SB298 Alabama 2018 Session

Under existing law, liquor wholesale licensees may sell liquor at wholesale to the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board or as authorized by the board, but not other than to a retail licensee of the board. Under existing law, state liquor stores operated by the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board and certain licensed private retail stores may sell liquor at retail. Under existing law, retail licensees of the board must purchase liquor from the board for resale

This bill would require the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to phase out retail sale of alcoholic beverages by the board prior to October 1, 2023, but continue all other functions prescribed by law; require the board to obtain the best available price for fixed assets, equipment, and property; and require the Department of Economic and Community Affairs to provide certain technical assistance

This bill would create a special fund into which proceeds from the sale of fixed assets, equipment, and property would be deposited and provide that moneys in the fund shall be appropriated annually to pay phase-out costs, including employee benefits

This bill would establish an application, review, appeal, and investigation process for licensees

This bill would provide for the sale, transfer, and surrender of licenses; provide that persons possessing the authority to sell liquor for off-premises consumption on the date of the introduction of this bill may continue to operate according to the existing license; and prohibit all other persons from selling liquor for off-premises consumption

This bill would provide for the markup on all alcohol sold by the board; provide for the distribution of proceeds; provide that liquor sold by the board shall be subject to existing taxes; provide for the redistribution of certain tax proceeds; provide for the reallocation of a portion of the proceeds of existing taxes on table wine; and provide for the distribution of local sales taxes on the sale of liquor by retail licensees

This bill would require the board to implement a hiring freeze of certain employees; and grant certain benefits to displaced employees, including additional consideration for staffing retail operations during the phase-out

This bill would levy a fee for a retail license and allow for a fee increase for licenses issued by the board

This bill would create the Retailer Advisory Committee and would require the committee to review product selection decisions of the board and report irregularities and violations to the Attorney General and the State Ethics Commission; advise the board on distribution, warehousing, and licensee policies; and provide for the selection and appointment of a nonvoting member to the board

This bill would provide for the distribution of certain payments delayed for inventory purposes; and permit the board to enter contracts for certain warehousing functions

To amend Sections 28-1-4, 28-2-22, 28-3-40, 28-3-43, 28-3-53.1, 28-3-53.2, 28-3-202, 28-3-205, 28-3-207, 28-3-241, 28-3A-11, 28-3A-12, 28-3A-19, 28-3A-21, 28-3A-22, and 28-7-16 of the Code of Alabama 1975, regarding the sale of alcoholic beverages and the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board; requiring the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to phase out operations concerning the retail sale of alcoholic beverages and granting these privileges to licensees of the board; granting certain powers to the board to facilitate the phase-out process, including the establishment of a fund from which certain moneys may be expended for phase-out costs; establishing application requirements for retail licensees and identifying licensee qualifications and disqualifications; providing for annual retail license fees and annual renewal of retail licenses; providing that license fees may be increased by the board; requiring approval for the sale, assignment, or transfer of retail licenses and for the surrender of retail licenses; providing that certain existing retail licensees of the board may continue to sell liquor for off-premises consumption and prohibiting the sale or transfer of these licenses; providing for the markup on alcohol sales and the distribution of proceeds; providing for the reallocation of the proceeds of the tax on table wine; providing certain consideration, treatment, and benefits for displaced employees; providing for license fees for retail licensees; specifying the remaining functions of the board; creating the Retailer Advisory Committee and prescribing its duties; providing for the distribution of certain payments delayed for inventory purposes; permitting the board to enter into contracts for warehousing functions; and repealing Sections 28-3-74 and 28-3-280 through 28-3-286 of the Code of Alabama 1975.