SRC-AMY H.B. 1510 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1510 78R8286 MCK-FBy: Flores (Van de Putte) Business & Commerce 5/20/2003 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Current law allows for a wine tasting at package store sites when written notification is provided via U.S. mail to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) 72 hours prior to the event. H.B. 1510 requires, for a tasting to be held, written notification of a product tasting to be posted on the licensed premises 48 hours prior to the event, deleting the requirement to notify TABC by letter. This bill also sets limits on the number of and combination of type of products authorized in a tasting and the requirement regarding disposal of containers used in the tasting. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 52.01(b), (e), (j), and (k), Alcoholic Beverage Code, as follows: (b) Requires written notification of a product tasting to be posted on the licensed premises of the permit holder's package store not later than 48, rather than 72, hours before the tasting event. Deletes text referring to notifying the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) by mailing a letter. (e) Authorizes not more than 20 different products to be made available for tasting at any one time. Deletes text limiting a tasting to not more than two of the following categories: distilled spirits, wine, or beer and coolers. (j) Requires all empty or open containers of alcoholic beverages used in the tasting, at the conclusion of the tasting, to be removed from the premises or stored in a locked, secure area on the licensed premises. (k) Prohibits a tasting event authorized by this section from being advertised except by on-site communications, by direct mail, by electronic mail, or on the permit holder's Internet website. SECTION 2. Repealer: Section 52.01(f) (relating to the number of brands or types of beverage authorized for tasting at one time), Alcoholic Beverage Code. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2003.