Sec. 1. 28-A MRSA §653, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1995, c. 140, §6, is further amended to read:

3. Appeal to bureau. Any applicant aggrieved by the decision of the municipal officers or county commissioners under this section may appeal to the bureau within 15 days of the receipt of the written decision of the municipal officers or county commissioners. The Within 60 days of the filing of an appeal, the bureau shall hold a public hearing in the city, town or unincorporated place where the premises are situated. In acting on such an appeal, the bureau may consider all licensure requirements and findings referred to in subsection 2.

B. If the decision appealed from is an application denial, the bureau may issue the license only if it finds by clear and convincing evidence that the decision was without justifiable cause.

SUMMARY

This bill requires the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Liquor Enforcement to hold a hearing on an appeal of a liquor license denial by a municipality within 60 days of the filing of the appeal.