BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2016

By: Guillen

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised that certain restrictions applicable to a wine and beer retailer's permit and mixed beverage permit prevent the sale of dessert-flavored wine or rice wine and that these restrictions lead to confusion for consumers who are able to buy similar products at the same premises with similar alcohol content. C.S.H.B. 2016 seeks to address this issue by providing for the sale of these wines under a wine and beer retailer's permit or mixed beverage permit.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

C.S.H.B. 2016 amends the Alcoholic Beverage Code to authorize a wine and beer retailer's permit holder to sell for consumption on the premises dessert-flavored wine or rice wine containing alcohol in excess of one-half of one percent by volume and not more than 24 percent by volume. The bill raises from 21 percent to 24 percent the maximum percentage of alcohol by volume contained in wine, beer, ale, or malt liquor that a mixed beverage permit holder may purchase in containers of any legal size from any permittee or licensee authorized to sell those beverages for resale and may sell for consumption on the licensed premises.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2016 differs from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways to make technical corrections.