NOTE: The governor signed this measure on 4/11/2014.
      
      
      SENATE BILL 14-054
      
      
      BY SENATOR(S) Balmer, Jahn, Jones, Kefalas, Schwartz, Tochtrop,
      Todd;
      also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Pabon, Court, Fields, Ginal, Holbert, Kagan,
      Labuda, Lawrence, Melton, Pettersen, Schafer, Singer, Vigil, Young.
      
      
      Concerning the ability of an alcohol beverage licensee to
           petition the licensing authority to pay a fine in lieu of a
           license suspension ordered by the licensing authority.
       
      
      Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
      
           SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-47-601, amend (3)
      (a) as follows:
      
           12-47-601.  Suspension - revocation - fines. (3) (a)  Whenever a
      decision of the state or any local licensing authority suspending a license
      or permit for fourteen days or less becomes final, whether by failure of the
      licensee to appeal the decision or by exhaustion of all appeals and judicial
      review, the licensee may, before the operative date of the suspension,
      petition for permission to pay a fine in lieu of having the license or permit
      suspended suspension for all or part of the suspension period. Upon the
      receipt of the petition, the state or the local licensing authority may, in its
      sole discretion, stay the proposed suspension and cause any investigation
      to be made which that it deems desirable and may, in its sole discretion,
      grant the petition if it is satisfied that:
      
           (I)  The public welfare and morals would not be impaired by
      permitting the licensee to operate during the period set for suspension and
      that the payment of the fine will achieve the desired disciplinary purposes;
      that and
      
           (II)  The books and records of the licensee are kept in such a manner
      that the loss of sales of alcohol beverages that the licensee would have
      suffered had the suspension gone into effect can be determined with
      reasonable accuracy. therefrom; and
      
           (III)  That the licensee has not had his or her license or permit
      suspended or revoked, nor had any suspension stayed by payment of a fine,
      during the two years immediately preceding the date of the motion or
      complaint which has resulted in a final decision to suspend the license or
      permit.
      
           SECTION 2.  Applicability. This act applies to final alcohol
      beverage license or permit suspension decisions issued by the state or a
      local licensing authority on or after the effective date of this act.
      
           SECTION 3.  Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds,
      determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
      preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.
      
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Morgan Carroll                        Mark Ferrandino
      PRESIDENT OF                     SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
      THE SENATE                         OF REPRESENTATIVES
      
      
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Cindi L. Markwell                      Marilyn Eddins
      SECRETARY OF                 CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
      THE SENATE                         OF REPRESENTATIVES
      
      
      
      
                  APPROVED________________________________________
      
      
      
      
      
                                    _________________________________________
                                    John W. Hickenlooper
                                    GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO