(a) In addition to the findings and declarations set forth in subsection (a), section two of this article, the Legislature hereby finds and declares that:

(1) The provisions of this article as enacted during the regular session of the Legislature in 1990 were intended to require that all licenses issued for the retail sale of liquor expire as of July 1, 2000, and that the issuance of retail licenses for the ten-year period beginning July 1, 2000, and for each ten-year period thereafter, be based on sealed competitive bids except as provided in section ten-b of this article;

(2) It is the intention of the Legislature to provide that all retail licenses issued beginning July 1, 2000, expire ten years from the date of issuance and that every ten years the issuance of retail licenses be based on competitive bids, except as provided in section ten-b of this article;

(3) The purposes set forth in subsection (b), section two of this article remain the purposes of the Legislature;

(4) Many of those persons who currently hold retail licenses have not only provided the services to the public contemplated by this article, but in many instances have provided employment, invested significant time and money into their businesses and otherwise made substantial contributions to the economic and civic development of the communities in which they conduct business, and therefore, current retail licensees should be afforded special consideration if their bids for the licenses issued for the ten-year period beginning July 1, 2000, and July 1 every ten years thereafter, be unsuccessful;

(5) Those persons who are issued a retail license for the ten-year period beginning on July 1, 2000, and for any ten-year period thereafter should also be afforded special consideration if they operate or seek to operate a freestanding liquor retail outlet or if their bids for a retail license are unsuccessful; and

(6) Further statutory changes are desirable to effect the purposes set forth in subsection (b), section two of this article.

(b) It is, therefore, the further purposes of the Legislature in providing for the retail sale of liquor to:

(1) Require that all licenses issued for the ten-year period beginning July 1, 2000, and for each ten-year period thereafter be based on sealed competitive bids except as provided in section ten-b of this article;

(2) Provide active retail licensees who operate or seek to operate a freestanding liquor retail outlet the opportunity to pay a purchase option for a Class A retail license or licenses for the ten-year period beginning July 1, 2010, and for each ten-year period thereafter;

(3) Provide current retail licensees who, having bid in a manner consistent with the provisions of this article, fail to submit the highest bid for licenses issued for the ten-year period beginning July 1, 2010, and for each ten-year period thereafter an additional opportunity to obtain the license; and

(4) Effect statutory changes to further the purposes provided in this section and section two of this article.