OLR Bill Analysis

HB 6471

AN ACT MAKING CHANGES TO THE LIQUOR CONTROL ACT.

SUMMARY:

This bill (1) allows café liquor permit holders to open at 6: 00 a. m. to serve food, but not alcohol; (2) allows tavern and café premises serving as sites for motion picture filming to remain open after hours; (3) authorizes accredited higher education institutions to manufacture or dispense wine on-premises as part of an established, approved curriculum; and (4) eliminates an unused permit class and references to it.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2009

CAFÉ HOURS

The bill adjusts the hours of operation for cafés to allow them to open at 6: 00 a. m. to serve food, but not alcohol. It also prohibits public occupation of a café between 2: 00 a. m. and 6: 00 a. m. or during any period in which the café permit is suspended.

TAVERNS, CAFÉS, AND FILMS

The bill allows a tavern or café being used as a site for projects eligible for the state film production tax credit to be open to the public beyond regular hours of operation. Sale or consumption of alcohol beyond the authorized hours of operation is still prohibited.

HIGHER EDUCATION

The bill authorizes accredited higher education institutions to manufacture or dispense wine as part of an academic course in an established curriculum. The course must be conducted on the institution's premises.

PERMIT ELIMINATION

The bill eliminates the racquetball facility permit and references to it. There are no racquetball facility permittees in the state.

BACKGROUND

Film Tax Credit

In the 2006 and 2007 sessions, the General Assembly established transferable corporation and insurance premium tax credits for film and digital media production, film infrastructure investment, and digital animation production in Connecticut. The film and digital media production credit is 30% of qualified production, preproduction, and postproduction expenses incurred in the state that exceed $ 50,000. The film infrastructure investment credit ranges from 10-20% depending on the project's costs. The credit is for investments in basic buildings, facilities, or installations that the film and digital media industry needs to function in Connecticut. The digital animation production credit is 30% of eligible expenses over $ 50,000 incurred in the state for developing and producing computer-generated animation content for public distribution and exhibition. The Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism administers the credits.

COMMITTEE ACTION

General Law Committee

Joint Favorable