HBA-CMT H.B. 2346 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2346 By: Yarbrough Licensing & Administrative Procedures 3/22/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code permits the sale of distilled spirits in containers of less than six fluid ounces provided the sale is made to the holder of an airline beverage permit or a mixed beverage permit holder. Package stores, however, are not authorized to sell distilled spirits in containers of less than six fluid ounces. House Bill 2346 authorizes the retail sale of distilled spirits in 1.6 fluid ounce containers. 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 2346 amends the Alcoholic Beverage Code to prohibit any person from importing, selling, or possessing with the intent to sell any liquor in a container with a capacity of less than 1.6 rather than six fluid ounces. The bill authorizes spirit coolers, as described in the definition of "distilled spirits," to be sold in containers with a capacity of less than 355 milliliters as well as in containers with any other capacity authorized by the Alcoholic Beverage Code for distilled spirits. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.