HCS HB 258 Crump, Wayne F

C O M M I T T E E

HCS HB 258 -- LIQUOR LICENSES

SPONSOR: Hoppe

COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Local Government and Related Matters by a vote of 13 to 4.

In its revisions of state law pertaining to liquor licenses, this substitute:

(1) Makes technical changes and removes redundant language from statutes;

(2) Permits a license to be issued to sell light wines outside the limits of incorporated cities;

(3) States that a temporary permit may be issued to sell alcohol at a particular event or function located in an unincorporated area of any county;

(4) Establishes that a resort's eligibility for a liquor license depends on its restaurant's annual gross receipts of the previous year, instead of the previous 2 years;

(5) States that a new resort or restaurant can apply for a temporary 90-day liquor license, if it can project annual sales of at least $75,000, with $50,000 of that coming from nonalcoholic sales. This replaces current law requiring projected food sales of $75,000;

(6) Allows a new restaurant bar to apply for a temporary license permitting the sale of alcohol on Sunday starting at 11:00 am. Current law permits new restaurant bars to begin sales of alcohol on Sunday at 1:00 pm;

(7) Combines the license to manufacture alcohol and the license to sell alcohol to wholesalers into one package;

(8) Packages a wholesaler's license to sell alcohol to retailers with a license to sell to other wholesalers, and repeals language prohibiting a wholesaler from selling to another wholesaler;

(9) Raises the fee for a license to sell liquor in the original package at a drug store, a cigar and tobacco store, a grocery store, a general merchandise store, a confectionery, or a delicatessen from $50 to $100;

(10) Allows a person licensed to conduct wine tastings to also offer samples of malt beverages and distilled spirits;

(11) Defines "retailer"; and

(12) Removes language outlawing the display of liquor in street or show windows.

FISCAL NOTE: Estimated Net Increase to General Revenue Fund of $67,490 in FY 96, $115,315 in FY 97, & $115,315 in FY 98.

PROPONENTS: Supporters say that these changes address the inconsistencies and redundancies that remain in the statutes from the passing of Senate Bill 474. Enforcing liquor laws becomes simpler and less confusing when the rules are streamlined.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Crump; Division of Liquor Control; Missouri Beer Wholesalers Association; and Anheuser-Busch.

OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Brian Cook, Research Analyst