Idaho Bills

Repeals and adds to existing law to prohibit acts by a permittee or his agent or employee, to require supervision, and to provide exceptions, penalties and administrative action.

Amends, adds to and repeals existing law to revise provisions regarding alcohol, including licensing.

This legislation will fix Idaho's liquor license system by paying current state liquor license holders for the investment they have made into our current inequitable system, and create a new, fair system of municipal licenses for qualified applicants moving forward. The current structure for issuing liquor licenses to Idaho businesses is unjust. For a state-issued privilege such as a license, each person who is qualified should have equal access, even if such access it stringent. Instead, a market unrelated to state-issuance of this privilege has grown, and businesses are left scouring the private market to pay up to three hundred thousand dollars to a private citizen for a license. There are many business owners who have been waiting to get a state liquor license for years, and it is unclear how many more years until they finally get a permit. Idaho's current liquor license laws are a roadblock for local business owners. The regulations are preventing business owners from creating more jobs and contributing to the local economy. Furthermore, fixing this unjust application of licensure is very difficult, and if done incorrectly, could unjustly hurt current license holders who have played by the rules to operate their businesses. This legislation creates a balance that will protect the value current license holders have in their state-issued licenses, but create a new tier of licenses for restaurants that want to sell liquor by the drink. This legislation will allow counties and cities to sell these licenses, called municipal licenses, to restaurants that have full kitchens, and dedicate the vast majority of their business to serving food. This would remove restrictions that are preventing business owners from investing in Idaho and create certainty in the market. Current business owners who hold a state liquor license will continue to see the value of their investment under this legislation. While restaurants operating under a new municipal license will have to meet

Repeals and adds to existing law to provide prohibited acts by a permittee or his agent or employee, to require supervision, and to provide exceptions, penalties and administrative action.

The purpose of this legislation is to repeal and replace Idaho Code § 23-614. It is the intent of the State of Idaho to enact this statute to ameliorate the secondary effects at or near establishments whose predominate business is selling alcohol and, as part of that business, offering entertainment by or employing individuals who appear in a state of nudity or partial nudity or who engage in actual or simulated sexual activity. The secondary effects from such establishments are detrimental to the public health and safety and welfare of Idaho citizens, and include an increase in criminal activity (including public sexual contact between entertainers and patrons, prostitution, gang activity, sex offenses, drug use, and assaults), the potential depreciation in the value of real property, and disruption of the peace and harm to the economic welfare of the community.