§707. Licensee not to be indebted, obligated or involved

1.  Licensee not indebted.  Except as provided by section 1363, the bureau may not issue any license to or renew the license of a person who is indebted in any manner, directly or indirectly:

A. To any other person for liquor;   [PL 1987, c. 45, Pt. A, §4 (NEW).]

B. To the State for any tax, other than property tax, assessed and considered final under Title 36 that the State Tax Assessor certifies, in accordance with Title 36, section 172, as remaining unpaid in an amount exceeding $1,000 for a period greater than 60 days after the applicant or licensee has received notice of the finality of that tax; or   [PL 1997, c. 373, §68 (AMD).]

C. For any contributions assessed and considered final under Title 26, section 1225, when the Director of Unemployment Compensation certifies that the amount remains unpaid for a period greater than 60 days, after the applicant or licensee has received notice of the finality of that tax.   [PL 1987, c. 45, Pt. A, §4 (NEW).]

[PL 1997, c. 373, §68 (AMD).]

2.  Licensee must not receive anything of value.  No licensee or applicant for a license may receive, directly or indirectly, any money, credit, thing of value, indorsement of commercial paper, guarantee of credit or financial assistance of any sort from any person within or without the State, if the person is:

A. Engaged, directly or indirectly, in the manufacture, distribution, wholesale sale, storage or transportation of liquor; or   [PL 1987, c. 342, §40 (AMD).]

B. Engaged in the manufacture, distribution, sale or transportation of any commodity, equipment, material or advertisement used in connection with the manufacture, distribution, wholesale sale, storage or transportation of liquor.   [PL 1987, c. 342, §40 (AMD).]

Nothing in this subsection prevents an affiliate of a licensee from receiving money for sponsorship of a transportation system for transporting the public or for sponsorship of specific sporting events and cultural events as long as the licensee does not receive any payment or thing of value from the public transportation system or the sporting and cultural events and as long as such an affiliate does not derive any portions of its revenues from the licensee. All sponsorships must have prior written approval of the bureau. The bureau shall adopt rules implementing this paragraph.

[PL 1993, c. 730, §30 (AMD).]

3.  Retail licensee; interest in wholesaler or certificate of approval.  Except as authorized in section 1355-A, a retail licensee may not have any financial interest, direct or indirect, in any:

A. Maine manufacturer's or wholesaler's license; or   [PL 1987, c. 45, Pt. A, §4 (NEW).]

B. Certificate of approval issued to an out-of-state manufacturer or foreign wholesaler of malt liquor or wine.   [PL 1987, c. 45, Pt. A, §4 (NEW).]

[PL 2011, c. 629, §9 (AMD).]

4.  Certificate of approval holder or Maine manufacturer; interest in wholesaler or retail license.  Except as authorized in section 1355-A, a certificate of approval holder or in-state manufacturer may not have any financial interest, direct or indirect, in any:

A. Maine wholesale license; or   [PL 1987, c. 342, §42 (RPR).]

B. Maine retail license.   [PL 1987, c. 342, §42 (NEW).]

[PL 2011, c. 629, §10 (AMD).]

5.  Wholesale licensee; interest in certificate of approval holder, Maine manufacturer or retail license.  No wholesale licensee may have any financial interest, direct or indirect, in any:

A. Certificate of approval issued to an out-of-state manufacturer or foreign wholesaler of malt liquor;   [PL 1987, c. 342, §42 (NEW).]

B. Maine manufacturer license; or   [PL 1987, c. 342, §42 (NEW).]

C. Maine retail license.   [PL 1987, c. 342, §42 (NEW).]

[PL 1987, c. 342, §42 (RPR).]

6.  Minor investment.  Minor investment in securities of a corporation engaged in liquor business not amounting to more than 1% shall not be held to be an interest forbidden by this subsection.

[PL 1987, c. 342, §43 (NEW).]

7.  Application.  This section does not prohibit a wholesale licensee from receiving normal credits for the purchase of malt liquor or wine from the manufacturer located within or without the State.

[PL 1987, c. 342, §43 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1987, c. 45, §A4 (NEW). PL 1987, c. 342, §§40-43 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 730, §30 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 373, §68 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 390, §§2,3 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 629, §§9, 10 (AMD).