§ 3-5-10. Residence of licensees and qualifications of persons and corporations as licensee. (a)(1) Except as otherwise provided, licenses are issued only to citizens who are residents of this state. It is not required that dining car companies, sleeping car companies, railroad companies operating in this state, or companies operating passenger-carrying marine vessels in this state be citizens of this state in order to be eligible to receive retailers' Class G licenses. Retailer's licenses may, however, be issued to corporations incorporated in any other of the United States which are authorized by the secretary of state to transact business in this state.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a)(1) of this section, no license shall be issued, granted, renewed, or transferred to any trust or trustee or to any corporation of which any share or shares of stock or other indicia of ownership or control are owned or held by any trust, or trustee, business organization, or other entity or person other than a natural person or corporation authorized by the secretary of state to transact business in this state; provided, however, that this subsection shall not affect any grant, renewal, or transfer of a license which occurred prior to the effective date of this subsection [June 15, 2000].

(b)(1) In applications for beverage licenses by corporations except those having more than twenty-five (25) stockholders, the names and addresses of all officers and members of the board of directors and of all stockholders shall be filed with the board, body, or official to whom application is made. No beverage license shall be issued to the corporation unless each officer, director or stockholder is a suitable person to hold a license within the discretion of the board, body or official to whom application is made.

(2) All those corporations holding beverage licenses shall report to the board, body or official who issued the licenses the name of any newly elected officer or director and the acquisition by any person of more than ten percent (10%) of any class of corporate stock, within thirty (30) days after the election or acquisition. Thereupon, the board, body or official may call a hearing, at its discretion, to determine whether the new officer, director or stockholder is a suitable person under this section and the board, body or official may revoke or suspend the license if the new officer or director or stockholder is not a suitable person to hold a license.

(3) No person shall acquire fifty percent (50%) or more of any class of the stock of any corporation licensed under this section, except corporations having more than twenty-five (25) stockholders, unless permission for the acquisition is first given by the board, body or official who issued the license. Application for permission to acquire stock is subject to the provisions of § 3-5-19 relating to the transfer of a license to another person except that it shall not be necessary that a new bond be given. Unless the board, body or official determines that the person seeking permission to acquire fifty per cent (50%) or more of the corporation's stock is a suitable person to hold a license, the permission shall not be given.

(4) The beverage license of a corporation is subject to suspension or revocation for failure to comply with any of the provisions of this section or for any fraud or misrepresentation in connection with the beverage license.

(c) Applicants for beverage licenses shall make full disclosure in their applications for a license of any interest, whether direct or indirect, by any other person, firm or corporation in the license applied for, and failure to do so or any misrepresentation by the applicant may be cause for denial of the application or revocation of the license if granted by the board, body or official issuing the license.

(d) The board, body or official issuing beverage licenses may also deny applications of persons who have criminal records, or who have records of repeated violations of this title.

History of Section. (P.L. 1933, ch. 2013, § 17; P.L. 1934, ch. 2088, § 5; G.L. 1938, ch. 163, § 4; G.L. 1956, § 3-5-10; P.L. 1963, ch. 156, § 1; P.L. 1965, ch. 109, § 1; P.L. 1973, ch. 194, § 1; P.L. 2000, ch. 48, § 1.)