2025-2026 Bill 4000 Text of Previous Version (Feb. 13, 2025)

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 61-2-100, RELATING TO THE PERSONS ENTITLED TO BE LICENSEES OR PERMITTEES, SO AS TO ADD PERFORMING ARTS AND CONVENTION COMPLEXES; BY AMENDING SECTION 61-4-515, RELATING TO THE PERMIT FOR PURCHASE AND SALE FOR ON-PREMISES CONSUMPTION, SO AS TO ADD PERFORMING ARTS AND CONVENTION COMPLEXES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 61-6-2016, RELATING TO THE BIENNIAL LICENSE FOR PURCHASE AND SALE FOR ON-PREMISES CONSUMPTION, SO AS TO ADD PERFORMING ARTS AND CONVENTION COMPLEXES.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Section 61-2-100(H)(2) of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

(j) notwithstanding any other provision of law, a license or permit may be issued to a nonprofit corporation that manages a performing arts and convention complex as defined in Sections 61-6-2016(D)(5) and 61-4-515(D)(5), which is considered to be the applicant pursuant to Section 61-2-160. The nonprofit corporation shall designate its chief executive officer or other officer of the nonprofit corporation of good moral character, over the age of twenty-one, and a resident of this State in whose name the permit or license must be held on behalf of the nonprofit corporation and the nonprofit corporation may substitute another officer of the nonprofit corporation if the individual is of good moral character, over the age of twenty-one, and a resident of this State, and upon notice in writing of the substitution to the department.

SECTION 2. Section 61-4-515 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

Section 61-4-515. (A) In addition to the permits authorized pursuant to the provisions of this article, the department also may issue a biennial permit to the owner, or his designee, of a motorsports entertainment complex, tennis specific complex, soccer complex, performing arts and convention complex, or baseball complex located in this State, which authorizes the purchase and sale for on-premises consumption of beer and wine at any occasion held on the grounds of the complex year round on any day of the week. The nonrefundable filing fee and the fees for the motorsports, tennis complex, soccer complex, performing arts and convention complex, or baseball complex biennial permit are the same as for other biennial permits for on-premises consumption of beer and wine, with the revenue therefrom used for the purposes provided in Section 61-4-510. Notwithstanding another provision of this article, the issuance of this permit authorizes the permit holder to purchase beer and wine from licensed wholesalers in the same manner that a person with appropriate licenses issued pursuant to this title purchases beer and wine from licensed wholesalers. The department in its discretion may specify the terms and conditions of the permit, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 4, Title 61, and other applicable provisions under Title 61.

(B) The department may require such proof of qualifications for the issuance of these permits as it considers necessary, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 4, Title 61, and these permits may be issued whether or not the motorsports entertainment complex, tennis specific complex, soccer complex, performing arts and convention complex, or baseball complex is located in a county or municipality which pursuant to Section 61-6-2010 successfully has held a referendum allowing the possession, sale, and consumption of beer or wine or alcoholic liquors by the drink for a period not to exceed twenty-four hours.

(C) The owner or designee of the motorsports entertainment complex, the tennis specific complex, the soccer complex, performing arts and convention complex, or the baseball complex may designate particular areas within the complex where patrons of events who have paid an admission price to attend or guests who are attending private functions at the complex, whether or not a charge for attendance is made, may possess and consume beer and wine provided at their own expense or at the expense of the sponsor of the private function.

(D) For purposes of this section:

(1) "Motorsports entertainment" has the same meaning as provided in Section 12-21-2425.

(2) "Tennis specific complex" means a tennis facility, and its ancillary grounds and facilities, which satisfies all of the following:

(a) has at least ten thousand fixed seats for tennis patrons;

(b) hosted one Women's Tennis Association Premier tournament in 2013 and continues to host at least one Women's Tennis Association Premier tournament in each year, or any successor Women's Tennis Association tournament; and

(3) "Baseball complex" means a baseball stadium, and its ancillary grounds and facilities, that hosts a professional league baseball team.

(4) "Soccer complex" means a soccer facility, along with its ancillary grounds and facilities, that hosts a professional league soccer team.

(5) "Performing arts and convention complex" means a performing arts and convention facility, along with its ancillary grounds and facilities, that satisfies all of the following:

(a) is owned by a municipality;

(b) has performance hall seating of at least one thousand six hundred seats and at least twelve thousand square feet of meeting, exhibition, and convention space; and

SECTION 3. Section 61-6-2016 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

Section 61-6-2016. (A) In addition to the other provisions of this chapter, the owner, or his designee, of a motorsports entertainment complex, tennis specific complex, soccer complex, or performing arts and convention complex, or baseball complex that is located in this State may be issued, upon application, a biennial license that authorizes the purchase and sale for on-premises consumption of alcoholic liquors by the drink at any occasion held on the grounds of the complex under the same terms and conditions provided in Section 61-4-515, and the nonrefundable filing fee and license fee are the same as for other biennial licenses issued by the department for on-premises consumption of alcoholic liquors by the drink. In the event that the owner or his designee applies for both a permit to purchase and sell for on-premises consumption beer and wine and a license to purchase and sell for on-premises consumption alcoholic liquors by the drink, only one fee is required, which is the same as the fee for the fifty-two week local option permit under Section 61-6-2010 with the revenue therefrom used for the same purposes as provided in Section 61-6-2010.

(B) The department may require such proof of qualifications for the issuance of these licenses as it considers necessary, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 6, Title 61, and these licenses may be issued whether or not the motorsports entertainment complex, tennis specific complex, soccer complex, or performing arts and convention complex, or baseball complex is located in a county or municipality, which pursuant to Section 61-6-2010 has successfully held a referendum allowing the possession, sale, and consumption of beer or wine or alcoholic liquors by the drink for a period not to exceed twenty-four hours.

(C) The owner or designee of the motorsports entertainment complex, the tennis specific complex, the soccer complex, performing arts and convention complex, or the baseball complex may designate particular areas within the complex where patrons of events who have paid an admission price to attend or guests who are attending private functions at the complex, whether or not a charge for attendance is made, may possess and consume alcoholic liquors by the drink provided at their own expense or at the expense of the sponsor of the private function.

(D) For purposes of this section:

(1) "Motorsports entertainment complex" has the same meaning as provided in Section 12-21-2425.

(2) "Tennis specific complex" means a tennis facility, and its ancillary grounds and facilities, that satisfies all of the following: