OAR 845-005-0325: License Refusal Reasons: Applicant Qualifications

The Commission may refuse to license an applicant if any of the criteria in this rule apply. Upon a finding that a license should be refused, the Commission will consider intervening circumstances to determine whether the refusal basis is supported or overcome. The intervening circumstances may have occurred before or after the incident or incidents that are relevant to the specific criterion. The intervening circumstances may be weighed in favor of the applicant, weighed against the applicant, or weighed neither for nor against the applicant. The criteria are as follows: (1) The applicant has a recent history or record of using alcohol or controlled substances to excess. Some of the records the Commission may use to evaluate this criterion include: court documents; Department of Motor Vehicles reports; police records; or medical records. Some of the intervening circumstances the Commission considers in determining whether the refusal basis is supported or overcome include: successful participation in treatment program(s); severity of the applicant’s record; passage of time since last relevant incident; and the applicant’s previous record of compliance with the laws and rules of the Commission. (2) The applicant has been convicted of violating any general or local law of this state, or any other state, or of violating a federal law, if the conviction is substantially related to the fitness and ability of the applicant to lawfully carry out activities under the license. In determining whether the applicant presents an acceptable future risk of compliance, the Commission will consider applicable intervening circumstances that have occurred before or after the relevant incident or incidents. (a) Definitions. For this subsection: (A) “Compliance risk factors” means factors related to the individual’s moral character or that show the individual’s tendency to disobey laws, rules, and regulations; such as probation and parole violations and non-relevant convictions. (B) “Relevant conviction” means a conviction that involved violence or the threat of violence; dishonesty or deception; drugs, alcohol, or other regulated substances; or a conviction as a felon in possession of a weapon. (C) “Successful treatment” means: (i) The Commission receives written confirmation from the individual’s licensed treatment provider that the individual completed treatment that is related to a relevant conviction and the Commission has determined that the individual has not had another conviction for a similar incident since the completion of the treatment; or (ii) The individual is still in a treatment program that is related to a relevant conviction; however, the Commission receives written confirmation from the individual’s licensed treatment provider that the individual has demonstrated sufficient success towards stopping the behavior that led to the conviction and the Commission has determined that the individual has not had another conviction for a similar incident since the date the provider determined that the individual demonstrated sufficient success towards stopping the behavior that led to the conviction. (b) Upon the Commission’s determination that a basis to refuse the application has been established under this criterion, the Commission may consider the following intervening circumstances and may consider other intervening circumstances, depending on the facts of the case: (A) Passage of time from the date of the most recent incident that led to a relevant conviction or from the date of the most recent compliance risk factor, whichever date is later. In calculating the passage of time, the Commission does not count time spent incarcerated after the date of the most recent incident that led to a relevant conviction or after the date of the most recent compliance risk factor, whichever date is later. (B) Compliance risk factors. (C) Successful treatment. (D) The severity of the individual’s relevant conviction record as shown by both the number of convictions and whether a conviction was a felony or non-felony. (E) The individual’s record of compliance with the Commission. (3) The applicant provides material false or misleading information to the Commission or omits material information that should have been provided to the Commission. Upon the Commission’s determination that a basis to refuse the application has been established under this criterion, the Commission may consider the following intervening circumstances and may consider other intervening circumstances, depending on the facts of the case: (a) The number of false statements or omissions. (b) Whether or not false statements or omission were repeated. (c) The applicant’s provision of conflicting reasons for a false statement or omission. (d) If there are language or other communication issues between the applicant and the Commission. (e) If the applicant has been warned or cautioned about the need for truthfulness. (4) The applicant is under 21 years of age. The applicant may establish a basis to overcome this criterion by demonstrating that the applicant will not participate in the management or control of any alcohol-related business decisions or any employees responsible for the sale or service of alcoholic beverages. (5) The applicant does not have a good record of compliance with ORS Chapter 471, 473, 474, 475C, or any rules adopted thereunder. Upon the Commission’s determination that a basis to refuse the application has been established under this criterion, the Commission may consider the following intervening circumstances and may consider other intervening circumstances, depending on the facts of the case: (a) The passage of time since the most recent violation. (b) The seriousness of the applicant’s violation record. (c) The personal involvement in a violation by the applicant. (d) Whether the applicant immediately implemented control measures that effectively prevented future violations. (e) Whether a violation was aggravated or mitigated. (f) The applicant’s acceptance of any relevant license restriction.