SRC-TJG, LBB S.B. 1380 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 1380
By: Armbrister
Business & Commerce
8/25/2003
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission rules permit public
entertainment facilities to allow members of the manufacturing and
wholesaler tiers of the alcoholic beverage industry to advertise, promote,
and sponsor entertainment events without establishing unlawful relations
with members of the retail tiers operating in those facilities.  S.B. 1380
amends the Alcoholic Beverage Code to govern advertising, sponsorship,
promotion, and marketing activities by the alcoholic beverage industry in
public entertainment facilities. 

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 Chapter 108, Alcoholic Beverage Code, by adding
Subchapter C, as follows: 

SUBCHAPTER C.  INDUSTRY PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES ACT

Sec. 108.71.  PURPOSE.  Provides that this subchapter governs the
statutory duties, rights, and relations among licensees and permittees
operating under this subchapter, including their relations with the owners
and operators of public entertainment facilities. Provides that this
subchapter expressly authorizes alcoholic beverage distillers,
manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers, except as provided by
Section 108.74, to promote and sponsor events and advertise alcoholic
beverage brands and products at public entertainment facilities without
establishing unlawful intertier relations including with retail permittees
operating at those facilities. 

Sec. 108.72.  SHORT TITLE.  Authorizes this subchapter to be cited as the
Industry Public Entertainment Facilities Act. 

Sec. 108.73.  DEFINITIONS.  Defines "independent concessionaire," "public
entertainment facility," "public entertainment facility property," and
"sponsorship signs."  
 
Sec.  108.74.  EXCEPTION OF CERTAIN WHOLESALER FROM APPLICATION OF THIS
SUBCHAPTER.  Prohibits a person who holds a permit under Chapter 19 and
whose revenues from the sale of alcoholic beverages are predominately
obtained from the sale of distilled spirits and wine from entering into
advertising, sponsorship, or promotional agreements as authorized by
Section 108.75. 

Sec. 108.75.  ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION IN PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT FACILITY.
(a)  Authorizes a member of the distiller, manufacturing, distributor, or
wholesaler tier to promote, sponsor, or advertise an entertainment event
or venue or promote or advertise an alcoholic beverage brand or product at
a public entertainment facility, if the alcoholic beverage promoted, sold,
or served at the event, venue, or facility is furnished by an independent
concessionaire. 

 (b)  Prohibits an independent concessionaire from receiving direct
monetary benefit from advertising, promotional, or sponsorship revenues
generated by operation of a public entertainment facility.  Prohibits a
member of the manufacturing or distributing tier from directly or
indirectly through the owner or operator of a public entertainment
facility, furnish, give, rent, lend, or sell any equipment, fixtures, or
supplies to an independent concessionaire.  Prohibits a public
entertainment facility owner or operator or a member of the distiller,
manufacturing, distributor, or wholesale tier from directly or indirectly
controlling the quantity or brand of alcoholic beverages bought or sold by
the independent concessionaire.  Requires the independent concessionaire
to enter into a written concession agreement with the owner, lessee, or
operator of a public entertainment facility. 

(c)  Authorizes a member of the distiller, manufacturing, distributor, or
wholesaler tier who has entered into an advertising, promotional or
sponsorship agreement to provide sponsorship signs at a public
entertainment facility property and as otherwise authorized in this code
and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) rules.  

(d)  Authorizes an independent concessionaire who has entered into a
concessionaire agreement under this subchapter to place sponsorship signs
at, in, or on public entertainment facility property. 

(e)  Requires that the owner or operator of a public entertainment
facility who has entered into a concessionaire agreement and a sponsorship
agreement under this subchapter not be precluded from placing and
displaying sponsorship signs, as otherwise permitted by law, provided by
sponsoring members of the distiller, manufacturing, distributor, or
wholesale tier, at, in, or on an independent concessionaire's venues at a
public entertainment facility property, including the area where alcoholic
beverages are displayed, served, or poured. 

(f)  Requires that nothing in this subchapter limit the independent
concessionaire's right to place and display sponsorship and other signs
authorized under this code and TABC rules. 

(g)  Requires all advertising, promotional, sponsorship, and concession
agreements authorized by this subchapter to contain an affirmative
provision disavowing the right of any party to engage in conduct
prohibited by this subchapter. 

Sec. 108.76.  VIOLATION.  Provides that the provision, placement, and use
of sponsorship signs as authorized by and in compliance with this
subchapter by members of the distiller, manufacturing, distributor, or
wholesaler tier, independent concessionaires, and public entertainment
facility owners and operators does not constitute an illegal inducement,
subterfuge, or a surrender of exclusive control. 
 
Sec. 108.77.  COST OF ADVERTISEMENT, SPONSORSHIP, OR PROMOTION. Provides
that no part of the cost of an advertisement, sponsorship, or promotion
authorized by this subchapter may be charged to or paid, by a distributor
or wholesaler, except as provided by Section 108.74, unless the
distributor or wholesaler meets certain conditions. 

Sec. 108.78.  CONFIDENTIALITY.  Provides that any concessionaire,
sponsorship, advertisement, or promotional agreement, or related agreement
and exhibits to such an agreement, entered into, submitted, filed, or
requested by the administrator or TABC is deemed confidential under
Section 5.48(b). 

Sec. 108.79.  OPTIONAL PREAPPROVAL PROCESS.  (a)  Authorizes a permittee
or licensee to submit by certified mail, return receipt requested,  the
original or amended  agreement relating to a public entertainment
facility, requesting the administrator's approval. 

(b)  Requires the administrator, not later than the 30th  day after the
date the administrator receives the request for preapproval under this
section to notify the permittee or licensee in writing, by certified mail,
return receipt requested, whether the administrator approves,
conditionally approves, or disapproves the submission.  Provides that if
the administrator does not provide the notification in that time and the
permittee or licensee does not agree to a timely and reasonable written
request for an extension by the administrator giving the reason for the
request, the agreement is considered approved as submitted. 

(c)  Requires that if the administrator conditionally approves or
disapproves a submission under Subsection (b), the administrator is to
specify in the notice provided under that subsection the basis for the
administrator's determination, referencing any specific provisions of this
code or other law involved in the determination and any necessary and
reasonable actions the permittee or licensee is authorized to take to
obtain approval of the submission. 

(d)  Authorizes the permittee or licensee, on receipt of the
administrator's conditional approval or disapproval, to perform specific
acts. 

(e)  Provides that a submission under Subsection (d)(1) is subject to the
approval period prescribed by Subsection (b) unless the administrator and
the permittee or licensee agree otherwise. 

Sec.  108.80.  JUDICIAL REVIEW.  (a)  Authorizes the aggrieved party to
bring certain suits in a district court in Travis County, if a permittee,
licensee, or other party to an agreement under this subchapter alleges
that the administrator is or has been directly or indirectly, unfairly,
arbitrarily, capriciously, or wrongly exercising or withholding the
exercise of the administrators authority under Section 108.79, desires a
declaration of rights under this subchapter, or alleges threatened or
actual damage or injury arising out of a violation of this subchapter or
and other law relating to the process and rights provided by this
subchapter. 

(b)  Authorizes the court in its discretion to allow the permittee,
licensee, or other party to an agreement to recover court costs and
reasonable attorney's fees incurred in the defense or prosecution of the
action. 

Sec. 108.81.  SPONSOR LIABILITY.  Prohibits certain persons who meet
certain conditions from being liable solely because of such sponsorship,
advertisement, or display of sponsorship signs for any personal injury,
death, or property damage occurring at such a facility or property or as a
result of the operation or condition of such facility or property or
because of any tort committed by another party at or in connection with
such event, facility, or property. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Chapter 105, Alcoholic Beverage Code, by adding Section
105.07, as follows: 

Sec. 105.07.  HOURS OF SALE AND CONSUMPTION: SPORTS VENUE.  (a) Defines
"sports venue." 

(b) Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of this code, in
addition to any other period during which the sale and consumption of
alcohol is authorized under this code a licensed or permitted premises
located in a sports venue may sell alcoholic beverages between 10 a.m. and
noon, a licensed or permitted premises located in a public entertainment
facility that has provisions for overnight camping may allow a person to
bring an alcoholic beverage onto the premises, consume the beverage on the
premises, and remove the beverage from the  premises, and a person may
consume alcoholic beverages at a sports venue between 10 a.m. and noon. 

SECTION 3.  (a)  Provides that except as provided by Subsection (b) of
this section: 

(1)  this Act supersedes 16 T.A.C. Section 45.100(b) in its entirety as it
existed on the effective date of this Act; and 

(2)  to the extent any conflict between 16 T.A.C. Section 45.100 and the
provisions of Subchapter C, Chapter 108, Alcoholic Beverages Code, as
added by this Act, the provisions of Subchapter C shall prevail. 

(b)  Requires an agreement entered into before April 15, 2003, that is in
compliance with 16 T.A.C. Section 45.100, as that section existed on
January 1, 2003, to be deemed in compliance with 16 T.A.C. Section 45.100
and  Subchapter C, Chapter 108, Alcoholic Beverages Code, as added by this
Act.  Prohibits an agreement entered into before April 15, 2003, that is
authorized under the provisions of Subchapter C, Chapter 108, Alcoholic
Beverages Code as added by this Act, from being deemed to violate 16
T.A.C. Section 45.100 to the extent that section conflicts with or is
superseded by Subchapter C. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.