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.