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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the consumption of alcoholic beverages on certain |
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premises; providing a penalty and authorizing a fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 3, Alcoholic Beverage Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 56 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 56. PUBLIC CONSUMPTION PERMIT |
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Sec. 56.01. AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES. The holder of a public |
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consumption permit may allow a person to: |
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(1) consume alcoholic beverages on the permitted |
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premises; and |
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(2) bring alcoholic beverages onto or possess |
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alcoholic beverages on the permitted premises for the purpose of |
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consumption by the person on the permitted premises. |
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Sec. 56.02. PUBLIC CONSUMPTION PERMIT REQUIRED. A person |
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is required to obtain a permit under this chapter if the person: |
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(1) operates a commercial establishment: |
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(A) described by Section 243.002, Local |
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Government Code, other than an establishment exempt from regulation |
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under Chapter 243, Local Government Code; or |
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(B) that requires payment, dues, or a mandatory |
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purchase of any kind or amount to be admitted on the premises; |
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(2) allows persons to: |
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(A) consume alcoholic beverages on the |
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establishment's premises; or |
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(B) bring alcoholic beverages onto or possess |
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alcoholic beverages on the establishment's premises for the purpose |
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of consumption on the establishment's premises; |
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(3) is not covered by or required to be covered by a |
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license or permit under this code authorizing the sale or service of |
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alcoholic beverages; and |
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(4) operates during hours when the public consumption |
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of alcoholic beverages is prohibited under Section 105.06. |
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Sec. 56.03. FEE. The annual state fee for a public |
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consumption permit is $3,000. |
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Sec. 56.04. ISSUANCE OF PERMIT. A public consumption |
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permit is issued by the commission or administrator. The |
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qualifications of an applicant and the application for and issuance |
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of the permit are governed by the same provisions that apply to the |
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application for and issuance of a mixed beverage permit. |
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Sec. 56.05. REFUSAL OF PERMIT. (a) In this section, |
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"applicant" includes each member of a partnership or association |
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and, with respect to a corporation, each officer and the owner or |
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owners of a majority of the corporate stock. |
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(b) The commission or administrator may refuse to issue an |
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original or renewal public consumption permit with or without a |
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hearing if the commission or administrator has reasonable grounds |
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to believe and finds that any of the following circumstances |
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exists: |
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(1) the applicant has been convicted of the violation |
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of any provision of this code during the two years immediately |
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preceding the filing of the application; |
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(2) five years have not elapsed since the termination, |
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by pardon or otherwise, of a sentence imposed on the applicant for |
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the conviction of a felony; |
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(3) within the six-month period immediately preceding |
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the filing of the application the applicant violated or caused to be |
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violated a provision of this code or a rule or regulation of the |
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commission that involves moral turpitude, as distinguished from a |
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technical violation of this code or of the rule; |
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(4) the applicant failed to answer or falsely or |
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incorrectly answered a question in an original or renewal |
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application; |
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(5) the applicant is indebted to the state for any |
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taxes, fees, or payment of a penalty imposed by this code or by a |
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rule of the commission; |
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(6) the applicant is not of good moral character or the |
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applicant's reputation for being a peaceable, law-abiding citizen |
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in the community where the applicant resides is bad; |
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(7) the applicant is a minor; |
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(8) the place or manner in which the applicant may |
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conduct the applicant's business warrants the refusal of a permit |
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based on the general welfare, health, peace, morals, and safety of |
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the people and on the public sense of decency; |
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(9) the applicant is in the habit of using alcoholic |
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beverages to excess or is physically or mentally incapacitated; |
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(10) the applicant is not a United States citizen; |
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(11) the applicant does not provide an adequate |
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building available at the address for which the permit is sought |
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before conducting any activity authorized by the permit; |
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(12) the applicant is residentially domiciled with a |
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person whose permit or license has been canceled for cause within |
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the 12 months immediately preceding the date of the applicant's |
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present application; |
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(13) the applicant has failed or refused to furnish a |
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true copy of the applicant's application to the commission's |
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district office in the district in which the premises for which the |
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permit is sought are located; |
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(14) during the six months immediately preceding the |
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filing of the application the premises for which the permit is |
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sought have been operated, used, or frequented for a purpose or in a |
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manner that is lewd, immoral, or offensive to public decency; |
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(15) the applicant does not hold a sales tax permit, if |
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required, for the place of business for which the public |
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consumption permit is sought; or |
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(16) the applicant has had a license or permit |
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canceled during the preceding 12 months as a result of a shooting, |
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stabbing, or other violent act, or as a result of an offense |
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involving drugs, prostitution, or trafficking of persons. |
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Sec. 56.06. CANCELLATION AND SUSPENSION OF PERMIT. (a) In |
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this section, "permittee" includes each member of a partnership or |
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association and, with respect to a corporation, each officer and |
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the owner or owners of a majority of the corporate stock. |
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(b) The commission or administrator may suspend for not more |
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than 60 days or cancel an original or renewal public consumption |
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permit if it is found, after notice and hearing, that any of the |
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following is true: |
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(1) the permittee has been finally convicted of a |
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violation of this code; |
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(2) the permittee violated a provision of this code or |
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a rule of the commission; |
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(3) the permittee was finally convicted of a felony |
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while holding an original or renewal permit; |
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(4) the permittee made a false and misleading |
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statement in connection with the permittee's original or renewal |
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application, either in the formal application itself or in any |
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other written instrument relating to the application submitted to |
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the commission or its officers or employees; |
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(5) the permittee does not hold a sales tax permit, if |
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required, for the place of business covered by the permit; |
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(6) the permittee is not of good moral character or the |
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permittee's reputation for being a peaceable, law-abiding citizen |
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in the community where the permittee resides is bad; |
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(7) the place or manner in which the permittee |
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conducts the permittee's business warrants the cancellation or |
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suspension of the permit based on the general welfare, health, |
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peace, morals, and safety of the people and on the public sense of |
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decency; |
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(8) the permittee maintains a noisy, lewd, disorderly, |
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or unsanitary establishment; |
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(9) the permittee is insolvent or mentally or |
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physically unable to carry on the management of the permittee's |
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establishment; |
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(10) the permittee is in the habit of using alcoholic |
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beverages to excess; |
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(11) the permittee was intoxicated on the licensed |
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premises; |
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(12) the permittee allowed an intoxicated person to |
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remain on the premises; |
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(13) the permittee is residentially domiciled with a |
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person whose permit or license was canceled for cause within the |
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12-month period preceding the permittee's own application; |
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(14) the permittee is not a United States citizen; |
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(15) the permittee failed to promptly report to the |
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commission a breach of the peace occurring on the premises; or |
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(16) the permittee consumed an alcoholic beverage or |
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permitted one to be consumed on the premises at a time when the |
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consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited by this code. |
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Sec. 56.07. PERFORMANCE BOND. Notwithstanding Section |
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204.01 or any other provision of this code, a person applying for a |
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permit under this chapter must file with the commission a surety |
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bond, in an amount to be determined by the commission, conditioned |
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on the permittee's conformance with the alcoholic beverage law. |
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The bond is forfeited to the commission on the suspension of the |
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permit for the first time under this chapter. Before the suspended |
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permit may be reinstated, the permittee must furnish a second |
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surety bond, similarly conditioned, in an amount greater than the |
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initial surety bond, the amount to be determined by the commission. |
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If the same permit is suspended under this chapter a second time, |
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the bond is again forfeited to the commission. Before the suspended |
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permit may be reinstated, the permittee shall furnish a third |
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surety bond, similarly conditioned, in an amount greater than the |
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second surety bond, the amount to be determined by the commission. |
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If the same permit is suspended under this chapter a third time, the |
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bond is again forfeited to the commission and the permit shall be |
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canceled by the commission. |
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Sec. 56.08. SUMMARY SUSPENSION. The commission or |
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administrator without a hearing may for investigative purposes |
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summarily suspend a permit issued under this chapter for not more |
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than seven days if the commission or administrator finds that a |
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shooting, stabbing, or murder has occurred on the premises that is |
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likely to result in a subsequent act of violence. Notice of the |
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order suspending the permit shall be given to the permittee |
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personally within 24 hours of the time the violent act occurs. If |
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the permittee cannot be located, notice shall be provided by |
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posting a copy of the order on the front door of the permitted |
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premises. |
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Sec. 56.09. WARNING SIGN. The holder of a permit issued |
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under this chapter shall comply with the requirements of Section |
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411.204, Government Code. |
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Sec. 56.10. COMMON NUISANCE. Notwithstanding Section |
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81.002, Chapter 81 applies to a permit issued under this chapter. |
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Sec. 56.11. PUBLIC PLACE. A commercial establishment that |
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is required to hold a permit under this chapter is a public place. |
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Sec. 56.12. PENALTY. (a) A person who operates a |
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commercial establishment or that person's agent commits an offense |
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if: |
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(1) the person or that person's agent allows a person |
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to: |
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(A) consume alcoholic beverages on the |
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establishment's premises; or |
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(B) bring alcoholic beverages onto or possess |
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alcoholic beverages on the establishment's premises for the purpose |
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of consumption on the establishment's premises; |
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(2) the establishment is required to be covered by a |
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public consumption permit under this chapter; and |
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(3) the establishment is not covered by a public |
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consumption permit under this chapter. |
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(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. |
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SECTION 2. Section 11.042(a), Alcoholic Beverage Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The commission by rule shall require the holder of a |
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permit authorizing the sale or possession of alcoholic beverages |
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for on-premises consumption to display a warning sign on the door to |
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each restroom on the permitted premises that informs the public of |
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the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy. |
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SECTION 3. Section 104.07(a), Alcoholic Beverage Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The holder of a permit or license under Chapter 25, 26, |
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28, 32, 56, 69, or 71, other than the holder of a food and beverage |
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certificate, shall display a sign containing the following notice |
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in English and in Spanish: |
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WARNING: Obtaining forced labor or services is a crime under |
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Texas law. Call the national human trafficking |
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hotline: 1-888-373-7888. You may remain anonymous. |
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SECTION 4. Section 411.204, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) A business that has a permit issued under Chapter 56, |
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Alcoholic Beverage Code, shall prominently display at each entrance |
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to the business a sign that complies with the requirements of |
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Subsection (c) other than the requirement that the sign include on |
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its face the number "51". |
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SECTION 5. Section 46.02(c), Penal Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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(c) An offense under this section is a felony of the third |
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degree if the offense is committed on any premises licensed or |
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issued a permit by this state for the sale or public consumption of |
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alcoholic beverages. |
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SECTION 6. Section 46.035(b), Penal Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) A license holder commits an offense if the license |
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holder intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries a handgun |
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under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, |
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regardless of whether the handgun is concealed, on or about the |
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license holder's person: |
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(1) on the premises of a business that has: |
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(A) a permit or license issued under Chapter 25, |
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28, 32, 69, or 74, Alcoholic Beverage Code, if the business derives |
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51 percent or more of its income from the sale or service of |
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alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption, as determined by |
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the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission under Section 104.06, |
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Alcoholic Beverage Code; or |
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(B) a permit issued under Chapter 56, Alcoholic |
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Beverage Code; |
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(2) on the premises where a high school, collegiate, |
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or professional sporting event or interscholastic event is taking |
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place, unless the license holder is a participant in the event and a |
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handgun is used in the event; |
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(3) on the premises of a correctional facility; |
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(4) on the premises of a hospital licensed under |
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Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code, or on the premises of a nursing |
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home licensed under Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code, unless the |
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license holder has written authorization of the hospital or nursing |
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home administration, as appropriate; |
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(5) in an amusement park; or |
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(6) on the premises of a church, synagogue, or other |
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established place of religious worship. |
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SECTION 7. On or before November 1, 2015, the Texas |
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Alcoholic Beverage Commission shall adopt all rules necessary to |
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implement Chapter 56, Alcoholic Beverage Code, as added by this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 8. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this |
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section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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(b) Section 56.12, Alcoholic Beverage Code, as added by this |
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Act, takes effect January 1, 2016. |