H.B. 1620 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1620 By: Swinford Licensing & Administrative Procedures Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE As established by H.B. 892, 77th Legislature, The Texas Wine Marketing Assistance Program was created to assist the Texas wine industry in promoting and marketing Texas wines and educating the public about the Texas wine industry. Funded by monies transferred to the Department of Agriculture from the Alcoholic Beverage Commission, the program's funding ends August 31, 2003. H.B. 1620 provides for the continuation of the Texas Wine Marketing Assistance Program through the same funds transferred from the Commission. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 5, Alcoholic Beverages Code creating Section 5.55 Funding of Texas Wine Marketing Assistance Program. Section 5.55(a) states that on or before October 1 of each fiscal year, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission shall transfer funds in the amount of $250,000 to the Texas Department of Agriculture to fund the Texas Wine Marketing Assistance Program. Section 5.55(b) provides that the Commission may recover the amount transferred to the Department by imposing a surcharge on licenses and permits, other than an agent's permit or beer license. The surcharge shall be an amount equal to the total amount transferred to the Department divided by the total number of licenses and permits the Commission anticipates issuing that year. Section 5.55(c) states that a governing body of a city or town or the commissioners court of a county may not levy or collect a fee under Sections 11.38 or 61.36 based on the surcharge imposed under his section. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003.