(a) Upon a determination by the commissioner that a licensee has: (i) Violated the provisions of § 11-16-1 et seq. of this code or of this chapter; (ii) acted in such a way as would have precluded initial or renewal licensure; or (iii) violated any rule or order promulgated by the commissioner, the commissioner may impose any one or a combination of the following sanctions:

Terms Used In West Virginia Code 60-7-13

  • Code: means the official Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended. See West Virginia Code 60-7-2
  • Commissioner: means the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Commissioner. See West Virginia Code 60-7-2
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • Licensee: means the holder of a license to operate a private club granted under this article, which remains unexpired, unsuspended, and unrevoked. See West Virginia Code 60-7-2
  • Offense: includes every act or omission for which a fine, forfeiture, or punishment is imposed by law. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
  • State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10

(1) Revoke the licensee’s license;

(2) Suspend the licensee’s license;

(3) Place the licensee on probationary status for a period not to exceed 12 months; and

(4) Impose a monetary penalty not to exceed $1,000 for each violation where revocation is not imposed.

(b) Any monetary penalty assessed and collected by the commissioner shall be transmitted to the State Treasurer for deposit into the State Treasury to the credit of a special revenue fund designated the Alcohol Beverage Control Enforcement Fund, which is hereby continued. All moneys collected, received, and deposited in the Alcohol Beverage Control Enforcement Fund shall be kept and maintained for expenditures by the commissioner for the purpose of enforcement of the statutes and rules pertaining to alcoholic liquor, and shall not be treated by the State Treasurer or State Auditor as any part of the general revenue of the state. At the end of each fiscal year all funds in the Alcohol Beverage Control Enforcement Fund in excess of $20,000 shall be transferred to the General Revenue Fund.

(c) In addition to the grounds for revocation, suspension, or other sanction of a license set forth in §60-7-13(a) of this code, conviction of the licensee of any offense constituting a violation of the laws of this state or of the United States relating to alcoholic liquor, nonintoxicating beer, or gambling shall be mandatory grounds for such sanctioning of a license. Conviction of the licensee of any violation of the laws of this state or of the United States relating to prostitution, or the sale, possession, or distribution of narcotics or controlled substances, shall be mandatory grounds for revocation of the licensee’s license for a period of at least one year.

(d) A licensee shall notify, in a timely manner, emergency medical services or law enforcement if a licensee knows, or has reason to know, of a life-threatening medical emergency occurring on the licensed premises. In addition to the grounds for revocation, suspension, or other sanction of a license set forth in this section, the commissioner may, in his or her discretion, revoke, suspend, or otherwise sanction a licensee for failing to comply with the provisions of this subsection.

(e) If a life-threatening medical emergency occurs on a licensee’s private premises requiring notification of emergency medical services or law enforcement under §60-7-13(d) of this code, the licensee shall notify the Alcohol Beverage Control Administration within 48 hours of the emergency’s occurrence. The commissioner may, in his or her discretion, revoke, suspend, or otherwise sanction a licensee for failing to comply with the 48-hour notification requirement.

(f) As used in this section, a life-threatening medical emergency includes, but is not limited to, respiratory distress or cessation of breathing, severe chest pains, shock, uncontrolled bleeding, poisoning, prolonged unconsciousness, overdose, any complaint or observation which indicates significant head or spinal injury, and life-threatening physical injury caused by a crime of violence against the person occupying or emanating from the licensed premises.