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131st MAINE LEGISLATURE
SECOND REGULAR SESSION-2024
Legislative Document No. 2069S.P. 870 In Senate, December 22, 2023
An Act to Amend the Ownership Disclosure Requirements for
Applicants for Liquor Licenses and Certificates of Approval
Submitted by the Department of Administrative and Financial Services pursuant to Joint
Rule 203.
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on December 20, 2023. Referred to the Committee
on Veterans and Legal Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec. Page 1 - 131LR2704(01)
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2 as amended by PL 2021, c. 658, §92, is
3 repealed and the following enacted in its place:
4 A. An applicant shall disclose all ownership interests by a person other than the
5 applicant equal to or greater than 5% or any direct or indirect interest in the person for
6 which a license or certificate of approval is sought. If the applicant is a purchaser by
7 contract, the applicant shall also disclose the terms of the contract.
8 (1) A business entity that has an ownership interest of 5% or greater in the person
9 for which a license or certificate of approval is sought shall disclose all subsidiary
10 business entities and all individuals that have an ownership interest in that business
11 entity.
12 (2) A business entity that has an ownership interest of 5% or greater in the person
13 for which a license or certificate of approval is sought may attest to the bureau via
14 affidavit that no subsidiary business entity or individual with an ownership interest
15 in the business entity has an ownership interest of 5% or greater in the person for
16 which a license or certificate of approval is sought.
17 For purposes of this paragraph, "interest" means full or partial equity ownership interest
18 or any other type of financial interest or involvement including, but not limited to,
19 being an investor or serving in a management position.
20 as amended by PL 2021, c. 658, §92, is further
21 amended to read:
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23 disguise ownership interest or direct or indirect interest in the person for which a license or
24 certificate of approval is sought. A person who intentionally gives an untruthful answer in
25 an application for a license or certificate of approval under this Title violates Title 17‑A,
26 section 453. As used in this subsection, "interest" has the same meaning as in subsection 2,
27 paragraph A.
28 is enacted to read:
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30 chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to administer this section.
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32 This bill amends the ownership disclosure requirements for applicants for liquor
33 licenses and certificates of approval to:
34 1. Only require disclosure of ownership interest of 5% or greater in the person for
35 which a license or certificate of approval is sought;
36 2. Require a business entity that has an ownership interest of 5% or greater in a person
37 for which a license or certificate of approval is sought to disclose all subsidiary business
38 entities within that business entity and individuals with an ownership interest in the
39 business entity; and
40 3. Allow business entities with an ownership interest of 5% or greater in the person
41 for which a license or certificate of approval is sought to attest via affidavit that no
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42 subsidiary business entity or individual with ownership interest in the business entity has
43 an ownership interest of 5% or greater in the person for which a license or certificate of
44 approval is sought.
4 The bill also permits the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau
5 of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations to adopt routine technical rules if needed
6 to administer the application procedure for a license or certificate of approval.
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