HB 0665 2003
   
1 CHAMBER ACTION
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6          The Committee on Business Regulation recommends the following:
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8          Committee Substitute
9          Remove the entire bill and insert:
10 A bill to be entitled
11          An act relating to the Beverage Law; amending s. 561.32,
12    F.S., relating to transfer of certain licenses to sell
13    alcoholic beverages; providing exception to waiver of
14    certain transfer fees when a described transfer is within
15    a specified period; amending s. 561.221, F.S.; revising
16    provisions for limited permits issued by the Division of
17    Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco for wine tastings and
18    sales at certain events; amending s. 561.57, F.S.;
19    revising provisions limiting vehicles used in making
20    deliveries of alcoholic beverages; amending s. 599.004,
21    F.S.; allowing a Florida Farm Winery to lease its premises
22    to a vendor; allowing sales to occur only on the premises
23    of the winery; providing an effective date.
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25          Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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27          Section 1. Subsection (5) of section 561.32, Florida
28    Statutes, is amended to read:
29          561.32 Transfer of licenses; change of officers or
30    directors; transfer of interest.--
31          (4)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), a license
32    issued under s. 561.20(1) shall not be transferable in any
33    manner, either directly or indirectly, including by any change
34    in stock, partnership shares, or other form of ownership of any
35    entity holding the license, except by probate or guardianship
36    proceedings, for a period of 3 years from the date of original
37    issuance. Any attempted assignment, sale, or transfer of
38    interest in such license either directly or indirectly in
39    violation of this provision is hereby declared void, and the
40    license shall be deemed abandoned and shall revert to the state
41    to be issued in the manner provided by law for issuance of new
42    licenses.
43          (b) A license issued under s. 561.20(1) may be transferred
44    as provided by law within the 3-year period only upon payment to
45    the division of a transfer fee in an amount equal to 15 times
46    the annual license fee specified in s. 565.02(1)(b)-(f) in the
47    county in which the license is valid. However, if the county is
48    only authorized for the issuance of liquor licenses for package
49    sales only, the transfer fee shall be in an amount equal to 15
50    times the annual license fee specified in s. 565.02(1)(a).
51    Subsequent to any such transfer, the transferee shall be subject
52    to the provisions of the beverage laws with respect to the
53    requirement for initial issuance of a license. Any change of
54    ownership in any manner, either directly or indirectly,
55    including any change in stock, partnership shares, or other form
56    of ownership of any entity holding the license shall be
57    considered a transfer and subject to the fees set forth in this
58    paragraph. The transfer fees provided for in this paragraph
59    shall be in addition to any other transfer fee provided for by
60    this section. The funds collected pursuant to this paragraph
61    shall be deposited in the Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Trust
62    Fund and shall be used by the division to defray the costs of
63    operation.
64          (5) The division shall waive the transfer fee and the
65    delinquent penalties, but not the license renewal fee, when the
66    transfer of an interest in an alcoholic beverage license occurs
67    by operation of law because of a death, judicial proceedings,
68    court appointment of a fiduciary, foreclosure or forced judicial
69    sale, bankruptcy proceedings, or seizure of a license by a
70    government agency. The waiver provided for in this subsection
71    shall not apply to transfers due to a foreclosure or forced
72    judicial sale made within the 3-year period set forth in
73    subsection (4).
74          Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 561.221, Florida
75    Statutes, is amended to read:
76          561.221 Licensing of manufacturers and distributors as
77    vendors and of vendors as manufacturers; conditions and
78    limitations.--
79          (1)(a) Nothing contained in s. 561.22, s. 561.42, or any
80    other provision of the Beverage Law prohibits the ownership,
81    management, operation, or control of not more than three
82    vendor's licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages by a
83    manufacturer of wine who is licensed and engaged in the
84    manufacture of wine in this state, even if such manufacturer is
85    also licensed as a distributor; provided that no such vendor's
86    license shall be owned, managed, operated, or controlled by any
87    licensed manufacturer of wine unless the licensed premises of
88    the vendor are situated on property contiguous to the
89    manufacturing premises of the licensed manufacturer of wine.
90          (b) The Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco shall
91    issue permits to a certified Florida Farm Winery to conduct
92    tastingstasting and salesof wine produced by certified Florida
93    Farm Wineries at Florida fairs, trade shows, expositions, and
94    festivals. The certified Florida Farm Winery shall pay all entry
95    fees and shall have a winery representative present during the
96    event. The permit is limited to the length of the event.
97          (c) The Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco shall
98    issue permits to vendors to conduct tastings and sales of wine
99    at Florida fairs, trade shows, expositions, and festivals. The
100    permit is limited to the length of the event.
101          Section 3. Subsection (2) of section 561.57, Florida
102    Statutes, is amended to read:
103          561.57 Deliveries by licensees.--
104          (2) Manufacturers and distributors may make deliveries to
105    other manufacturers and distributors in vehicles that are owned
106    or leased by the licensee or by common carrier. Distributors may
107    make deliveries to vendors in vehicles that are owned or leased
108    by the licensee or by common carrier. Vendors may make
109    deliveries to consumers in vehicles which are owned or leased by
110    the licensee or by common carrier. However, a vendor that holds
111    a manufacturer’s or distributor’s license in the same entity as
112    the vendor or in a subsidiary or affiliated entity may not make
113    any deliveries to consumersDeliveries made by a manufacturer,
114    distributor, or vendor away from his or her place of business
115    may be made only in vehicles which are owned or leased by the
116    licensee. By acceptance of an alcoholic beverage license and the
117    use of such vehicles that are owned or leased by the licensee,
118    the licensee agrees that such vehicle shall always be subject to
119    be inspected and searched without a search warrant, for the
120    purpose of ascertaining that all provisions of the alcoholic
121    beverage laws are complied with, by authorized employees of the
122    division and also by sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, and police
123    officers during business hours or other times the vehicle is
124    being used to transport or deliver alcoholic beverages.
125          Section 4. Subsection (1) of section 599.004, Florida
126    Statutes, is amended to read:
127          599.004 Florida Farm Winery Program; registration; logo;
128    fees.--
129          (1) The Florida Farm Winery Program is established within
130    the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Under this
131    program, a winery may qualify as a tourist attraction only if it
132    is registered with and certified by the department as a Florida
133    Farm Winery. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Beverage
134    Law, a Florida Farm Winery may lease a portion of its premises
135    to a vendor.A winery may not claim to be certified unless it
136    has received written approval from the department.
137          (a) To qualify as a certified Florida Farm Winery, a
138    winery shall meet the following standards:
139          1. Produce or sell less than 250,000 gallons of wine
140    annually.
141          2. Maintain a minimum of 10 acres of owned or managed
142    vineyards in Florida.
143          3. Be open to the public for tours, tastings, and sales at
144    least 30 hours each week. Sales may occur only on the premises
145    of the Florida Farm Winery.
146          4. Make annual application to the department for
147    recognition as a Florida Farm Winery, on forms provided by the
148    department.
149          5. Pay an annual application and registration fee of $100.
150          (b) To maintain certification and recognition as a Florida
151    Farm Winery, a winery must comply with the qualifications
152    provided in this section. The Commissioner of Agriculture is
153    authorized to officially recognize a certified Florida Farm
154    Winery as a state tourist attraction.
155          Section 5. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.