside any designated area, but the number of additional Class B retail licenses, when added to the total number of Class B retail licenses issued for all designated areas within the market zone, shall not exceed the maximum number of Class B retail licenses permitted under subsection (a) of this section for that market zone, except as authorized by subsection (e) (d) of this section or section twenty-seven-a of this article.
(d) (c) A person may hold one or more Class A retail licenses and one or more Class B retail licenses in a market zone or zones. but for the same market zone no person shall hold a Class A retail license and a Class B retail license or more than one Class B Class A retail license
(e) (d) Notwithstanding any provision of subsection (a) or (c) (b) of this section, no later than sixty thirty days prior to the receipt of the bids described in section ten-b of this article, the board may authorize the commissioner to issue an additional Class B license Class B retail licenses in a market zone for the ten-year period which begins next following July 1, where the board determines that:
(1) Each retail outlet authorized to operate in the market zone has been open and in operation for not less than one year;
(2) Changes in Economic and demographic factors including substantial population increases within the market zone, clearly demonstrate the need for an additional retail outlet or outlets within the market area zone to meet an increase in consumer demand; and
(3) The issuance of an additional Class B license in the market zone will not significantly impair the efforts to procure the revenues described in subsection (b), section ten-b of this article.
(f) (e) The board shall establish the minimum bid for any additional Class B retail licenses authorized under subsection (e) (d) of this section.
(g) (f) No person may hold a combination of Class A or Class B retail licenses that, in the aggregate, authorizes the operation of more than twenty-five thirty percent of the total number of retail outlets authorized under the provisions of this article to operate in this state.
§60-3A-8. Retail license application requirements; retail licensee qualifications.

(a) Prior to or simultaneously with the submission of a bid for a retail license or the payment of a purchase option for a Class A retail license, each applicant shall file an application with the commissioner, stating under oath, the following:
(1) If the applicant is an individual, his or her name and residence address;
(2) If the applicant is other than an individual, the name and business address of the applicant; the state of its incorporation or organization; the names and residence addresses of each executive officer and other principal officer, partner or member of the entity; a copy of the entity's charter or other agreement under which the entity operates; and the names and residence addresses of any person owning, directly or indirectly, at least twenty percent of the outstanding stock, partnership or other interests in the applicant; and
(3) That the applicant has never been convicted in this state or any other state of any felony or other crime involving moral turpitude or convicted of any felony in this or any other state court or any federal court for a violation of any state or federal liquor law, and if the applicant is other than an individual, that none of its executive officers, other principal officers, partners or members, or any person owning, directly or indirectly, at least twenty percent of the outstanding stock, partnership or other interests in the applicant, has been convicted; and
(4) That the applicant is a United States citizen of good moral character and, if a naturalized citizen, when and where naturalized; and, if a corporation organized and authorized to do business under the laws of this state, when and where incorporated, with the name and address of each officer; that each officer is a citizen of the United States and a person of good moral character; and if a firm, association, partnership or limited partnership, that each member is a citizen of the United States and, if a naturalized citizen, when and where naturalized, each of whom must sign the application.
(b) An applicant shall provide the commissioner any additional information requested by the commissioner including, but not limited to, authorization to conduct a criminal background or credit records check.
(c) Whenever a change occurs in any information provided to the commissioner, the change shall immediately be reported to the commissioner in the same manner as originally provided.
(d) The commissioner shall disqualify each bid submitted by an applicant under section ten of this article and no applicant shall be issued or eligible to hold a retail license under this article, if:
(1) The applicant has been convicted in this state of any felony or other crime involving moral turpitude or convicted of any felony in this or any other state court or any federal court for a violation of any state or federal liquor law; or
(2) Any executive officer or other principal officer, partner or member of the applicant, or any person owning, directly or indirectly, at least twenty percent of the outstanding stock, partnership or other interests in the applicant, has been convicted in this state of any felony or other crime involving moral turpitude or convicted of any felony in this or any other state court or any federal court for a violation of any state or federal liquor law.
(e) The commissioner shall not issue a retail license to an applicant which does not hold a license issued pursuant to federal law to sell liquor at wholesale.
§60-3A-10. Bidding procedure.
(a) Except as provided in section ten-b of this article, bids for licenses shall be governed by the provisions of this section.
(b) The issuance of retail licenses shall be based on sealed competitive bids in accordance with the provisions of this section. Bids for the issuance of retail licenses shall be obtained by public notice published as a Class II-0 legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code and the publication area for the publication shall be each market zone within which a retail outlet shall be located. The second publication of the notice shall appear more than sixty thirty days next preceding the final day for submitting bids.
(c) Each bid shall indicate the market zone for which the retail license is sought, whether the bid is for a Class A retail license or Class B retail license, and, if the board has created one or more designated areas for the market zone, whether the bid is for the a Class A or Class B retail license to be issued for any designated area. No bid shall be altered or withdrawn after the appointed hour for the opening of the bids. Subject to the provisions of section ten-b of this article, each retail license shall be awarded to the highest bidder. In market zones where two or more Class B retail licenses are authorized (other than for a designated area or areas), the licenses shall be awarded to those persons submitting the highest bids. No bid shall be considered unless the bond required under section eleven of this article is submitted to the commissioner. All bids for a retail license may be rejected by the board if the board determines that the highest bid is inadequate, in which event the commissioner shall begin anew the bidding process for that retail license.
(d) Each person desiring to submit a bid shall file the bid with the commissioner prior to the specified date and hour for the bid openings. The failure to deliver or the nonreceipt of a bid prior to the appointed date and hour constitutes sufficient reason for the rejection of a bid. After the award of the retail license, the commissioner shall indicate upon the successful bid that it was the successful bid. Thereafter, a copy of the bid and the bidder's application shall be maintained as a public record, shall be open to public inspection in the commissioner's office and shall not be destroyed without the written consent of the Legislative Auditor.
(e) Prior to the issuance of the retail license to the successful bidder, the bid price and the annual retail license fee, as specified in section twelve of this article, shall be paid to the commissioner by money order, certified check or cashier's check. All retail licenses shall be signed by the commissioner in the name of the state.
(f) If the successful bidder fails to pay to the commissioner the bid price and the annual retail license fee, at the time specified by the commissioner, the bond provided in section eleven of this article shall be forfeited and the bidder shall not be issued the retail license. The commissioner shall then issue the retail license to the next highest bidder for the retail license or reject all bids and start anew the bidding procedure for the retail license.
§60-3A-10b. Bidding procedure for licenses issued for the ten-year period beginning July 1, 2010; purchase options for bids beginning July 1, 2010; and licenses issued for each ten-year period thereafter.

(a) The issuance of Class A licenses and Class B retail licenses for the ten-year period beginning the first day of July, two thousand July 1, 2010, and for each ten-year period thereafter, shall be based upon sealed competitive bid in accordance with the provisions of section ten of this article except as provided in this section.
(b) Prior to accepting bids for Class A licenses and Class B retail licenses to be issued for the ten-year period beginning the first day of July, two thousand July 1, 2010, the board shall determine the minimum bid for each license based upon a review of the sales at each retail outlet permitted to operate under the license and such other factors as the board may determine to generate the revenues from liquor license renewal projected by the Governor's official revenue estimates for fiscal year two thousand fiscal year 2010-2011 as presented to the regular session of the Legislature in the year one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine 2009.
(c) Prior to accepting bids for Class A licenses and Class B retail licenses to be issued for the ten-year periods beginning July 1, 2010, and July 1 every ten years thereafter, the board shall determine the minimum bid for each retail license based upon a review of the sales at each retail outlet permitted to operate under the retail license and such other factors as the board may determine to generate the revenues from liquor retail license renewal projected by the Governor's official revenue estimates for the fiscal year preceding the expiration of the retail licenses.
(d) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of this article to the contrary, prior to accepting bids for retail licenses to be issued for the ten-year period beginning July 1, 2010, and every ten-year period thereafter, each active retail licensee operating or seeking to operate a freestanding liquor retail outlet shall be eligible to purchase a Class A retail license or licenses as provided in this subsection.
(2) At least sixty days prior to accepting bids for retail licenses to be issued for the ten-year period beginning July 1, 2010, and July 1 every ten years thereafter, the board shall provide notice to each eligible retail licensee of his or her option to purchase a Class A retail license or licenses as provided in this subsection. The board shall include with this notice an explanation of the financing option provided in section ten-d of this article and a financing application form prepared by the commissioner.
(3) An eligible retail licensee may elect to pay a purchase option or options for each retail outlet operating under an active retail license currently held by the licensee. A retail licensee may not purchase a number of Class A retail licenses that is greater than the number of active retail licenses currently held by the licensee.
(4) Each eligible retail licensee who elects to pay a purchase option shall, within thirty days prior to the acceptance of bids for the ten-year period beginning July 1, 2010, and July 1 every ten years thereafter, pay to the commissioner an amount equal to ten percent over and above the minimum bid as determined by the board for each Class A retail license the retail licensee wishes to purchase or, if the retail licensee elects to take the financing option provided in section ten-d of this article, a down payment, the amount of which shall be calculated in accordance with the provisions of that section. A retail licensee shall be awarded a Class A retail license or licenses upon the commissioner's receipt of his or her payment or down payment:
Provided, That the commissioner determines that the retail licensee is in good standing with the state and meets all other requirements imposed by the provisions of this article for the issuance of a Class A retail license.
(5) A Class A retail license purchased in accordance with this subsection shall be issued for the ten-year period beginning July 1, 2010, or July 1 every ten years thereafter, and shall expire on June 30, 2020, or on June 30 every ten years thereafter.
(6) Nothing in this subsection may be interpreted as affecting the ability of a retail licensee to bid for a retail license or licenses as otherwise provided in this article:
Provided, That the retail licensee meets all other requirements imposed by the provisions of this article for the submission of bids.
(d) (e) All bids for a retail license for the ten-year period beginning the first day of July, two thousand July 1, 2010, or for any ten-year period thereafter may be rejected by the board if the board determines that the highest bid fails to meet the minimum bid. The board may also reject any or all bids for a market zone where, in the aggregate, the bids for all of the retail licenses in the market zone fail to meet the minimum aggregate bid for that market zone. Where the board determines the highest bid meets or exceeds the minimum bid, the board shall determine whether, at the time of the bid, the same retail license was held for the period ending the thirtieth day of June, two thousand June 30, 2010, or for any ten-year period thereafter, on the June 30 preceding the expiration of the license. If the current retail licensee holding the same retail license at the time of submission of the bid for the period ending the thirtieth day of June, two thousand June 30, 2010, or for any ten-year period thereafter, on June 30 preceding the expiration of the retail license, submitted a bid that was not less than the minimum bid and is, after considering any preference applicable under the provisions of section ten-a of this article, an unsuccessful bidder for the retail license for the period beginning the first day of July, two thousand July 1, 2010, or for any ten-year period thereafter, on July 1 when the retail license expires, the commissioner shall notify the person that upon paying the amount of the highest bid, subject to the provisions of subsection (e) (f) of this section, and upon compliance with all other requirements imposed by the provisions of this article for the issuance of the license, the retail license for the ten-year period beginning the first day of July, two thousand July 1, 2010, or for any ten-year period thereafter, shall be issued to the current retail licensee. If, within the time determined by the commissioner, the current retail licensee pays the amount to the commissioner and complies with all other requirements imposed by the provisions of this article for the issuance of the retail license, the retail license for the ten-year period beginning the first day of July, two thousand July 1, 2010, or for any ten-year period thereafter, shall be issued to the current retail licensee.
(e) (f) The board shall, in determining the amount a current retail licensee who is an unsuccessful bidder shall pay as described in subsection (d) (e) of this section, afford the unsuccessful bidder a preference. If the unsuccessful bidder is a West Virginia resident as defined in section ten-a of this article, the board shall afford the unsuccessful bidder a five percent preference in addition to the five percent preference afforded under section ten-a of this article. If the unsuccessful bidder is not a West Virginia resident, the board shall afford the unsuccessful bidder a five percent preference. The preference shall be computed by subtracting the preference percentage of the highest bid price from the highest bid price: Provided, That under no circumstances may the preference bring the price of the bid below the minimum bid established by the board: Provided, however, That a current retail licensee who is not operating any of the retail outlets for which he or she is authorized under the license is not eligible for the preference provided for under this section.
(f) (g) In the event all bids submitted for a retail license fail to meet the minimum bid amount for the license as determined by the board, the board may offer the license for bid again after it determines a new minimum bid amount for the retail license.
§60-3A-10d. Financing option for retail licensees purchasing Class A retail licenses.

(a) The commissioner shall offer financing to each retail licensee who elects to pay the purchase option for a Class A retail license or licenses as provided in section ten-b of this article: Provided, That the retail licensee is approved by the commissioner for financing and otherwise complies with the requirements of this section: Provided, however, That the retail licensee agrees to enter a financing agreement with the commissioner as provided in subsection (d) of this section.
(b) The commissioner shall prepare an application form for retail licensees who desire to elect the financing option provided in this section. The commissioner shall make the form available to retail licensees in paper or electronic format at least sixty days prior to the acceptance of bids for the ten-year period beginning July 1, 2010, and July 1 every ten years thereafter. At a minimum, the application form shall require the following information:
(1) Certification that the applicant elects to pay the purchase option for a Class A retail license or licenses as provided in section ten-b of this article;
(2) Certification that the applicant is the current holder and operator of an active retail license issued by the board;
(3) A description of the retail license or licenses currently held by the applicant;
(4) Any information the commissioner requires to evaluate the credit worthiness of the applicant, including without limitation the applicant's authorization to perform a criminal background and credit check; and
(5) Any additional information the commissioner requires to effectuate the purposes of this section.
(c) For an applicant to be considered for financing, the application required under subsection (b) of this section must be submitted to the commissioner with a down payment of fifty percent of the total amount due under the financing agreement provided in subsection (d) of this section no later than May 1, 2010, or, for subsequent retail license periods, May 1 every ten years thereafter. The commissioner shall make a determination as to the eligibility of an applicant for financing and/or the issuance of a Class A retail license within fifteen days of his or her receipt of the application. If the commissioner determines that an applicant is ineligible for financing, is not in good standing with the state or does not otherwise meet the requirements of this article for the issuance of a Class A retail license, the commissioner shall notify the applicant that his or her application for financing is denied and shall refund in full any moneys paid to the commissioner as a down payment. If the applicant's application for financing was denied for any reason other than the fact that the applicant is not in good standing with the state and/or is not otherwise eligible for the issuance of a Class A retail license, the commissioner shall provide the applicant the option of paying the full amount of a purchase option for a Class A retail license or licenses as provided in subsection (d), section ten-b of this article. At the request of the applicant, the commissioner may credit any moneys received as a down payment towards payment of the full amount of a purchase option for a Class A retail license or licenses.
(d) The commissioner is hereby authorized to enter into a financing agreement with each retail licensee meeting the requirements of this section. The financing agreement shall contain such terms and conditions as prescribed by the commissioner, but at a minimum shall contain the following:
(1) The total amount due, including the required down payment, shall equal ten percent over and above the minimum bid as determined by the board for each Class A retail license the retail licensee wishes to purchase;
(2) Interest shall be charged on the total amount due at a rate of the adjusted prime lending rate minus one hundred basis points. The interest rate shall be set on the date the financing is approved by the commissioner;
(3) The total amount due, not including the required down payment, shall be payable to the commissioner in monthly or quarterly installments over a period of sixty months. If a retail licensee elects to pay in monthly installments, his or her first payment is due on August 1 and successive payments are due on the first day of each month thereafter until the debt is retired. If a retail licensee elects to pay in quarterly installments, his or her first payment is due on October 1 and successive payments are due on the first day of every third month thereafter until the debt is retired;
(4) The failure of a retail licensee to make a payment in accordance with the terms of the financing agreement shall result in the entire balance of the amount due becoming immediately due and payable to the commissioner and shall result in the forfeiture of the down payment and any moneys paid to the commissioner in accordance with this section; and
(5) The failure of a retail licensee to make a payment in accordance with the terms of the financing agreement within thirty days of the day on which the payment was due shall result in the immediate revocation of the Class A retail license held by the licensee and the commissioner shall reissue the license by sealed competitive bid in accordance with section ten of this article. A retail licensee whose retail license is revoked for failure to make payments as provided in the financing agreement is deemed an unsuitable retail licensee and shall be permanently prohibited from bidding on a retail license under this article.
§60-3A-11. Bonding requirements.
Each applicant submitting a bid under section ten of this article or electing to pay a purchase option for a Class A license or licenses as provided in section ten-b of this article shall furnish to the commissioner a bond at the time of bidding, which bond shall guarantee the payment of twenty-five percent of the price bid or paid for the retail license. The bond required by this section shall be furnished in cash or negotiable securities or shall be a surety bond issued by a surety company authorized to do business with the state or an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a financial institution acceptable to the commissioner. If furnished in cash or negotiable securities, the principal shall be deposited without restriction in the State Treasurer's office and credited to the commissioner, but any income shall inure to the benefit of the applicant. For applicants bidding on a retail license, the bond shall be returned to an applicant following the bidding if such applicant is not the successful bidder for the retail license, and, if an applicant is the successful bidder, the bond shall be released after issuance of the retail license.
§60-3A-12. Annual retail license fee; expiration and renewal of retail licenses.

(a) The annual retail license period is from July 1 to June 30 of the following year. The annual retail license fee for a Class A retail license is the sum obtained by multiplying the number of retail outlets operated by the retail licensee in the market zone to which the Class A retail license applies by $1,000. The annual retail license fee for a Class B retail license is one thousand dollars $2,000. The annual retail license fee for the initial year of issuance shall be prorated based on the number of days remaining between the date of issuance and the following June 30.
(b) All retail licenses expire on June 30 of each year and may be renewed only upon the submission to the commissioner of the same information required for the issuance of the license and any additional information requested by the commissioner on the forms and by the date prescribed by the commissioner, together with the payment to the commissioner of the applicable annual retail license fee required under this section.
(c) No person may sell liquor at any retail outlet if the retail license applicable to the outlet has been suspended or revoked, or has expired.
(d) All retail licenses issued or renewed under the provisions of this article for the period ending the thirtieth day of June, two thousand June 30, 2010, or on June 30 for any ten-year period thereafter, expire and are of no further force or effect as of the first day of July, in the year two thousand July 1, 2010, or as of July 1 every ten years thereafter.
(e) Notwithstanding any provision of section eighteen, article four of this chapter to the contrary, a municipality may invoke the authority granted by section four, article thirteen, chapter eight of this code to require an annual license from each retail licensee and require payment for the license in amounts not to exceed the amounts provided in subsection (a) of this section.
§60-3A-18. Days and hours retail licensees may sell liquor.
Retail licensees may not sell liquor on Sundays, Christmas or election day or between the hours of twelve midnight and eight o'clock a. m., except that wine and fortified wines may be sold on such days and at such times as authorized in section thirty-four, article eight of this chapter.
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