The legislation, which recently was introduced into the Ohio General Assembly, aims to further limit where liquor stores can operate and would strengthen the procedure for renewing a retail liquor permit.
Kearney, D-Cincinnati, said the bill is his response to complaints from childcare center owners and several community council members who detailed what he described as "the unfortunate behavior that is often associated with liquor stores."
"The values of individual communities are taken into account with Senate Bill 296," he said, adding that his constituents want the Liquor Control Commission "to have more say in whether a store's liquor license was renewed."
The bill seeks to prevent the issuance or transfer of a retail liquor permit if the place for where the permit would be used is located in such an area that it will have an adverse effect on the normal, orderly conduct of a nursing home or childcare center.
"No childcare facility or nursing home should be subject to the negative disturbances linked with some liquor retailers," Kearney said. "Here, in Cincinnati, this is a big problem."
The legislation also is designed to prevent the issuing or transfer of a retail liquor permit if the number of existing permits in a neighborhood is such that an additional permit would be detrimental to and interfere with public morals, safety or welfare.
"Urban neighborhoods are inundated by liquor stores and (residents) are asking me to do this," Kearney said, while acknowledging that he will likely face criticism from those who hold retail liquor permits or are looking to obtain one. "Of course, I know the people who sell liquor would be opposed to it."
If the legislation passes, state law would be expanded to include nursing homes and childcare centers among schools, churches, libraries, public playgrounds and hospitals as areas where the division of liquor control could refuse to issue or transfer a retail liquor permit.
Kearney said he believes the bill could be a tool to bolster local community members through the process of "rejecting problem establishments by strengthening guidelines for the Liquor Control Commission."
"Extending the power of the Liquor Control Commission will ensure that both seniors and children are protected from potentially dangerous businesses and empower the community to have more say in what businesses can build in their neighborhoods," he said., TIFFANY L. PARKS, Daily Reporter Staff Writer, Copyright 2010, The Daily Reporter, 580 S. High St., Columbus, OH., Sen. Eric Kearney has called Senate Bill 296 "a minor but much needed expansion of current law.", publish, open, , , Bill would further restrict locations of Ohio liquor stores, 2011-11-07 20:50:36, , 0, , Senator Eric Kearney, Senate Bill 296, SB 296, Ohio General Assembly, Liquor Stores, Locations, Restrict, Restrictions, 0, 1, 1, article, 1, 0, 0, 2010-09-07, 2, 2">
Toledo Legal News : News