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1996 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 217
Directing the Virginia State Crime Commission, in conjunction with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, to study the opportunity for local community participation in the review process of Alcoholic Beverage Control retail license applications and the enforcement of Alcoholic Beverage Control statutes and regulations governing the retail sale of alcoholic beverages.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 4, 1996
Agreed to by the Senate, February 29, 1996

WHEREAS, several local governments have identified reducing crime as a top priority in their strategic plans; and

WHEREAS, retail establishments licensed by the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Board that evidence a disregard for the Commonwealth's alcoholic beverage control (ABC) laws and regulations and the communities they serve are often the loci for illegal, undesirable, and rowdy behavior; and

WHEREAS, citizens and local governments throughout the Commonwealth are concerned about retail establishments licensed by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to sell alcoholic beverages that evidence a disregard for the Commonwealth's alcoholic beverage control laws and regulations and for the communities they serve; and

WHEREAS, citizens and local government officials who have appeared before the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to oppose license applications have been frustrated in their attempts to block the issuance of retail licenses or otherwise restrict such licenses due to their unfamiliarity with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board's license application and review procedures; and

WHEREAS, it is important and essential that the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board properly consider the views of citizens and local government officials in its deliberative process on alcoholic beverage control retail license applications; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Virginia State Crime Commission, in conjunction with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, be directed to study the opportunity for local community participation in the review process of Alcoholic Beverage Control retail license applications and the enforcement of Alcoholic Beverage Control statutes and regulations governing the retail sale of alcoholic beverages. The Commission shall study (i) the process used by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board in reviewing and evaluating retail license applications, including the means by which the Board solicits, receives, and considers the comments and concerns of citizens and local governments on retail license applications; (ii) the methods by which the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board may effect better coordination of enforcement of the existing alcoholic beverage control laws and regulations relative to the retail sale of alcoholic beverages; and (iii) ways to improve and enhance the coordination and cooperation among state police, alcoholic beverage control special agents, and local law-enforcement agencies in the enforcement of such laws and regulations.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission, upon request.

The Commission shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1997 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.