SB2719 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 35967 RPS 66054 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2719

Introduced 1/10/2024, by Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

235 ILCS 5/7-9	from Ch. 43, par. 153
235 ILCS 5/7-10	from Ch. 43, par. 154

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Deletes language providing that, in any case where a licensee appeals to the Illinois Liquor Control Commission from an order or action of the local liquor control commission having the effect of refusing to grant a license, the licensee shall resume the operation of the licensed business pending the decision of the State Commission. Provides that an immediate suspension issued by a local liquor control commissioner under a specified provision does not constitute a first or second suspension within the preceding 12-month period. Provides that an Illinois circuit court with jurisdiction over the matter shall have exclusive jurisdiction to review an appeal of an immediate suspension by a local liquor control commissioner. Deletes language requiring the State Commission to render a decision affirming, reversing, or modifying an order or action within 30 days after the appeal was heard. Provides that, if a rehearing is granted by the State Commission, the State Commission shall hold the rehearing and render a decision within a reasonable time from the petition filing date (instead of 20 days from the filing of the application for rehearing with the secretary of the commission). Makes other changes.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning liquor.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Liquor Control Act of 1934 is amended by changing Sections 7-9 and 7-10 as follows:

(235 ILCS 5/7-9) (from Ch. 43, par. 153)

Sec. 7-9. Appeals.

(a) Except as provided in this Section, any order or action of a local liquor control commissioner levying a fine or refusing to levy a fine on a licensee, granting or refusing to grant a license, revoking or suspending or refusing to revoke or suspend a license or refusing for more than 30 days to grant a hearing upon a complaint to revoke or suspend a license may, within 20 days after notice of such order or action, be appealed by any resident of the political subdivision under the jurisdiction of the local liquor control commissioner or any person interested, to the State Commission.

(b) In any case where a licensee appeals to the State Commission from an order or action of the local liquor control commission having the effect of suspending or revoking a license or , denying a renewal application, or refusing to grant a license, the licensee shall resume the operation of the licensed business pending the decision of the State Commission and the expiration of the time allowed for an application for rehearing. If an application for rehearing is filed, the licensee shall continue the operation of the licensed business until the denial of the application or, if the rehearing is granted, until the decision on rehearing.

(c) In any case in which a licensee appeals to the State Commission a suspension or revocation by a local liquor control commissioner that is the second or subsequent such suspension or revocation placed on that licensee within the preceding 12-month 12 month period, the licensee shall consider the suspension or revocation to be in effect until a reversal of the local liquor control commissioner's action has been issued by the State Commission and shall cease all activity otherwise authorized by the license. The State Commission shall expedite, to the greatest extent possible, its consideration of any appeal that is an appeal of a second or subsequent suspension or revocation within the past 12 month period. For purposes of this Section, an immediate suspension issued by a local liquor control commissioner pursuant to Section 7-5 does not constitute a first or second suspension within the preceding 12-month period. An Illinois circuit court with jurisdiction over the matter shall have exclusive jurisdiction to review appeals of immediate suspensions issued pursuant to Section 7-5.

(d) The appeal shall be limited to a review of the official record of the proceedings of such local liquor control commissioner if the county board, city council or board of trustees, as the case may be, has adopted a resolution requiring that such review be on the record. If such resolution is adopted, a certified official record of the proceedings taken and prepared by a certified court reporter or certified shorthand reporter shall be filed by the local liquor control commissioner within 5 days after notice of the filing of such appeal, if the appellant licensee pays for the cost of the transcript. The State Commission shall review the propriety of the order or action of the local liquor control commissioner and shall consider the following questions:

(1) (a) whether the local liquor control commissioner has proceeded in the manner provided by law;

(2) (b) whether the order is supported by the findings;

(3) (c) whether the findings are supported by substantial evidence in the light of the whole record.

(e) The only evidence which may be considered in the review, shall be the evidence found in the certified official record of the proceedings of the local liquor control commissioner. No new or additional evidence shall be admitted or considered. The State Commission shall render a decision affirming, reversing, or modifying the order or action reviewed within 30 days after the appeal was heard.

(f) In the event such appeal is from an order of a local liquor control commissioner of a city, village or incorporated town of 500,000 or more inhabitants, granting or refusing to grant a license or refusing for more than 30 days to grant a hearing upon a complaint to revoke or suspend a license, the matter of the propriety of such order or action shall be tried de novo by the license appeal commission as expeditiously as circumstances permit.

(g) In the event such appeal is from an order or action of a local liquor control commissioner of a city, village or incorporated town of 500,000 or more inhabitants, imposing a fine or refusing to impose a fine on a licensee, revoking or suspending or refusing to revoke or suspend a license, the license appeal commission shall determine the appeal by a review of the official record of the proceedings of such local liquor control commissioner. A certified record of the proceedings shall be promptly filed with the license appeal commission by such local liquor control commissioner after notice of the filing of such appeal if the appellant licensee pays for the cost of the transcript and promptly delivers the transcript to the local liquor control commission or its attorney. The review by the license appeal commission shall be limited to the questions:

(1) (a) whether the local liquor control commissioner has proceeded in the manner provided by law;

(2) (b) whether the order is supported by the findings;

(3) (c) whether the findings are supported by substantial evidence in the light of the whole record. No new or additional evidence in support of or in opposition to such order or action under appeal shall be received other than that contained in such record of the proceedings. Within 30 days after such appeal was heard, the license appeal commission shall render its decision in accordance with the provisions of Section 7-5.

(h) In cities, villages and incorporated towns having a population of 500,000 or more inhabitants, appeals from any order or action shall lie to the license appeal commission of such city, village or incorporated town. All of the provisions of this Section and Section 7-10 relative to proceedings upon appeals before the State Commission and relative to appeals from the decisions of the State Commission shall apply also to proceedings upon appeals before any license appeal commission and appeals from the decisions of license appeal commission.

(i) In any trial de novo hearing before the State Commission or license appeal commission, the local liquor control commissioner shall be entitled to 10 days notice and to be heard. All such trial de novo hearings shall be open to the public and the Illinois Liquor Control Commission and the license appeal commission shall reduce all evidence offered thereto to writing.

(j) If after trial de novo hearing or review as provided herein, the State Commission or the license appeal commission (as the case may be) shall decide that the license has been improperly issued, denied, revoked, suspended or refused to be revoked or suspended or a hearing to revoke or suspend has been improperly refused or that the licensee has been improperly fined or not fined, it shall enter an order in conformity with such findings, which order shall be in writing.

(k) A certified copy of the order shall be transmitted to the particular local liquor control commissioner and it shall be the duty of the local liquor control commissioner to take such action as may be necessary to conform with the order.

(l) In any trial de novo hearing before the State Commission or the license appeal commission, the licensee shall submit to examination and produce books and records material to the business conducted under the license in like manner as before the local liquor control commissioner, and the failure of the licensee to submit to such an examination or to produce such books and records, or to appear at the hearing on such appeal, shall constitute an admission that he has violated the provisions of this Act. In the event the appeal is from an order of the local liquor control commissioner denying a renewal application, the licensee shall have on deposit with the local liquor control commissioner an amount sufficient to cover the license fee for the renewal period and any bond that may be required.

(Source: P.A. 88-613, eff. 1-1-95.)

(235 ILCS 5/7-10) (from Ch. 43, par. 154)

Sec. 7-10. Service. A copy of the rule, regulation, order or decision of the State commission or the license appeal commission, in any proceeding before it, certified under the seal of said commission, shall be served upon each party of record to the proceeding before the commission and service upon any attorney of record for any such party shall be deemed service upon such party. Each party appearing before said commission shall enter an his appearance and indicate to the commission a physical or electronic his address for the service of a copy of any rule, regulation, order, decision or notice and the mailing of a copy of any rule, regulation or order of said commission or of any notice by said commission, in said proceeding, to said party at such address shall be deemed service thereof upon such party.

Within 20 days after the service of any rule, regulation, order or decision of said commission upon any party to the proceeding, such party may apply for a rehearing in respect to any matters determined by said commission. If a rehearing is granted, the commission shall hold the rehearing and render a decision within a reasonable time from the petition filing date 20 days from the filing of the application for rehearing with the secretary of the commission. The time for holding such rehearing and rendering a decision may be extended for a period not to exceed 30 days, for good cause shown, and by notice in writing to all parties of interest. No action for the judicial review of any decision of said commission shall be allowed unless the party commencing such action has first filed an application for a rehearing and the commission has acted upon said application. Only one rehearing may be granted by the commission on application of any one party.

(Source: P.A. 82-783.)