To amend sections 4301.17, 4303.26, and 4303.292 of the Revised Code to prohibit the Division of Liquor Control from issuing a retail liquor permit or entering into an agency liquor contract if the permit location or liquor agency store is proposed to be located within one thousand feet from a school, church, library, public playground, or township park.

Section 1. That sections 4301.17, 4303.26, and 4303.292 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 4301.17.  (A)(1) Subject to local option as provided in sections 4301.32 to 4301.40 of the Revised Code, five state liquor stores or agencies may be established in each county. One additional store may be established in any county for each twenty thousand of population of that county or major fraction thereof in excess of the first forty thousand, according to the last preceding federal decennial census or according to the population estimates certified by the department of development between decennial censuses. A person engaged in a mercantile business may act as the agent for the division of liquor control for the sale of spirituous liquor in a municipal corporation, in the unincorporated area of a township, or in an area designated and approved as a resort area under section 4303.262 of the Revised Code. The division shall fix the compensation for such an agent in the manner it considers best, but the compensation shall not exceed seven per cent of the gross sales made by the agent in any one year.

(2) The division shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code governing the allocation and equitable distribution of agency store contracts. The division shall comply with the rules when awarding a contract under division (A)(1) of this section.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no mercantile business that sells beer or intoxicating liquor for consumption on the premises under a permit issued by the division shall operate an agency store at the premises. An agency to which a D-1 permit has been issued may offer for sale tasting samples of beer, an agency to which a D-2 permit has been issued may offer for sale tasting samples of wine and mixed beverages, and an agency to which a D-5 permit has been issued may offer for sale tasting samples of beer, wine, and mixed beverages, but not spirituous liquor. A tasting sample shall not be sold for the purpose of general consumption. As used in this section, "tasting sample" means a small amount of beer, wine, or mixed beverages that is provided in not more than four servings of not more than two ounces each to an authorized purchaser and that allows the purchaser to determine, by tasting only, the quality and character of the beverage.

(B) When an agency contract is proposed, when an existing agency contract is assigned, when an existing agency proposes to relocate, or when an existing agency is relocated and assigned, before entering into any contract, consenting to any assignment, or consenting to any relocation, the division shall notify the legislative authority of the municipal corporation in which the agency store is to be located, or the board of county commissioners and the board of township trustees of the county and the township in which the agency store is to be located if the agency store is to be located outside the corporate limits of a municipal corporation, of the proposed contract, assignment, or relocation, and an opportunity shall be provided officials or employees of the municipal corporation or county and township for a complete hearing upon the advisability of entering into the contract or consenting to the assignment or relocation. When the division sends notice to the legislative authority of the political subdivision, the division shall notify, by certified mail or by personal service, the chief peace officer of the political subdivision, who may appear and testify, either in person or through a representative, at any hearing held on the advisability of entering into the contract or consenting to the assignment or relocation.

If the proposed agency store, the assignment of an agency contract, or the relocation of an agency store would be located within five hundred feet of a school, church, library, public playground, or township park, the division shall not enter into an agency contract until it has provided notice of the proposed contract to the authorities in control of the school, church, library, public playground, or township park and has provided those authorities with an opportunity for a complete hearing upon the advisability of entering into the contract. If an agency store so is located within one thousand feet of a school, church, library, public playground, or township park and is operating under an agency contract, the division may consent to relocation of the agency store or to the assignment of that contract to operate an agency store at the same a location that is not within one thousand feet of a school, church, library, public playground, or township park. The division may also consent to the assignment of an existing agency contract simultaneously with the relocation of the that agency store. In any such assignment or relocation, the assignee and the location shall be subject to the same requirements that the existing location met at the time that the contract was first entered into as well as any additional requirements imposed by the division in rules adopted by the superintendent of liquor control. The division shall not consent to an assignment or relocation of an agency store until it has notified the authorities in control of the school, church, library, public playground, or township park and has provided those authorities with an opportunity for a complete hearing upon the advisability of consenting to the assignment or relocation.

Any hearing provided for in this division shall be held in the central office of the division, except that upon written request of the legislative authority of the municipal corporation, the board of county commissioners, or the board of township trustees, or the authorities in control of the school, church, library, public playground, or township park, the hearing shall be held in the county seat of the county where the proposed agency store is to be located.

(C) The division shall not enter into an agency contract, consent to the assignment of an existing contract, consent to the relocation of an existing agency, or consent to the relocation and assignment of an existing agency if the proposed agency store, the assignment of an agency contract, the relocation of an existing agency store, or the relocation and assignment of an existing agency store would be located within one thousand feet of a school, church, library, public playground, or township park.

(D) All agency contracts entered into by the division pursuant to this section shall be in writing and shall contain a clause providing for the termination of the contract at will by the division upon its giving ninety days' notice in writing to the agent of its intention to do so. Any agency contract may include a clause requiring the agent to report to the appropriate law enforcement agency the name and address of any individual under twenty-one years of age who attempts to make an illegal purchase.

An agent may engage in the selling of beer, mixed beverages, and wine pursuant to permits issued to the agent under Chapter 4303. of the Revised Code.

The division shall issue a C-1 and C-2 permit to each agent who prior to November 1, 1994, had not been issued both of these permits, notwithstanding the population quota restrictions contained in section 4303.29 of the Revised Code or in any rule of the liquor control commission and notwithstanding the requirements of section 4303.31 of the Revised Code. The location of a C-1 or C-2 permit issued to such an agent shall not be transferred. The division shall revoke any C-1 or C-2 permit issued to an agent under this paragraph if the agent no longer operates an agency store.

The division may enter into agreements with the department of development to implement a minority loan program to provide low-interest loans to minority business enterprises, as defined in section 122.71 of the Revised Code, that are awarded liquor agency contracts or assignments.

(D)(E) If the division closes a state liquor store and replaces that store with an agency store, any employees of the division employed at that state liquor store who lose their jobs at that store as a result shall be given preference by the agent who operates the agency store in filling any vacancies that occur among the agent's employees, if that preference does not conflict with the agent's obligations pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement.

If the division closes a state liquor store and replaces the store with an agency store, any employees of the division employed at the state liquor store who lose their jobs at that store as a result may displace other employees as provided in sections 124.321 to 124.328 of the Revised Code. If an employee cannot displace other employees and is laid off, the employee shall be reinstated in another job as provided in sections 124.321 to 124.328 of the Revised Code, except that the employee's rights of reinstatement in a job at a state liquor store shall continue for a period of two years after the date of the employee's layoff and shall apply to jobs at state liquor stores located in the employee's layoff jurisdiction and any layoff jurisdiction adjacent to the employee's layoff jurisdiction.

(E)(F) The division shall require every agent to give bond with surety to the satisfaction of the division, in the amount the division fixes, conditioned for the faithful performance of the agent's duties as prescribed by the division.

Sec. 4303.26.  (A) Applications for regular permits authorized by sections 4303.02 to 4303.23 of the Revised Code may be filed with the division of liquor control. No permit shall be issued by the division until fifteen days after the application for it is filed. An applicant for the issuance of a new permit shall pay a processing fee of one hundred dollars when filing application for the permit, if the permit is then available, or shall pay the processing fee when a permit becomes available, if it is not available when the applicant initially files the application. When an application for a new class C or D permit is filed, when class C or D permits become available, or when an application for transfer of ownership of a class C or D permit or transfer of a location of a class C or D permit is filed, no permit shall be issued, nor shall the location or the ownership of a permit be transferred, by the division until the division notifies the legislative authority of the municipal corporation, if the business or event is or is to be located within the corporate limits of a municipal corporation, or the clerk of the board of county commissioners and the fiscal officer of the board of township trustees in the county in which the business or event is or is to be conducted, if the business is or is to be located outside the corporate limits of a municipal corporation, and an opportunity is provided officials or employees of the municipal corporation or county and township, who shall be designated by the legislative authority of the municipal corporation or the board of county commissioners or board of township trustees, for a complete hearing upon the advisability of the issuance, transfer of ownership, or transfer of location of the permit. In this hearing, no objection to the issuance, transfer of ownership, or transfer of location of the permit shall be based upon noncompliance of the proposed permit premises with local zoning regulations which prohibit the sale of beer or intoxicating liquor, in an area zoned for commercial or industrial uses, for a permit premises that would otherwise qualify for a proper permit issued by the division.

When the division sends notice to the legislative or executive authority of the political subdivision, as required by this section, the division shall also so notify, by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by personal service, the chief peace officer of the political subdivision. Upon the request of the chief peace officer, the division shall send the chief peace officer a copy of the application for the issuance or the transfer of ownership or location of the permit and all other documents or materials filed by the applicant or applicants in relation to the application. The chief peace officer may appear and testify, either in person or through a representative, at any hearing held on the advisability of the issuance, transfer of ownership, or transfer of location of the permit. The hearing shall be held in the central office of the division, except that upon written request of the legislative authority of the municipal corporation or the board of county commissioners or board of township trustees, the hearing shall be held in the county seat of the county where the applicant's business is or is to be conducted.

If the business or event specified in an application for the issuance, transfer of ownership, or transfer of location of any regular permit authorized by sections 4303.02 to 4303.23 of the Revised Code, except for an F-2 permit, is, or is to be operated, within five hundred feet from the boundaries of a parcel of real estate having situated on it a school, church, library, public playground, or township park, no permit shall be issued, nor shall the location or the ownership of a permit be transferred, by the division until written notice of the filing of the application with the division is served, by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by personal service, upon the authorities in control of the school, church, library, public playground, or township park and an opportunity is provided them for a complete hearing upon the advisability of the issuance, transfer of ownership, or transfer of location of the permit. In this hearing, no objection to the issuance, transfer of ownership, or transfer of location of the permit shall be based upon the noncompliance of the proposed permit premises with local zoning regulations which prohibit the sale of beer or intoxicating liquor, in an area zoned for commercial or industrial uses, for a permit premises that would otherwise qualify for a proper permit issued by the division. Upon the written request of any of these authorities, the hearing shall be held in the county seat of the county where the applicant's business is or is to be conducted.

A request for any hearing authorized by this section shall be made no later than thirty days from the time of notification by the division. This thirty-day period begins on the date the division mails notice to the legislative authority or the date on which the division mails notice to or, by personal service, serves notice upon, the institution. The division shall conduct a hearing if the request for the hearing is postmarked by the deadline date. The division may allow, upon cause shown by the requesting legislative authority or board, an extension of thirty additional days for the legislative authority of the municipal corporation, board of township trustees of the township, or board of county commissioners of the county in which a permit premises is or is to be located to object to the issuance, transfer of ownership, or transfer of location of a permit. The request for the extension shall be made by the legislative authority or board to the division no later than thirty days after the time of notification by the division.

(B)(1) When an application for transfer of ownership of a permit is filed with the division, the division shall give notice of the application to the department of taxation. Within twenty days after receiving this notification, the department of taxation shall notify the division of liquor control and the proposed transferee of the permit if the permit holder owes to this state any delinquent sales taxes or income taxes withheld from employee compensation or has failed to file any sales tax returns or employee income tax withholding returns, to the extent that the delinquent taxes and delinquent returns are known to the department of taxation at that time. The division shall not transfer ownership of the permit until returns known to be delinquent are filed and until the tax or withholding delinquency is resolved. As used in this division, "resolved" means that the tax or withholding delinquency has been paid or an amount sufficient to satisfy the delinquency is in escrow for the benefit of the state. The department of taxation shall notify the division of the resolution. After the division has received the notification from the department of taxation, the division may proceed to transfer ownership of the permit. Nothing in this division shall be construed to affect or limit the responsibilities or liabilities of the transferor or the transferee imposed by Chapter 5739. or 5747. of the Revised Code.

(2) Notwithstanding section 5703.21 of the Revised Code, nothing prohibits the department of taxation from disclosing to the division or to the proposed transferee or the proposed transferee's designated agent any information pursuant to division (B)(1) of this section.

(C) No F or F-2 permit shall be issued for an event until the applicant has, by means of a form that the division shall provide to the applicant, notified the chief peace officer of the political subdivision in which the event will be conducted of the date, time, place, and duration of the event.

(D) The division of liquor control shall notify an applicant for a permit authorized by sections 4303.02 to 4303.23 of the Revised Code of an action pending or judgment entered against a liquor permit premises, of which the division has knowledge, pursuant to section 3767.03 or 3767.05 of the Revised Code if the applicant is applying for a permit at the location of the premises that is the subject of the action under section 3767.03 or judgment under section 3767.05 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4303.292.  (A) The division of liquor control may refuse to issue, transfer the ownership of, or renew, and shall refuse to transfer the location of, any retail permit issued under this chapter if it finds either of the following:

(1) That the applicant, or any partner, member, officer, director, or manager of the applicant, or, if the applicant is a corporation or limited liability company, any shareholder owning five per cent or more of the applicant's capital stock in the corporation or any member owning five per cent or more of either the voting interests or membership interests in the limited liability company:

(a) Has been convicted at any time of a crime that relates to fitness to operate a liquor establishment;

(b) Has operated liquor permit businesses in a manner that demonstrates a disregard for the laws, regulations, or local ordinances of this state or any other state;

(c) Has misrepresented a material fact in applying to the division for a permit; or

(d) Is in the habit of using alcoholic beverages or dangerous drugs to excess, or is addicted to the use of narcotics.

(2) That the place for which the permit is sought:

(a) Does not conform to the building, safety, or health requirements of the governing body of the county or municipal corporation in which the place is located. As used in division (A)(2)(a) of this section, "building, safety, or health requirements" does not include local zoning ordinances. The validity of local zoning regulations shall not be affected by this section.

(b) Is so constructed or arranged that law enforcement officers and duly authorized agents of the division are prevented from reasonable access to rooms within which beer or intoxicating liquor is to be sold or consumed;

(c) Is so located with respect to the neighborhood that substantial interference with public decency, sobriety, peace, or good order would result from the issuance, renewal, transfer of location, or transfer of ownership of the permit and operation under it by the applicant; or

(d) Has been declared a nuisance pursuant to Chapter 3767. of the Revised Code since the time of the most recent issuance, renewal, or transfer of ownership or location of the liquor permit.

(B) The division of liquor control may refuse to issue or transfer the ownership of, and shall refuse to transfer the location of, any retail permit issued under this chapter if it finds either of the following:

(1) That the place for which the permit is sought is so situated with respect to any school, church, library, public playground, or hospital that the operation of the liquor establishment will substantially and adversely affect or interfere with the normal, orderly conduct of the affairs of those facilities or institutions;

(2) That the number of permits already existent in the neighborhood is such that the issuance or transfer of location of a permit would be detrimental to and substantially interfere with the morals, safety, or welfare of the public. In reaching a conclusion in this respect, the division shall consider, in light of the purposes of this chapter and Chapters 4301. and 4399. of the Revised Code, the character and population of the neighborhood, the number and location of similar permits in the neighborhood, the number and location of all other permits in the neighborhood, and the effect the issuance or transfer of location of a permit would have on the neighborhood.

(C) The division of liquor control shall not transfer the location or transfer the ownership and location of a permit under division (B)(2)(b) of section 4303.29 of the Revised Code unless the permit is transferred to an economic development project.

(D) The division of liquor control shall refuse to issue, renew, transfer the ownership of, or transfer the location of a retail permit under this chapter if the applicant is or has been convicted of a violation of division (C)(1) of section 2913.46 of the Revised Code.

(E) The division of liquor control shall refuse to transfer the ownership of or transfer the location of a retail permit under this chapter while criminal proceedings are pending against the holder of the permit for a violation of division (C)(1) of section 2913.46 of the Revised Code. The department of public safety shall notify the division whenever criminal proceedings have commenced for a violation of division (C)(1) of section 2913.46 of the Revised Code.

(F) The division of liquor control shall refuse to issue, renew, or transfer the ownership or location of a retail permit under this chapter if the applicant has been found to be maintaining a nuisance under section 3767.05 of the Revised Code at the premises for which the issuance, renewal, or transfer of ownership or location of the retail permit is sought.

(G) The division shall refuse to issue or transfer the ownership or location of a retail permit issued under this chapter if the premises or event specified in the application is, or is to be operated, within one thousand feet from the boundaries of a parcel of real estate having situated on it a school, church, library, public playground, or township park.

Section 2. That existing sections 4301.17, 4303.26, and 4303.292 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.