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Local lawmakers have mixed opinions about a state bill that would authorize Prince George's County restaurants with liquor licenses to obtain entertainment permits will benefit the community by providing more oversight to police and residents.

The bill passed in the House of Delegates on March 25 as House Bill 558 with a vote of 131 to 7. All three delegates from District 21— Benjamin S. Barnes, Barbara A. Frush and Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk — opposed the legislation.

The legislation is now under consideration in the senate and could face a vote by the end of the week.

Mary Lehman, a legislative aide to Peña-Melnyk of College Park, who also plans to run for County Council in the fall, said the delegates voted against the bill out of concern it would open the door for restaurants to turn into nightclubs.

"A lot of those establishments are right near residential neighborhoods," Lehman said. "There's no way to know how many [permits] there will end up being until you know who's going to apply."

Although several other officials and community leaders initially opposed the measure, many say they now support it because of amendments that give residents and the Prince George's County Police more oversight over the permitting process. One such amendment would require applicants to submit a security plan to the Prince George's County Chief of Police, who could then submit comments to the county's Liquor Control Board.

Capt. Misty Mints, a police spokeswoman, said the bill would help police ensure the safety of permit-holding establishments and the neighborhoods surrounding the venues.

"Obviously we've had some issues in the past with different venues," Mints said in reference to incidents of violence at county nightclubs. "We want to make sure that those type of things aren't happening and we want to ensure the county's not at risk."

The security plans, she said, would vary depending on the venue and the type of entertainment being provided.

Sen. James C. Rosapepe (D-Dist. 21) of College Park held a meeting Friday at the College Park City Hall to go over the legislation and its amendments. About 35 people, including legislators, police officials and residents attended the gathering, he said.

"Everyone left the meeting, I think, feeling like ... the bill could be a very helpful additional tool for the police," Rosapepe said.

Liquor license holders who would like to host live entertainment — including music performances and dancing — currently submit their requests to the Liquor Control Board, which then votes on the request.

The board sometimes calls upon residents for testimony or asks license holders to draft a security plan, but those two steps would become mandatory under the proposed legislation.

Laurel resident Garold Stone, who leads a coalition of South Laurel neighborhood groups, said he initially opposed the bill but thinks the amendments make the legislation a useful tool for county residents.

"I believe it's a more vigorous, visible process than what we had to date," he said.

Stone pointed to a February liquor board hearing concerning Rio Restaurant, a South Laurel establishment that has faced controversy among residents and officials because of the site's violent history under previous ownership.

At the hearing, Stone and several other residents were surprised to learn that the restaurant was not drawing enough patrons to warrant a security plan. Stone said the proposed legislation would ensure that the public has a chance to speak up on security plans or other license provisions in the future.

"That isn't a given under the current arrangement," he said. "It may happen, but it isn't a given."