By Mr. Pedone of Worcester, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 289) of Vincent A. Pedone that members of beverage licensing boards in cities and towns be required to participate in training sessions conducted by the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.  Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Vincent A. Pedone

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act relative to training for alcoholic beverage licensing board members.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 138 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, after Section 4, the following new section:-

Section 4A.  Members of the licensing boards appointed in cities and towns in the commonwealth shall be required to participate in a training session conducted by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission within 180 days of their appointment.  If said training has not been fulfilled by the appointee, their appointment to the board shall be rescinded. 

The training session shall include, but not be limited to the following:

(a) learning how to conduct licensing hearings;

(b) how to question applicants and witnesses;

(c) how to question the attorneys who represent the applicants and any other related parties;

(d) how to assess the concerns of local citizens regarding an application;

(e) how to address public safety issues; 

(f) how to review all the evidence presented at an applicant’s hearing; and

(g) how to render a written opinion. 

The Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission shall be required to hold the training sessions every 60 days in accessible regions of the commonwealth.

All current and future board members shall undergo said training.