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

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 11 of chapter 138 of the General Laws, the licensing authority of the town of Stoneham is hereby authorized to grant to restaurants with seating capacities of 50 or more licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises or licenses for the sale of wines and malt beverages to be drunk on the premises. Such licenses shall be subject to all the provisions of said chapter 138 except said section 11.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 11 of chapter 138 of the General Laws, this act shall be submitted to the voters of the town of Stoneham at an annual or special town election in the form of the following question which shall be placed on the official ballot used at said election "Shall an act passed by the general court in the year 2000 entitled, 'An Act authorizing the town of Stoneham to grant certain licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises' be accepted?". If a majority of the votes cast in answer to said question is in the affirmative, this act shall therefore take full effect, but not otherwise.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.