Over the past year, the Licensing Board of the State Liquor Authority has taken steps to reduce the backlog in processing liquor license applications.

Some of these efforts include:

• Revisions to the application forms to change the request information and clarify the instructions;
• reduction in supporting documentation requirements;
• reducing the time period to respond to deficiency notices by 50%;
• creation of a new email account dedicated to receiving deficiency responses of examined applications;
• a new case management procedure designed to reduce administrative delays at the SLA;
• requiring email communication between the Examiner and applicant/attorney;
• the move toward mandatory electronic filing of applications an renewals by the end of 2014;
• a series of open dialogue meetings with practioners about how the changes are working and to receive suggestions to improve the process; and
• changes in the alcoholic beverage law statutes.

What do you think of the changes?  Will they work or do they fall short?  What else would you change to make the Liquor Laws less burdensome?