RENEWAL OF LICENSE DURING PRELIMINARY STAGES OF OPERATION

(a) A renewal of a brewer's license may not be denied during the two-year period following the issuance of the original license on the ground that the licensee has not brewed and packaged malt beverages in this state if the licensee is engaged in good faith in constructing a brewing plant on the licensed premises or is engaged in one of the following preparatory stages of construction: (1) preliminary engineering; (2) preparing drawings and specifications; (3) conducting engineering, architectural, or equipment studies; or (4) preparing for the taking of bids from contractors. (b) During the three-year period following the issuance of a brewer's license, as long as the licensee is engaged in construction or in a preliminary stage of construction enumerated in Subsection (a), the commission shall issue each renewal license to take effect immediately on the expiration of the expiring license and shall not require the licensee to make an original application. (c) After two years and 11 months has expired following the issuance of an original brewer's license, the commission may not issue a renewal license if it finds that the licensee has not complied with the licensee's sworn statement filed with the original application or that the licensee has not begun construction of a plant or initiated any of the preliminary stages of construction enumerated in Subsection (a) unless the commission also finds that the licensee has been prevented from doing so by causes beyond the licensee's reasonable control. If the commission finds that the licensee has been prevented from complying by causes beyond the licensee's reasonable control, it may grant one additional renewal for the licensee to comply with the terms of the licensee's sworn statement. Otherwise, the commission shall deny the renewal application and may not grant a subsequent original application by the licensee for a period of two years following the date of the denial. (d) This section does not apply to the holder of a license that was in effect on January 1, 1953.