Section 60-7-5 - Investigation by commissioner; issuance or refusal of license; special requirements for clubs at parks and airports; form of license; license valid at one location only; expiration and renewal; transferability(a) Upon receipt of a completed application referred to in §60-7-4 of this code, together with the accompanying fee and bond, the commissioner shall conduct an investigation to determine the accuracy of the matters contained in such completed application and whether applicant is a bona fide private club of good reputation in the community in which it shall operate. For the purpose of conducting such investigation, the commissioner may withhold the granting or refusal to grant the license for a period not to exceed 30 days or until the applicant has completed the conditions set forth in this article and in §60-7-4(a) of this code, all as determined by the commissioner. If it appears that the applicant is a bona fide private club of good reputation in the community in which it shall operate and that the applicant and the manager in the application or a licensee and manager in the renewal application, subject to investigation set forth in §60-7-4 of this code, have made no false statement, no material misrepresentations, no hidden ownership, or persons with an undisclosed pecuniary interest, and no omissions or failures to disclose in the application, as determined by the commissioner shall issue a license authorizing the applicant to sell alcoholic liquors as provided in §60-7-3 of this code, and otherwise shall refuse to issue the license, except that in the case of an application by a corporation or association to operate a private club in connection with: (1) A state park, the Director of the Department of Natural Resources shall grant his or her approval before the license can be issued; or(2) A county or municipal park, or an airport, the authority governing the park or airport shall grant its approval before the license can be issued. A license may not be issued for a private club in any state park unless a dining facility comparable to the dining facility for the proposed private club will be available to serve meals to the general public. A license may not be issued for a private club in any county or municipal park, or an airport, unless a dining facility comparable to the dining facility for the proposed private club will be available to serve meals to the general public.
(b) Upon refusal to issue such license the commissioner shall make and enter an order denying the application, which denial and refusal shall be final unless a hearing is requested in accordance with the provisions of §60-7-13 of this code. When the refusal or denial becomes final the commissioner shall forthwith refund to the applicant his or her fees and bond accompanying the application.(c) The license shall be of such form and design as the commissioner may prescribe by reasonable rule or regulation and shall authorize the licensee to sell alcoholic liquors at only one location.(d) The license shall expire on June 30 next following the date of issue and may be renewed upon the same showing as required for the issuance of the initial license, together with the payment of fees and filing of the bond as required by this article.(e) A license issued under the provisions of this article may not be transferable.Amended by 2020 Acts, ch. 159 (SB 610), eff. 7/1/2020.Amended by 2019 Acts, ch. 17 (SB 561), eff. 6/7/2019.