A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO waive certain abc permit renewal and registration fees due on may 1, 2021, or for the period covering may 1, 2021, through april 30, 2022, and to waive certain deferred permit fees.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Notwithstanding G.S. 18B‑903, for the period from May 1, 2021, through April 30, 2022, the ABC Commission, upon a permittee's submission to the ABC Commission of a current recycling plan pursuant to G.S. 18B‑903(b)(2), shall renew or register without payment all of the following ABC permits that are active as of April 30, 2021:
(1)	On‑premises malt beverage permits issued pursuant to G.S. 18B‑1001(1).
(2)	On‑premises unfortified wine permits issued pursuant to G.S. 18B‑1001(3).
(3)	On‑premises fortified wine permits issued pursuant to G.S. 18B‑1001(5).
(4)	Mixed beverages permits issued pursuant to G.S. 18B‑1001(10).
(5)	Culinary permits issued pursuant to G.S. 18B‑1001(11).
(6)	Mixed beverages catering permits issued pursuant to G.S. 18B‑1001(12).
(7)	Guest room cabinet permits issued pursuant to G.S. 18B‑1001(13).
(8)	Wine‑tasting permits issued pursuant to G.S. 18B‑1001(15).
(9)	Wine shop permits issued pursuant to G.S. 18B‑1001(16).
(10)	Malt beverage tasting permits issued pursuant to G.S. 18B‑1001(18).
(11)	Spirituous liquor tasting permits issued pursuant to G.S. 18B‑1001(19).
(12)	Antique spirituous liquor permits issued pursuant to G.S. 18B‑1001(20).
(13)	Common area entertainment permits issued pursuant to G.S. 18B‑1001(21).
SECTION 2.  Any ABC permittee who has prepaid a fee that is waived under Section 1 of this act may request a refund for the total amount of the prepaid fee. No later than 30 days from the date it receives a request authorized under this section, the ABC Commission, in collaboration with the Department of Public Safety, shall refund the total amount of the prepaid fee to the ABC permittee.
SECTION 3.  Section 1 of S.L. 2020‑94, as amended by Section 1 of S.L. 2021‑2, reads as rewritten:
"SECTION 1.  Notwithstanding G.S. 18B‑903, payment of the fee for renewal or registration of an ABC permit held by an ABC permittee that was subject to an order of closure pursuant to Section 8 of Executive Order No. 141, Easing Restrictions on Travel, Business Operations, and Mass Gatherings, during the 2020‑2021 permit year shall not be required."
SECTION 4.  Section 3 of S.L. 2021‑2 reads as rewritten:
"SECTION 3.  Any ABC permittee that (i) was subject to an order of closure pursuant to Section 8 of Executive Order No. 141, Easing Restrictions on Travel, Business Operations, and Mass Gatherings, (ii) is subject to any executive order limiting the full operation of the permittee in response to the COVID‑19 pandemic, and (iii) has paid a fee for renewal or registration of an ABC permit for the 2020‑2021 permit year may request a refund of the fee from the ABC Commission. The request shall be made to the ABC Commission in writing, including by email or other electronic means. The refund shall be granted regardless of whether the permittee is operating at limited capacity pursuant to an executive order responding to the COVID‑19 pandemic. Notwithstanding G.S. 18B‑903, any permit held by a permittee who receives a refund shall remain active. A permittee that receives a refund from the Commission pursuant to this section shall not be required to repay the fee. Any person who (i) held an ABC permit in the 2020‑2021 permit year for a business that was subject to an order of closure pursuant to Section 8 of Executive Order No. 141, (ii) who paid the fee for renewal or registration of the permit, and (iii) surrendered the permit due to closure of the person's business may also request a refund and shall not be required to repay the fee."
SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law.