Tex.
Alcoh. Bev. Code Section 11.61
Cancellation or Suspension of Permit
(a)
As used in Subsection (b) of this section, the word “permittee” also includes each member of a partnership or association and, with respect to a corporation, each officer and the owner or owners of a majority of the corporate stock. This section shall not be construed as prohibiting anything permitted under Section 22.06 (Prohibited Interests), 24.05 (Prohibited Interests), or 102.05 (Hotel: Multiple Interests Authorized) of this code.(b)
The commission or administrator may suspend for not more than 60 days or cancel an original or renewal permit if it is found, after notice and hearing, that any of the following is true:(1)
the permittee has been finally convicted of a violation of this code;(2)
the permittee violated a provision of this code or a rule of the commission;(3)
the permittee was finally convicted of a felony while holding an original or renewal permit;(4)
the permittee made a false or misleading statement in connection with the permittee’s original or renewal application, either in the formal application itself or in any other written instrument relating to the application submitted to the commission, its officers, or employees;(5)
the permittee is indebted to the state for taxes, fees, or payment of penalties imposed by this code, by a rule of the commission, or by Chapter 183 (Mixed Beverage Taxes), Tax Code;(6)
the permittee is not of good moral character or the permittee’s reputation for being a peaceable and law-abiding citizen in the community where the permittee resides is bad;(7)
the place or manner in which the permittee conducts the permittee’s business warrants the cancellation or suspension of the permit based on the general welfare, health, peace, morals, and safety of the people and on the public sense of decency;(8)
the permittee is not maintaining an acceptable bond;(9)
the permittee maintains a noisy, lewd, disorderly, or unsanitary establishment or has supplied impure or otherwise deleterious beverages;(10)
the permittee is insolvent or has developed an incapacity that prevents or could prevent the permittee from carrying on the management of the permittee’s establishment with reasonable skill, competence, and safety to the public;(11)
the permittee is in the habit of using alcoholic beverages to excess;(12)
the permittee knowingly misrepresented to a customer or the public any liquor sold by the permittee;(13)
the permittee was intoxicated on the licensed premises;(14)
the permittee sold or delivered an alcoholic beverage to an intoxicated person;(15)
the permittee possessed on the licensed premises an alcoholic beverage that the permittee was not authorized under the permit to purchase and sell;(16)
a package store or wine only package store permittee transported or shipped liquor, or caused it to be transported or shipped, into a dry state or a dry area within this state;(17)
the permittee is residentially domiciled with a person who has a financial interest in an establishment engaged in the business of selling malt beverages at retail, other than a mixed beverage establishment, except as authorized by Section 22.06 (Prohibited Interests), 24.05 (Prohibited Interests), or 102.05 (Hotel: Multiple Interests Authorized);(18)
the permittee is residentially domiciled with a person whose permit or license was cancelled for cause within the 12-month period preceding the permittee’s own application;(19)
the permittee is not a citizen of the United States or has not been a citizen of Texas for a period of one year immediately preceding the filing of the permittee’s application, unless the permittee was issued an original or renewal permit on or before September 1, 1948, and has been a United States citizen at some time;(20)
the permittee permitted a person to open a container of alcoholic beverage or possess an open container of alcoholic beverage on the licensed premises unless a mixed beverage permit has been issued for the premises;(21)
the permittee failed to promptly report to the commission a breach of the peace occurring on the permittee’s licensed premises;(22)
the permittee consumed an alcoholic beverage or permitted one to be consumed on the licensed premises at a time when the consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited by this code; or(23)
the permittee sold, served, or delivered an alcoholic beverage at a time when its sale is prohibited.(b-1)
Notwithstanding Section 204.01 (Bond Required) and any other provision of this code, a person applying for a license or permit under Chapter 25 (Wine and Malt Beverage Retailer’s Permit) or 69 (Retail Dealer’s On-premise License) for the on-premises consumption of malt beverages exclusively or malt beverages and wine exclusively, other than a license or permit for an establishment holding a food and beverage certificate whose primary business being operated on the premises is food service, must file with the commission a surety bond, in an amount to be determined by the commission, conditioned on the licensee’s or permittee’s conformance with the alcoholic beverage law. The bond is forfeited to the commission on the suspension of the license or permit for the first time under this section or Section 61.71 (Grounds for Cancellation or Suspension: Retail Dealer). Before the suspended license or permit may be reinstated, the licensee or permittee must furnish a second surety bond, similarly conditioned, in an amount greater than the initial surety bond, the amount to be determined by the commission. If the same license or permit is suspended under this section or Section 61.71 (Grounds for Cancellation or Suspension: Retail Dealer) a second time, the bond is again forfeited to the commission. Before the suspended license or permit may be reinstated, the licensee or permittee shall furnish a third surety bond, similarly conditioned, in an amount greater than the second surety bond, the amount to be determined by the commission. If the same license or permit is suspended under this section or Section 61.71 (Grounds for Cancellation or Suspension: Retail Dealer) a third time, the bond is again forfeited to the commission and the license or permit shall be canceled by the commission. This subsection applies only to a license or permit held in connection with an establishment located in a county with a population of 1.4 million or more.(b-2)
Subsection (b-1) does not apply to a fraternal organization or veterans organization, as those terms are defined by Section 32.11 (Fraternal and Veterans Organizations).(c)
The commission or administrator may refuse to renew or, after notice and hearing, suspend for not more than 60 days or cancel a permit if the commission or administrator finds that the permittee:(1)
no longer holds a sales tax permit, if required, for the place of business covered by the alcoholic beverage permit; or(2)
is shown on the records of the comptroller of public accounts as being subject to a final determination of taxes due and payable under the Limited Sales, Excise and Use Tax Act (Chapter 151 (Limited Sales, Excise, and Use Tax), Tax Code), or is shown on the records of the comptroller of public accounts as being subject to a final determination of taxes due and payable under Chapter 321 (Municipal Sales and Use Tax Act), Tax Code.(d)
The commission or administrator without a hearing may for investigative purposes summarily suspend a mixed beverage permit or a wine and malt beverage retailer’s permit for not more than seven days if the commission or administrator finds that a shooting, stabbing, or murder has occurred on the licensed premises which is likely to result in a subsequent act of violence. Notice of the order suspending the permit shall be given to the permittee personally within 24 hours of the time the violent act occurs. If the permittee cannot be located, notice shall be provided by posting a copy of the order on the front door of the licensed premises.(d-1)
Notwithstanding Section 11.64 (Alternatives to Suspension, Cancellation), the commission or administrator shall cancel an original or renewal permit if it is found, after notice and hearing, that the permittee was convicted of an offense under Section 101.76 (Unlawful Display or Use of Permit or License).(e)
Repealed by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 809 (H.B. 1927), Sec. 26(2), eff. September 1, 2021.(f)
The commission may adopt a rule allowing:(1)
a gun or firearm show on the premises of a permit holder, if the premises is owned or leased by a governmental entity or a nonprofit civic, religious, charitable, fraternal, or veterans’ organization;(2)
the holder of a permit for the sale of alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption to also hold a federal firearms license; or(3)
the ceremonial display of firearms on the premises of the permit holder.(g)
The length of a suspension must be appropriate for the nature and seriousness of the violation. In determining the length of a suspension, the commission or administrator shall consider:(1)
the type of license or permit held;(2)
the type of violation;(3)
any aggravating or ameliorating circumstances concerning the violation, including those enumerated in Section 11.64 (Alternatives to Suspension, Cancellation)(c); and(4)
the permittee’s or licensee’s previous violations.(h)
The length of a suspension may not be based on:(1)
the volume of alcoholic beverages sold;(2)
the receipts of the business;(3)
the taxes paid; or(4)
the financial condition of the permittee or licensee.(i)
The commission shall adopt rules allowing a historical reenactment on the premises of a permit holder. Rules adopted under this subsection must prohibit the use of live ammunition in a historical reenactment.(j)
A hearing under Subsection (b) must be concluded not later than the 60th day after notice is provided under that subsection. Neither the permittee nor the commission may waive the provisions of this subsection. This subsection applies only to a hearing in connection with a wine and malt beverage retailer’s permit, other than a permit held with a food and beverage certificate, for premises located in a county with a population of 1.4 million or more.
Source:
Section 11.61 — Cancellation or Suspension of Permit, https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/AL/htm/AL.11.htm#11.61 (accessed Jun. 5, 2024).
