Session Laws

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to immediately authorize the retail sale of alcoholic beverages on certain Sundays in certain cities and towns, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Section 6 of chapter 136 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out clause (52), as most recently amended by section 490 of chapter 133 of the acts of 1992, and inserting in place thereof the following clause:-

(52) The retail sale of alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises, (a) on the Sunday immediately preceding Thanksgiving day and each Sunday thereafter until and including the Sunday immediately preceding New Year's day by retail establishments throughout the commonwealth licensed under section fifteen of chapter one hundred and thirty-eight, and (b) on any Sunday by any retail establishment licensed under the provisions of section fifteen of chapter one hundred and thirty-eight and located in any city or town in Berkshire county, Essex county, Franklin county, Middlesex county or Worcester county, which city or town is located within ten miles of the New Hampshire border or within ten miles of the Vermont border; provided, however, that a local licensing authority may grant, at its discretion, a permit to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages under this clause; and, provided further, that no such sale shall occur unless such permit has been granted; and, provided further, that such permit shall not allow such sale to occur prior to the hour of twelve noon or on a legal holiday as defined in clause eighteenth of section seven of chapter four when said holiday occurs on one of the Sundays described herein; and, provided further, that establishments operating under the provisions of this clause shall compensate all employees at a rate of not less than one and one-half of the employee's regular rate; and, provided further, that no employee shall be required to work and refusal to work on a Sunday shall not be grounds for discrimination, dismissal, discharge, deduction of hours or any other penalty.