(a)      (1)      This section applies only in Harford County.

            (2)      The annual license fee is $1,500, which shall be paid to the Board before the license is issued and which shall be distributed as provided.

            (3)      In this section, "caterer" means an establishment that owns or leases 1 or more banquet rooms suitable for public gatherings, with food preparation facilities on the premises, which contracts to provide food and alcoholic beverages to sponsors of public or private events.

      (b)      (1)      A Class H beer, wine and liquor license may be issued upon the approval of the Liquor Control Board and authorizes the owner or operator of a catering establishment to keep for sale and sell all alcoholic beverages at retail at the premises described therein for consumption on the premises during the catered event.

            (2)      Notwithstanding the provisions of § 12-107 of this article or any other contrary provision of this article, a caterer licensed under this section also may contract with patrons to permit them to bring personal alcoholic beverages onto the premises of the caterer for consumption at catered events.

            (3)      A caterer licensed under this section may contract to provide alcoholic beverages at events held off the premises, provided that:

                  (i)      The caterer contracts to provide food, as well as alcoholic beverages, for consumption at the catered event; and

                  (ii)      The event is held in Harford County.

            (4)      A caterer licensed under this section may provide food and keep and sell at retail alcoholic beverages, for consumption only on the premises of the caterer, at a self-sponsored event held once during a calendar year on a day selected by the caterer.

      (c)      (1)      This section does not require a hotel or restaurant which presently holds a Class B beer, wine and liquor license to obtain a Class H license if catering is, or has been, a part of the service provided by the hotel or restaurant.

            (2)      If a holder of an existing hotel or restaurant Class B beer, wine and liquor license provides catering services on or off the licensed premises, the holder is subject to the requirements of subsection (b)(3) of this section.

      (d)      A beer, wine and liquor license may be issued to a caterer who has entered into an exclusive lease with a volunteer fire company for a banquet facility owned by that volunteer fire company.