WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 995
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Chapter 995
(Senate Bill 9)
AN ACT concerning
Prince George’s County – Alcoholic Beverages Licenses – Nonprofit
Organizations
FOR the purpose of authorizing the Board of License Commissioners for Prince George’s
County to issue a Class C (fraternal/sororal/service organization) alcoholic beverages
license for use by an independent and nonprofit fraternal or sororal organization that
meets certain membership requirements; and generally relating to alcoholic
beverages licenses in Prince George’s County.
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis
Section 26–102
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2016 Volume and 2023 Supplement)
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis
Section 26–1011
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2016 Volume and 2023 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis
26–102.
This title applies only in Prince George’s County.
26–1011.
(a) (1) IN THIS SECTION, “INDEPENDENT AND NONP ROFIT NATIONWIDE
FRATERNA L OR SORORAL ORGANIZ ATION” MEANS AN ORGANIZATIO N WHOSE
MEMBERSHIP IS COMPOS ED SOLELY OF GRADUAT E MEMBERS OF AN INDE PENDENT
AND NONPROFIT NATION WIDE FRATERNAL OR SO RORAL ORGANIZATION .
(2) “INDEPENDENT AND NONPR OFIT NATIONWIDE FRAT ERNAL OR
SORORAL ORGANIZ ATION” DOES NOT INCLUDE :
Ch. 995 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(I) A COLLEGE OR HIGH SC HOOL FRATERNITY OR S ORORITY;
OR
(II) ANY OTHER FRATERNITY OR SORORITY, THE MEMBERSHIP
OF WHICH IS RESTRICT ED IN WHOLE OR IN PA RT TO STUDENTS OF AN EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTION OR A PRO FESSIONAL SCHOOL .
(B) There is a Class C (fraternal/sororal/service organization) beer, wine, and
liquor license.
(b) (C) The Board may issue the license for use by:
(1) a local unit of a lodge or chapter of a nonprofit and nationwide fraternal,
sororal, or service organization OR AN INDEPENDENT AN D NONPROFIT NATIONWI DE
FRATERNAL OR SORORAL ORGANIZATION that:
[(1)] (I) is composed solely of inducted members;
[(2)] (II) was operating in the county before the license application was
made;
[(3)] (III) has at least 100 members paying dues of at least $5 per year per
member; and
[(4)] (IV) owns or operates a home or clubhouse that is principally for the
use of its members and guests when accompanied by members; OR
(2) AN INDEPENDENT NONPR OFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE
MEMBERSHIP IS COMPOS ED SOLELY OF MEMBERS OF A NATIONWIDE FRAT ERNAL OR
SORORAL ORGANIZATION .
(c) (D) (1) The license authorizes the license holder to sell beer, wine, and
liquor by the glass or by the bottle for on–premises consumption by a member or guest
accompanied by a member.
(2) The license holder may allow a person that has leased a private room
or other area of the licensed premises for a private social gathering to bring beer, wine, and
liquor onto the licensed premises for on–premises consumption.
(d) (E) The license holder may sell beer, wine, and liquor during the hours and
days as set out for a Class C beer, wine, and liquor license under § 26–2004 of this title,
except that restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sunday do not apply.
WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 995
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(F) DURING A 1–YEAR PERIOD, IF A LICENSE HOLDER IS FOUND GUILTY OF
TWO UNDERAGE VIOLATI ONS OR TWO VIOLATION S OF PURCHASING BEER , WINE, OR
LIQUOR, FROM A PERSON OTHER THAN A LICENSED WHOL ESALER, OR ANY
COMBINATION OF THE T WO, THE BOARD MAY SUSPEND OR REVOKE THE LICENSE.
(e) (G) The annual license fee is $910.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July
1, 2024.
Approved by the Governor, May 16, 2024.