GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001

SENATE BILL 584
RATIFIED BILL

AN ACT TO MODIFY THE DISTRIBUTIONS FROM THE town of RUTHERFORDTON BOARD OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Section 1 of S.L. 1997‑98 reads as rewritten:
"Section 1.  Section 5.4 of Chapter 350 of the 1979 Session Laws reads as rewritten:
"Section 5.4. Alcoholic Beverage Control Stores. A. The governing body of the Town of Rutherfordton may, on its own motion, and shall, upon receipt of petition signed by qualified voters of the Town equal in number to fifteen percent (15%) of the votes cast for Mayor in the most recent regular town election, call and conduct a special election in the Town upon the question of whether Alcoholic Beverage Control stores shall be established in the Town and/or whether 'off‑premises' sales of malt beverages shall be permitted. Such election or elections may be held notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 18A‑52(d)(h) and (i). No new registration of voters shall be necessary for such special election, and all qualified voters of the town who are registered prior to the registration period for such special election, and all who register during such period shall be eligible and entitled to vote in such special election. Except as otherwise provided herein, if a special election is called, the special election authorized shall be conducted under the same statutes, rules and regulations applicable to general elections for the Town of Rutherfordton. The governing body shall cause public notice of any such special election to be posted at the Town Hall and published in a newspaper having general circulation in the town at least 15 days preceding the day of the election.
B. At such special election, ballots shall be provided which contain the words, 'For Town Alcoholic Beverage Control Stores' and 'Against Town Alcoholic Beverage Control Stores' and/or, 'For off‑premises sales of malt beverages' and 'Against off‑premises sales of malt beverages'. The Town Council shall determine whether both questions are to be included on the same ballot or separate ballots. Appropriate squares shall be printed to the left of each phrase so that each voter may designate with an 'X' his preference. The cost of conducting the election shall be appropriated from the General Fund of the Town of Rutherfordton.
C. If a majority of the votes cast at any such special election authorized under this section shall be cast 'For Town Alcoholic Beverage Control Stores' then it shall thereafter be lawful for such store or stores to be established and operated within the town, and the Town Council will then immediately create and appoint the Town of Rutherfordton Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, to be composed of a chairman and two other members. The member designated chairman by the Town Council shall serve for a term of three years; one member for a term of two years; and one member for a term of one year. After serving the initial terms, successors shall be appointed for terms of three years. Any vacancy on such board shall be filled by the Town Council for the unexpired term. Compensation of the members of the Board shall be fixed by the Town Council. If a majority of the votes cast in any such election authorized under this section shall be cast 'For off‑premises sales of malt beverages' then the off‑premises sale of malt beverages shall thereafter be lawful in the Town of Rutherfordton.
D. The Town of Rutherfordton Alcoholic Beverage Control Board shall have all the powers granted to, and duties imposed upon, county alcoholic control boards by G.S. 18A‑17, except that G.S. 18A‑17 (14)	shall not apply to the Rutherfordton Board of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and shall be subject to the powers and authority of the State Board of Alcoholic Beverage Control as granted by G.S. 18A‑15; provided, however, that the location of stores and the purchase or lease of real property shall be subject to the approval of the Town Council.
The Rutherfordton Board of Alcoholic Beverage Control on a quarterly basis shall, after retaining a sufficient and proper working capital and making payment of salaries and expenses, distribute the net profits out of the operation of said alcoholic beverage control store(s) in the following manner, and none other:
Five percent (5%) to the Rutherford County Department of Mental Health to be specifically used for alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs.
Twelve and one-half percent (12.5%) to the Rutherford County Board of Education for specific use in meeting capital outlay needs at Rutherfordton‑Spindale High School.
Six and one-quarter percent (6.25%) to the Rutherford County Board of Education for specific use in meeting the capital outlay needs at Rutherfordton Elementary School.
Six and one-quarter percent (6.25%) to the Rutherford County Board of Education for specific use in meeting the capital outlay needs at Rutherfordton‑Spindale Middle School.

Twenty percent (20%) to the Town of Rutherfordton Parks and Recreation Commission to be used for capital improvements, maintenance and programs in its Recreational activities.
Twenty‑five percent (25%) to the Town Council of Rutherfordton for use in law enforcement through the Town Police Department.
Twenty‑five percent (25%) to the Town Council of Rutherfordton to be used for any lawful purposes the board may deem necessary and essential.
All agencies outside of the government of the Town of Rutherfordton which receive net proceeds from the Town Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, shall be required to file an annual report to the Town Council, specifying how all proceeds were expended.
E. Subsequent elections on Alcoholic Beverage Control stores or off‑premises sales of malt beverages shall not be held within two years of any previous election on the question, provided an election on one question shall not prevent an election on the other question.
If a subsequent election is held and the majority of the votes are cast 'Against Town Alcoholic Beverage Control Stores' the Town of Rutherfordton Alcoholic Beverage Control Board shall, within three months of certification of such election, dispose of all alcoholic beverages on hand and all of the assets under the control of said board, and convert the same into cash and turn the same over to the Town Treasurer. If a subsequent election is held and the majority of the votes are cast 'Against off‑premises sales of malt beverages' then the off‑premises sale of malt beverages shall cease to be lawful in the Town of Rutherfordton."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 7th day of June, 2001.

	____________________________________________
		 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

	____________________________________________
		 Joe Hackney
	 Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives