NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.



Only the most recent FIR version, excluding attachments, is available on the Intranet. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be obtained from the LFC office in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.





F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T





SPONSOR: Aragon DATE TYPED: 02/02/00 HB
SHORT TITLE: Separate Access to Liquor Department SB 182
ANALYST: Valdes


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY00 FY01 FY00 FY01
Indeterminate



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD)



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



Senate Bill 182 proposes to enact a new section of the Liquor Control Act. The bill would require general merchandise stores with a total display area 20,000 square feet or larger, that sell alcoholic beverages in unbroken containers to provide public access to its alcoholic beverage package sales through doors that provide access directly to the exterior of the store. The bill also requires these stores to physically separate alcoholic beverage sales from general merchandise sales with floor to ceiling walls. All alcoholic beverage transactions must occur within the designated alcoholic beverage sales area.



General merchandise is defined as any merchandise that is not an alcoholic beverage and includes groceries.





FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



RLD stated that fiscal impact to the department is unknown.









ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS



Dispenser and retailer licensees would have to be notified of this requirement and RLD would have to verify that all applicable retail merchandise stores affected by this legislation have complied with its requirements. The department would have to compile floor space information on each licensee to determine which businesses would require wall partitions and exterior door access. RLD would have to review and approve amended floor plans before required changes could be constructed.



Implementation of this bill would require additional workload for RLD in FY01 to bring affected general merchandise stores into compliance.



OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES



The bill requires addition of floor to ceiling walls and addition of direct, exterior access doors by July 1, 2000. Affected businesses would have a difficult time meeting this deadline. They would have to be notified of this requirement once the bill becomes law. They would be required to develop floor plans, obtain building permits and complete construction work before July 1, 2000.



There are no penalty provisions in this bill for businesses that do not comply with the requirements by July 1, 2000.



MV/sb