ENROLLED

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

Senate Bill No. 498

(Senator Palumbo, original sponsor)

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[Passed April 13, 2013; to take effect July 1, 2013.]

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AN ACT to amend and reenact §11-16-24 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §60-3A-28 of said code; to amend and reenact §60-7-13a of said code; and to amend and reenact §60-8-18 of said code, all relating to hearing and appeal procedures for certain licenses issued by the Alcohol Beverage Control Administration; requiring that appeals from commissioner’s decision to refuse to issue or renew certain licenses be brought in the circuit court of Kanawha Country or the circuit court in the county where the licensed premises is proposed to be located or conduct sales; requiring that appeals from the commissioner’s decision regarding disciplinary action against a licensee are to be brought in the circuit court of Kanawha County or the circuit court in the county where the proposed or licensed premises is located or does conduct sales; and providing that the licensee appealing the commissioner’s decision is required to pay the costs and fees incident to transcribing, certifying and transmitting records pertaining to the appeal.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That §11-16-24 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted; that §60-3A-28 of said code be amended and reenacted; that §60-7-13a of said code be amended and reenacted; and that §60-8-18 of said code be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:

CHAPTER 11. TAXATION.

ARTICLE 16. NONINTOXICATING BEER.

§11-16-24. Hearing on sanctioning of license; notice; review of action of commissioner; clerk of court to furnish commissioner copy of order or judgment of conviction of licensee; assessment of costs; procedure for appealing any final order of the commissioner which revokes, suspends, sanctions or denies the issuance or renewal of any license issued under this article.

    (a) The commissioner may not revoke or suspend a license issued pursuant to this article or impose a civil penalty authorized under this article unless and until a hearing is held after at least ten days' notice to the licensee of the time and place of the hearing, which notice shall contain a statement or specification of the charges, grounds or reasons for the proposed contemplated action, and which is served upon the licensee as notices under the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure or by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the address for which license was issued; at which time and place, so designated in the notice, the licensee has the right to appear and produce evidence in his or her behalf, and to be represented by counsel.

    (b) The commissioner may summon witnesses in the hearings before him or her, and fees of witnesses summoned on behalf of the state in proceedings to sanction licenses shall be treated as a part of the expenses of administration and enforcement. The fees shall be the same as those in similar hearings in the circuit courts of this state. The commissioner may, upon a finding of violation, assess a licensee a sum not to exceed $150 per violation to reimburse the commissioner for expenditures for witness fees, court reporter fees and travel costs incurred in holding the hearing. Moneys so assessed shall be transferred to the Nonintoxicating Beer Fund created by section twenty-three of this article.

    (c) If, at the request of the licensee or on his or her motion, the hearing is continued and does not take place on the day fixed by the commissioner in the notice of hearing, then the licensee's license may be suspended until the hearing and decision of the commissioner, and in the event of revocation or suspension of the license, upon hearing before the commissioner, the licensee is not permitted to sell beer pending an appeal as provided by this article. Any person continuing to sell beer after his or her license has been suspended or revoked, as hereinbefore provided, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, shall be punished as provided in section nineteen of this article.

    (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b), section four, article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, the action of the commissioner in revoking, suspending, sanctioning or refusing a license is subject to review by the circuit court of Kanawha County or the circuit court in the county where the proposed or licensed premises is located and will or does conduct sales: Provided, That in all other respects, such review shall be conducted in the manner provided in chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. The petition for review must be filed with the circuit court within thirty days following entry of the final order of revocation, suspension, sanction or refusal issued by the commissioner. An applicant or licensee obtaining an order for review is required to pay the costs and fees incident to transcribing, certifying and transmitting the records pertaining to the matter to the circuit court. An application to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia for a writ of error from any final order of the circuit court in the matter shall be made within thirty days from and after the entry of the final circuit court order.

    (e) All hearings, upon notice to show cause why license should be revoked, suspended, sanctioned or refused, before the commissioner shall be held in the offices of the commissioner in Charleston, Kanawha County, unless otherwise provided by the commissioner in the notice of hearing. When the hearing is held elsewhere than in the commissioner's office, the licensee may be required to make deposits of the estimated costs of the hearing.

    (f) Whenever a licensee has been convicted of an offense constituting a violation of the laws of this state or of the United States relating to nonintoxicating beer, or alcoholic liquor, and the conviction has become final, the clerk of the court in which the licensee has been convicted shall forward to the commissioner a certified copy of the order or judgment of conviction if the clerk has knowledge that the person so convicted is a licensee, together with the certification of the clerk that the conviction is final.

    (g) In the case of a Class B licensee with multiple licensed locations, the commissioner may, in his or her discretion, revoke, suspend or otherwise sanction, per the provisions of section twenty-three of this article, only the license for the location or locations involved in the unlawful conduct for which licensure is sanctioned, as opposed to all separately licensed locations of the licensee.

CHAPTER 60. STATE CONTROL OF ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS.

ARTICLE 3A. SALES BY RETAIL LIQUOR LICENSEES.

§60-3A-28. Notice of and hearing on revocation; right of appeal; appeal procedures.

    (a) Before a retail license issued under the authority of this article is suspended for a period of more than twenty days, or revoked, the commissioner shall give at least ten days' notice to the retail licensee. Notice shall be in writing, shall state the reason for suspension or revocation, and shall designate a time and place for a hearing where the retail licensee may show cause why the retail license should not be suspended or revoked. Notice shall be sent by certified mail to the address for which the retail license was issued. The retail licensee may, at the time designated for the hearing, produce evidence in his or her behalf and be represented by counsel.

    (b) The hearing and the administrative procedures prior to, during and following the hearing are governed by and shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code in like manner as if the provisions of article five were fully set forth in this section.

    (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b), section four, article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, any person adversely affected by a final order entered following the hearing has the right of judicial review by the circuit court of Kanawha County or the circuit court in the county where the proposed or licensed premises is located and will or does conduct sales: Provided, That in all other respects, such review shall be conducted in the manner provided in chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. The petition for the review must be filed with the circuit court within thirty days following entry of the final order issued by the commissioner. An applicant or licensee obtaining the review is required to pay the costs and fees incident to transcribing, certifying and transmitting the records pertaining to the matter to circuit court.

    (d) The judgment of the circuit court reviewing the order of the commissioner is final unless reversed, vacated or modified on appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeals in accordance with the provisions of section one, article six, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code.

    (e) Legal counsel and services for the commissioner in all the proceedings in any circuit court and the Supreme Court of Appeals shall be provided by the Attorney General or his or her assistants and in any proceedings in any circuit court by the prosecuting attorney of that county as well, all without additional compensation.

    (f) Upon final revocation, the commissioner shall proceed to reissue the retail license by following the procedures set forth herein for the initial issuance of a retail license.

ARTICLE 7. LICENSES TO PRIVATE CLUBS.

§60-7-13a. Hearing on sanctioning of license; notice; review of action of commissioner; clerk of court to furnish commissioner copy of order or judgment of conviction of licensee; assessment of costs; procedure for appealing any final order of the commissioner which revokes, suspends, sanctions or denies the issuance or renewal of any license issued under this article.

    (a) The commissioner may not revoke or suspend a license issued pursuant to this article or impose civil penalties authorized under this article unless and until a hearing is held after at least ten days' notice to the licensee of the time and place of the hearing, which notice shall contain a statement or specification of the charges, grounds or reasons for the proposed contemplated action, and which is served upon the licensee as notices under the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure or by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the address for which license was issued. At the time and place, designated in the notice, the licensee has the right to appear and produce evidence in his or her behalf, and to be represented by counsel: Provided, That the commissioner may forthwith suspend the license when the commissioner believes the public safety will be adversely affected by the licensee's continued operation.

    (b) The commissioner may summon witnesses in the hearing before him or her, and fees of witnesses summoned on behalf of the state in proceedings to sanction licenses shall be treated as a part of the expenses of administration and enforcement. The fees shall be the same as those in similar hearings in the circuit courts of this state. The commissioner may, upon a finding of violation, assess a licensee a sum, not to exceed $150 per violation, to reimburse the commissioner for expenditures of witness fees, court reporter fees and travel costs incurred in holding the hearing. Moneys so assessed shall be transferred to the Alcohol Beverage Control Enforcement Fund created by section thirteen of this article.

    (c) If, at the request of the licensee or on his or her motion, the hearing is continued and does not take place on the day fixed by the commissioner in the notice of hearing, then the licensee's license may be suspended until the hearing and decision of the commissioner, and in the event of revocation or suspension of the license, upon hearing before the commissioner, the licensee is not permitted to sell alcoholic liquor or nonintoxicating beer pending an appeal as provided by this article. Any person continuing to sell alcoholic liquor or nonintoxicating beer after his or her license has been suspended or revoked, as provided in this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, shall be punished as provided in section twelve of this article.

    (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b), section four, article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, the action of the commissioner in revoking, suspending, sanctioning or refusing a license is subject to review by the circuit court of Kanawha County or the circuit court in the county where the proposed or licensed premises is located and will or does conduct sales: Provided, That in all other respects, such review shall be conducted in the manner provided in chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. The petition for review must be filed with the circuit court within thirty days following entry of the final order of revocation, suspension, sanction or refusal issued by the commissioner. A licensee obtaining an order for the review is required to pay the costs and fees incident to transcribing, certifying and transmitting the records pertaining to the matter to the circuit court. An application to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia for a writ of error from any final order of the circuit court in the matter shall be made within thirty days from and after the entry of the final circuit court order.

    (e) All such hearings, upon notice to show cause why license should be revoked, suspended, sanctioned or refused, before the commissioner shall be held in the offices of the commissioner in Charleston, Kanawha County, unless otherwise provided by the commissioner in the notice of hearing. When the hearing is held elsewhere than in the commissioner's office, the licensee may be required to make deposits of the estimated costs of the hearing.

    (f) Whenever any licensee has been convicted of an offense constituting a violation of the laws of this state or of the United States relating to alcoholic liquor, or nonintoxicating beer, and the conviction has become final, the clerk of the court in which the licensee has been convicted shall forward to the commissioner a certified copy of the order or judgment of conviction if the clerk has knowledge that the person convicted is a licensee, together with the certification of the clerk that the conviction is final. The commissioner shall report violations of any of the provisions of section twelve or twelve-a of this article to the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the licensed premises is located.

ARTICLE 8. SALE OF WINES.

§60-8-18. Revocation, suspension and other sanctions which may be imposed by the commissioner upon the licensee; procedure for appealing any final order of the commissioner which revokes, suspends, sanctions or denies the issuance or renewal of any license issued under this article.

    (a) The commissioner may on his or her own motion, or shall on the sworn complaint of any person, conduct an investigation to determine if any provisions of this article or any rule promulgated or any order issued by the commissioner has been violated by any licensee. After investigation, the commissioner may impose penalties and sanctions as set forth below.

    (1) If the commissioner finds that the licensee has violated any provision of this article or any rule promulgated or order issued by the commissioner, or if the commissioner finds the existence of any ground on which a license could have been refused, if the licensee were then applying for a license, the commissioner may:

    (A) Revoke the licensee's license;

    (B) Suspend the licensee's license for a period determined by the commissioner not to exceed twelve months; or

    (C) Place the licensee on probation for a period not to exceed twelve months; and

    (D) Impose a monetary penalty not to exceed $1,000 for each violation where revocation is not imposed.

    (2) If the commissioner finds that a licensee has willfully violated any provision of this article or any rule promulgated or any order issued by the commissioner, the commissioner shall revoke the licensee's license.

    (b) If a supplier or distributor fails or refuses to keep in effect the bond required by section twenty-nine of this article, the commissioner shall automatically suspend the supplier or distributor's license until the bond required by section twenty of this article is furnished to the commissioner, at which time the commissioner shall vacate the suspension.

    (c) Whenever the commissioner refuses to issue a license, or suspends or revokes a license, places a licensee on probation or imposes a monetary penalty, he or she shall enter an order to that effect and cause a copy of the order to be served in person or by certified mail, return receipt requested, on the licensee or applicant.

    (d) An applicant or licensee, as the case may be, adversely affected by the order has a right to a hearing before the commissioner if a written demand for hearing is served upon the commissioner within ten days following the receipt of the commissioner's order by the applicant or licensee. Timely service of a demand for a hearing upon the commissioner operates to suspend the execution of the order with respect to which a hearing has been demanded, except an order suspending a license under the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. The person demanding a hearing shall give security for the cost of the hearing in a form and amount as the commissioner may reasonably require. If the person demanding the hearing does not substantially prevail in the hearing or upon judicial review thereof as provided in subsections (g) and (h) of this section, then the costs of the hearing shall be assessed against him or her by the commissioner and may be collected by an action at law or other proper remedy.

    (e) Upon receipt of a timely served written demand for a hearing, the commissioner shall immediately set a date for the hearing and notify the person demanding the hearing of the date, time and place of the hearing, which shall be held within thirty days after receipt of the demand. At the hearing the commissioner shall hear evidence and thereafter enter an order supporting by findings of facts, affirming, modifying or vacating the order. Any such order is final unless vacated or modified upon judicial review thereof.

    (f) The hearing and the administrative procedure prior to, during and following the hearing shall be governed by and in accordance with the provisions of article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code.

    (g) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b), section four, article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, an applicant or licensee adversely affected by a final order entered following a hearing has the right of judicial review of the order code in the circuit court of Kanawha County or the circuit court in the county where the proposed or licensed premises is located and will or does conduct sales: Provided, That in all other respects, such review shall be conducted in the manner provided in chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. The petition for the review must be filed with the circuit court within thirty days following entry of the final order issued by the commissioner. An applicant or licensee obtaining judicial review is required to pay the costs and fees incident to transcribing, certifying and transmitting the records pertaining to the matter to circuit court.

    (h) The judgment of the circuit court reviewing the order of the commissioner is final unless reversed, vacated or modified on appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeals in accordance with the provisions of section one, article six, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code.

    (i) Legal counsel and services for the commissioner in all proceedings in any circuit court and the Supreme Court of Appeals shall be provided by the Attorney General or his or her assistants and in any proceedings in any circuit court by the prosecuting attorney of that county as well, all without additional compensation.