Text of section effective until December 31, 2020

Sec. 61.42. MANDATORY GROUNDS FOR REFUSAL: DISTRIBUTOR OR RETAILER. (a) The county judge shall refuse to approve an application for a license as a distributor or retailer if the county judge has reasonable grounds to believe and finds that:

(1) the applicant is a minor;

(2) the applicant is indebted to the state for any taxes, fees, or penalties imposed by this code or by rule of the commission;

(3) the place or manner in which the applicant for a retail dealer's license may conduct the applicant's business warrants a refusal of the application for a license based on the general welfare, health, peace, morals, safety, and sense of decency of the people;

(4) the applicant has developed an incapacity that prevents or could prevent the applicant from conducting the applicant's business with reasonable skill, competence, and safety to the public;

(5) the applicant is not a United States citizen or has not been a citizen of Texas for a period of one year immediately preceding the filing of the applicant's application, unless the applicant was issued an original or renewal license on or before September 1, 1948;

(6) the applicant was finally convicted of a felony during the five years immediately preceding the filing of the applicant's application;

(7) the applicant is not of good moral character or the applicant's reputation for being a peaceable, law-abiding citizen in the community where the applicant resides is bad; or

(8) as to a corporation, it is not incorporated under the laws of this state, or at least 51 percent of the corporate stock is not owned at all times by persons who individually are qualified to obtain a license, except that this subdivision does not apply to a holder of any renewal of a distributor's license which was in effect on January 1, 1953.

(b) The county judge, commission, or administrator shall refuse to approve or issue an original retail dealer's or retail dealer's on-premise license unless the applicant for the license files with the application a certificate issued by the comptroller of public accounts stating that the applicant holds, or has applied for and satisfies all legal requirements for the issuance of, a sales tax permit for the place of business for which the license is sought.

(c) The county judge, commission, or administrator shall refuse to approve or issue for a period of one year a retail dealer's on-premise license or a wine and beer retailer's permit for a premises where a license or permit has been canceled during the preceding 12 months as a result of a shooting, stabbing, or other violent act, or as a result of an offense involving drugs, prostitution, or trafficking of persons.

(d) The county judge, commission, or administrator shall refuse to approve or issue a license to a person convicted of an offense under Section 101.76 for a period of five years from the date of the conviction.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 466, ch. 194, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977. Amended by Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 1967, ch. 777, Sec. 6, eff. Aug. 27, 1979; Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 254, ch. 107, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1981; Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 285, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1986; Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 462, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 1986; Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 690, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1985; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 934, Sec. 50, 51, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 625, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 515 (H.B. 2014), Sec. 1.04, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 424 (S.B. 367), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2015.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1359 (H.B. 1545), Sec. 182(a), eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1359 (H.B. 1545), Sec. 182(b), eff. December 31, 2020.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1359 (H.B. 1545), Sec. 182(c), eff. September 1, 2021.