(1) The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission may require that every applicant for issuance or renewal of a license under this chapter acquire a written recommendation from the governing body of the county if the place of business of the applicant is outside an incorporated city, and from the city council if the place of business of the applicant is within an incorporated city. The commission may take such written recommendation into consideration before granting or refusing the license.

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(2) If the commission requires that an applicant for issuance of a new license acquire the written recommendation of a local government, the applicant must give notice to the local government when an application is made for issuance of the license. If the local government files a favorable recommendation with the commission within 45 days after the notice is given, the commission shall proceed with consideration of the application. The commission shall proceed with consideration of the application as though the local government had made a favorable recommendation unless, within 45 days after notice is given to the local government:

(a) The local government files an unfavorable recommendation with the commission with a statement of the grounds for the unfavorable recommendation; or

(b) The local government files a request for additional time with the commission that sets forth the reason additional time is needed by the local government, a statement that the local government is considering making an unfavorable recommendation on the application, and the specific grounds on which the local government is considering making an unfavorable recommendation.

(3) If the commission requires that an applicant for renewal of a license acquire the written recommendation of a local government under this section, the commission shall give notice to the local government when an application is due for renewal of the license. If the local government files a favorable recommendation with the commission within 60 days after the notice is given, the commission shall proceed with consideration of the application. The commission shall proceed with consideration of the application as though the local government had made a favorable recommendation unless within 60 days after notice is given to the local government:

(a) The local government files an unfavorable recommendation with the commission with a statement of the grounds for the unfavorable recommendation; or

(b) The local government files a request for additional time with the commission that sets forth the reason additional time is needed by the local government, a statement that the local government is considering making an unfavorable recommendation on the application, and the specific grounds on which the local government is considering making an unfavorable recommendation.

(4) The commission shall suspend consideration of an application subject to this section for a reasonable period of time if a local government requests additional time under subsection (2)(b) or (3)(b) of this section and the grounds given by the local government are valid grounds for an unfavorable determination under this chapter or rules adopted by the commission. The commission shall by rule establish the period of time that shall be granted to a local government pursuant to a request under subsections (2)(b) and (3)(b) of this section.

(5) The commission shall by rule establish valid grounds for unfavorable recommendations by local governments under this section. Valid grounds established by the commission under this section for an unfavorable recommendation by a local government must be limited to those grounds considered by the commission in making an unfavorable determination on a license application.

(6) A person filing an application for issuance or renewal of a license that is subject to this section must remit to the local government the fees established under subsections (7) and (8) of this section. The commission shall give notice to the applicant for license renewal of the amount of the fees and the name of the local government collecting the fees. The commission is not responsible for collecting the fees charged by the local government or for ensuring that the fees have been paid. An applicant for a license renewal shall certify in the application form filed with the commission that the applicant has paid any fees required under this section.

(7) An applicant required to seek a written recommendation from a local government must pay an application fee to the local government, in an amount determined by the governing body of the city or county, for each application for a license. The application fee established by a local government under this subsection may not exceed $25.

(8) After public notice and hearing, the governing body of a city or county may adopt an ordinance, rule or resolution prescribing licensing guidelines to be followed in making recommendations on license applications under this chapter and in allowing opportunity for public comment on applications. If the guidelines are approved by the commission as consistent with commission rules, after public notice and hearing the governing body may adopt an ordinance, rule or regulation establishing a system of fees that is reasonable and necessary to pay expenses of processing the written recommendation. Processing fees under this subsection are in lieu of fees under subsection (7) of this section. In no case shall the processing fee under this subsection be greater than $100 for an original application, $75 for a change in ownership, change in location or change in privilege application, and $35 for a renewal or temporary application. [1999 c.351 § 20; 2003 c.337 § 1; 2021 c.351 § 49]

(Mandatory Liability Insurance)