SB2835

PART I

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that some of the requirements for a temporary liquor license in the county of Maui are oppressively burdensome without providing any public benefit. A temporary liquor license, known as a class 10 special license, allows a nonprofit group, political candidate, or political party to serve alcohol at a fundraising event lasting no longer than three days. Among the onerous requirements that are only imposed in the county of Maui are the requirements to submit the special license application in person and to provide a handwritten signature on the application. The applicant must also obtain various separate departmental clearances and produce detailed illustrative materials that are duplicative of existing enforcement mechanisms. In addition, if the applicant holds the fundraising event at a location involving multiple parcels with separate tax map key numbers, such as many golf courses, the applicant must submit a separate application for each parcel, despite the event occurring in what is otherwise a single location. Many of these requirements do not apply to comparable temporary liquor licenses in other counties.

The legislature believes that these requirements discourage community organizations from hosting fundraisers, are not necessary for the effective regulation of a temporary event, and may encourage community organizations to hold their fundraisers without obtaining a liquor license.

Accordingly, the purpose of this part is to streamline the class 10 special license application process to reduce fundraising costs in a manner that maintains public safety and the protection of event participants.

SECTION 2. Section 281-31, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (j) to read as follows:

"(j) Class 10. Special license.

(1) A special license may be granted for the sale of liquor for a period not to exceed three days and pursuant to commission rule may be approved by the administrator for fundraising events by nonprofit organizations, political candidates, and political parties; provided that any registered educational or charitable nonprofit organization may sell liquors in their original packages for off-premises consumption; provided further that any social club granted tax‑exempt status pursuant to section 501(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may sell wine from the social club's inventory to the club's members for off-premises consumption. Of this class, there shall be the following kinds:

(A) General (includes all liquor except alcohol);

(B) Beer and wine; and

Liquor sold under a class 10 license shall be consumed on the premises.

(2) Notwithstanding any other section of this chapter to the contrary, the commission shall waive any hearings, fees, notarization of documents, submission of floor plans and other governmental clearances, and other requirements for the issuance of a class 10 license. The class 10 license granted under this subsection for a fundraising event shall include the ability to auction off, at a live or silent auction, liquor in sealed or covered glass, ceramic, or metal containers or services that provide liquor. No criminal history record check under section 281-53.5 or 846-2.7 or any other section of this chapter shall be required. The commission may require proof of liquor liability insurance for the fundraising event and a current list of officers and directors if the applicant is a nonprofit organization.

(3) Notwithstanding any other section of this chapter to the contrary, in any county with a population of fewer than two hundred thousand residents but more than one hundred thousand residents, an application for a class 10 license:

(A) May be submitted electronically and, if submitted electronically, the inclusion of an electronic signature shall satisfy any requirement for a physical, handwritten signature or other signature;

(B) May include an applicant's first and last name in satisfaction of any requirement for the submission of the applicant's full name;

(C) May be applicable to two or more adjacent parcels of land; provided that all parcels of land are controlled by the same entity; and

(D) Shall not be conditioned upon the submission, approval, or completion of any visual renderings, illustrative materials, fire-related clearances, safety inspections, or miscellaneous inspections conducted by any other county department or agency.

An application under this subsection shall be sufficient if it satisfies all of the requirements specified under this subsection. No county or county liquor commission shall require, request, or condition the issuance of a class 10 license upon compliance with any other approval, clearance, inspection, certification, or condition not expressly required by this subsection. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the authority of a county to enforce applicable fire or building codes through independent enforcement actions."

PART II

SECTION 3. The legislature finds that effective educational and enforcement programs are necessary to mitigate the significant impact that alcohol consumption has on public health and safety. The legislature also finds that the responsible management of alcohol sales and consumption is essential to fostering a safe and healthy community for all residents and visitors. Under current state law, county liquor commissions are authorized to use a portion of the fines assessed against liquor licensees to fund public liquor-related educational or enforcement programs. However, the amount of funds authorized may not be sufficient to support the educational initiatives and enforcement programs needed to reduce alcohol-related harm. The legislature further finds that enhancing educational efforts regarding responsible drinking, the risks associated with alcohol misuse, and the promotion of healthy lifestyle choices is vital to ensuring a safer future for our youth and community.

Accordingly, the purpose of this part is to increase the percentage of fines assessed by county liquor commissions that may be used to fund public liquor-related educational or enforcement programs.

SECTION 4. Section 281-17, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) The liquor commission, within its own county, shall have the jurisdiction, power, authority, and discretion, subject only to this chapter:

(1) To grant, refuse, suspend, and revoke any license for the manufacture, importation, and sale of liquors;

(2) To take appropriate action against a person who, directly or indirectly, manufactures, sells, or purchases any liquor without being authorized pursuant to this chapter; provided that in counties that have established by charter a liquor control adjudication board, the board shall have the jurisdiction, power, authority, and discretion to hear and determine administrative complaints of the director regarding violations of the liquor laws of the State or of the rules of the liquor commission, and impose penalties for violations thereof as may be provided by law;

(3) To control, supervise, and regulate the manufacture, importation, and sale of liquors by investigation, enforcement, and education; provided that any educational program shall be limited to the commission staff, commissioners, liquor control adjudication board members, and licensees and their employees, and shall be financed through the money collected from the assessment of fines against licensees; provided that fine moneys, not to exceed [~~ten~~] twenty per cent a year of fines accumulated, may be used to fund public liquor-related educational or enforcement programs;

(4) From time to time to make, amend, and repeal rules, not inconsistent with this chapter, as in the judgment of the commission are deemed appropriate for carrying out this chapter and for the efficient administration thereof, and the proper conduct of the business of all licensees, including every matter or thing required to be done or [~~which~~] that may be done with the approval or consent, by order, under the direction or supervision of, or as prescribed by the commission; which rules, when adopted as provided in chapter 91 shall have the force and effect of law;

(5) Subject to chapter 76, to appoint and remove an administrator, who may also be appointed an investigator and who shall be responsible for the operations and activities of the staff. The administrator may hire and remove hearing officers, investigators, and clerical or other assistants as its business may from time to time require, prescribe their duties and fix their compensation, and engage the services of experts and persons engaged in the practice of a profession, if deemed expedient. Every investigator, within the scope of the investigator's duties, shall have the powers of a police officer;

(6) To limit the number of licenses of any class or kind within the county, or the number of licenses of any class or kind to do business in any given locality, when in the judgment of the commission [~~such~~] the limitations are in the public interest;

(7) To prescribe the nature of the proof to be furnished, the notices to be given, and the conditions to be met or observed in case of the issuance of a duplicate license in place of one alleged to have been lost or destroyed, including a requirement of any indemnity deemed appropriate to the case;

(8) To fix the hours between which licensed premises of any class or classes may regularly be open for the transaction of business, which shall be uniform throughout the county as to each class respectively;

(9) To prescribe all forms to be used for the purposes of this chapter not otherwise provided for in this chapter, and the character and manner of keeping of books, records, and accounts to be kept by licensees in any matter pertaining to their business;

(10) To investigate violations of this chapter and, notwithstanding any law to the contrary, violations of the applicable department of health's allowable noise levels, through its investigators or otherwise, to include covert operations, and to report violations to the prosecuting officer for prosecution where appropriate. Investigations of violations of chapter 244D shall be referred to the director of taxation to hear and determine complaints against any licensee;

(11) To prescribe, by rule, the terms, conditions, and circumstances under which persons or any class of persons may be employed by holders of licenses;

(12) To prescribe, by rule, the term of any license or solicitor's and representative's permit authorized by this chapter, the annual or prorated amount, the manner of payment of fees for the licenses and permits, and the amount of filing fees;

(13) To prescribe, by rule, regulations on dancing in licensed premises; and

(14) To prescribe, by rule, the circumstances and penalty for the unauthorized manufacturing or selling of any liquor."

PART III

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2835
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII