2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

Engrossed 2019 Assembly BILL 869

February 27, 2020 - Printed by direction of Senate Chief Clerk.

AB869-engrossed,1,9 An Act to renumber and amend 125.12 (5); to amend 125.29 (3) (j), 125.295 (1) (i), 125.32 (3) (c), 125.68 (4) (c) 4. and 346.657 (1); and to create 125.06 (14), 125.07 (3) (a) 17., 125.12 (5) (b), 125.26 (2v), 125.27 (5), 125.32 (3m) (k), 125.51 (3) (bv) and 125.51 (5) (f) of the statutes; relating to: the issuance by the Department of Revenue of retail alcohol beverage permits for motor vehicle racetrack grounds; authorizing caterers to make retail sales of alcohol beverages on racetrack grounds; sales of alcohol beverages at the state fair park; closing hours for certain alcohol beverage retailers; and the safe ride program surcharge.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Engrossment information:

The text of Engrossed 2019 Assembly Bill 869, as passed by the assembly on February 20, 2020, consists of the following documents adopted in the assembly on February 20, 2020: the bill as affected by Assembly Amendments 1 and 3. The text also includes the February 28, 2020, chief clerk's corrections to Assembly Amendments 1 and 3.

Content of Engrossed 2019 Assembly Bill 869:

This bill authorizes the Department of Revenue to issue retail alcohol beverage permits for motor vehicle racetrack grounds and authorizes caterers to make retail sales of alcohol beverages on racetrack grounds. The bill creates a licensing exception allowing retail sales of alcohol beverages at the state fair park and creates an exception allowing southeast Wisconsin municipalities to authorize extended closing hours for certain alcohol beverage retailers during the time that the 2020 Democratic National Convention is held in Milwaukee. The bill also increases the amount of the safe ride program surcharge.

New retail permit issued by DOR

Under current law, with limited exceptions, no person may sell alcohol beverages to a consumer unless the seller possesses a license or permit authorizing the sale. Municipalities may issue retail Class “B” licenses authorizing the sale of fermented malt beverages (beer), and retail “Class B” licenses authorizing the sale of intoxicating liquor, which includes wine and distilled spirits, to consumers. Under certain circumstances, DOR may issue retail Class “B” and “Class B” permits authorizing the retail sale of beer and intoxicating liquor to consumers.

This bill also authorizes DOR to issue retail Class “B” and “Class B” permits for racetrack grounds. The bill defines “racetrack grounds" as property consisting of at least 300 acres containing a motor vehicle racetrack at least four miles in length capable of hosting professional racing events, and includes any building or other structure on this property associated with the racetrack or with services provided in connection with events held at the racetrack. Under the bill, DOR may issue Class “B" and “Class B” permits, for locations within racetrack grounds, to the owner or operator of the racetrack grounds or to any person designated by the owner or operator of the racetrack grounds to operate premises located within the racetrack grounds. Class “B” and “Class B” permits issued by DOR for racetrack grounds authorize the retail sale of beer and intoxicating liquor at the location within the racetrack grounds specified in the permit, for possession and consumption anywhere within the racetrack grounds. Class “B” and “Class B” permits do not authorize the sale of beer and intoxicating liquor for consumption away from the racetrack grounds and do not authorize the sale of beer and intoxicating liquor at any designated camping area on racetrack grounds while the area is in use for camping. The bill contains an exception allowing underage persons to be present on those locations at racetrack grounds for which Class “B” or “Class B” permits are issued.

Retail sales by caterers off licensed premises

Current law generally requires a retail licensee to make retail sales of alcohol beverages only in a face-to-face transaction on the retail licensed premises, although the retail licensee may thereafter deliver and serve the alcohol beverages at another location. An exception allows a caterer to make retail sales off its licensed premises during a special event held at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay or at the Heritage Hill State Park, if no retail license has been issued for this museum or park. A “caterer” is defined as a person who holds a restaurant license and who is in the business of preparing food and transporting it for consumption at gatherings, meetings, or events if the sale of food at each gathering, meeting, or event accounts for greater than 50 percent of the gross receipts of all of the food and beverages served at the gathering, meeting, or event.

This bill allows a caterer to make retail sales of alcohol beverages off its licensed premises on racetrack grounds, except at a designated camping area while the area is in use for camping and except on premises for which DOR has issued a retail permit for the racetrack grounds.

Retail license exception for state fair park

The bill creates a licensing exception under which a person who meets certain qualifications and is approved by the State Fair Park Board may, without a retail license or permit, make retail sales of alcohol beverages at the state fair park for consumption at the state fair park. The same approval is required for a brewer or brewpub that makes retail sales at the state fair park.

Closing hours for certain retailers

Under current law, a Class “B" license authorizes the retail sale of beer for consumption on or off the premises. Except when issued to a winery, a “Class B" license authorizes the retail sale of intoxicating liquor for consumption on the licensed premises and, subject to restrictions, the retail sale of intoxicating liquor in original packages for consumption off the licensed premises. Class “B” and “Class B” licenses are often issued together for restaurants and taverns. A “Class C" license, which may be issued only for a restaurant, authorizes the retail sale of wine for consumption on the premises. A retailer operating under a Class “B," “ Class B,” or “Class C” license may not remain open between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. on weekdays or between 2:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and a municipality may not impose different closing hours by ordinance. However, there is no closing hour on January 1 for Class “B” and “Class B” licensed retailers. The hours during which a Class “B” or “Class B” licensed retailer may make sales for off-premises consumption are more limited, with these sales prohibited from midnight to 6 a.m., although a municipality may, by ordinance, impose more restrictive hours for these sales.

This bill creates a closing hour exception that may be available for Class “B,” “Class B,” and “Class C” licensees operating in a municipality any part of which is located within Kenosha, Racine, Walworth, Rock, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Jefferson, Dane, Ozaukee, Washington, Dodge, Columbia, Sheboygan, or Fond du Lac County (southeast Wisconsin municipality). Under the bill, from July 13 to July 17, 2020, the closing hour for a Class “B,” “Class B,” or “Class C” licensed premises in a southeast Wisconsin municipality is 4 a.m. if the municipality issuing the license has adopted a resolution allowing extended closing hours and, upon application by a licensee, has authorized the extended closing hour for that licensee. This bill does not affect the hours during which a Class “B” or “Class B” licensee may make sales for off-premises consumption.

Safe ride program surcharge

Current law imposes a safe ride program surcharge of $50 upon a person convicted of operating a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant, with a detectable amount of a restricted controlled substance in one's blood, or with a prohibited alcohol concentration. This bill increases the amount of the safe ride program surcharge to $75.