HBA-NRS H.B. 1948 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1948
By: Keel
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
3/2/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

In 1997, the Texas wine industry, consisted of 27 wineries that produced
more than one million gallons of wine and a total economic impact of $104
million. While the largest producers within the Texas wine industry
typically sell most wine through wholesale distributors, the smaller
producers do not. In certain dry areas current law does not allow the
preparation of a ballot to permit voting for or against the legal sale of
wine on the premises of a holder of a winery permit. House Bill 1948
authorizes local option elections in dry areas to allow for the sale of
wine by the holder of a winery permit. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1948 requires the preparation of a ballot permitting a vote for
or against the legal sale of wine on the premises of a holder of a winery
permit in areas where any type or classification of alcoholic beverages is
prohibited and the issue submitted pertains to legalization of the sale of
one or more of the prohibited types or classifications. The bill requires
that a ballot to be prepared to permit voting for or against the legal sale
of wine on the premises of a holder of a winery permit in areas where the
sale of beverages containing alcohol not in excess of 17 percent by volume
has been legalized, and those of higher alcoholic content are prohibited.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.