958

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 184

FOR the purpose of altering in Prince George's County the
time required before a license expires to protest its
renewal.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 2B - Alcoholic Beverages

Section 68(a)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1976 Replacement Volume and 1979 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article 2B - Alcoholic Beverages

68.

(a) The holder of any expiring license, other than
special licenses issued under the provisions of this
article, shall, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days
before the first day of May of each and every year, file a
written application, duly verified by oath, for the renewal
of the license with the official authorized to approve the
same. The renewal application shall state that the facts in
the original application are unchanged. It shall be
accompanied by a statement signed by the owner of the
premises consenting to renewal of the license and to search
and seizure as in the case of original applications. In the
case of retail dealers applying for renewal, the statement
of consent by the owner of the premises may not be required
if the owner has previously signed such a statement in
connection with an original application or previous renewal
application giving consent for the term of the owner's lease
with the applicant if the lease or renewal does not expire
during the term of the renewal license. Upon the filing of
the renewal application, and upon payment of the annual fee,
the holder of the expiring license is entitled to a new
license for another year without the filing of further
statements or the furnishing of any further information
unless specifically requested by the official authorized to
approve the license. A license by way of renewal may not be
approved without a hearing before such official if a protest
has been filed against the granting of the new license at
least 30 days, AND IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY AT LEAST 60
DAYS NO LATER THAN MARCH 1 OF THE YEAR IN WHICH THE LICENSE
EXPIRES, before the expiration of the license for which
renewal is sought. This protest shall be (1) signed by not
less than ten residents or real estate owners in the
immediate vicinity in which the licensed place of business
is located; or (2) instituted by the Board of Licensing
Commissioners on its own initiative; or (3) in Prince
George's County, instituted by the municipality in which the
licensed place of business is located subsequent to a public
hearing by the municipality. If the protest has been filed