As Introduced

133rd General Assembly

Regular Session S. B. No. 295

2019-2020

Senator Huffman, M.

A BILL

To require the Director of Commerce to refund certain liquor permit fees for liquor permits that are impacted by the Director of Health's order relating to bars and restaurants issued on March 15, 2020.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Alcohol order" means the Director of Health's order under section 3701.13 of the Revised Code "Limiting the Sale of Food and Beverages, Liquor, Beer, and Wine to Carry-out and Delivery Only" issued on March 15, 2020.

(2) "Liquor permit" means an A-1-A, A-1c, C class, or D class liquor permit.

(3) "Quotient" means the number equal to the number of days that the alcohol order is in effect divided by three hundred sixty-five.

(B) The Director of Commerce shall provide a prorated refund of the permit fee paid by a person who holds a valid liquor permit during the period of time that the alcohol order is in effect. The Director shall issue the refund within thirty days of the expiration or termination of the alcohol order. The prorated refund shall equal the amount of the permit fee multiplied by the quotient.

(C) The Director shall establish any necessary procedures for the implementation of this section.

Section 2. On the effective date of this section, or as soon as possible thereafter, the Director of Commerce, with Controlling Board approval, shall provide the prorated refunds in accordance to Section 1 of this act. Such refunds shall be paid from the State Liquor Regulatory Fund (Fund 5LP0).