LIQUOR CONTROL CODE: MIXED SPIRIT DRINK                                                 S.B. 141 (S-1)-144 (S-1):

                                                                                                                                                                            REVISED SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                                                                                                        REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bills 141 through 144 (Substitutes S-1)

Sponsor:   Senator Wayne Schmidt (S.B. 141)

                            Senator Winnie Brinks (S.B. 142)

                            Senator Jeremy Moss (S.B. 143)

                            Senator Curtis S. VanderWall (S.B. 144)

Committee:   Regulatory Reform

CONTENT

Senate Bill 141 (S-1) would  amend the Michigan Liquor Control Code to do the following:

 --       Revise certain provisions pertaining to a retailer who holds a specially designated merchant (SDM) license to refer to a  qualified  retailer and provide the definition of a "qualified retailer".

 --       Allow a qualified retailer that held a specially designated distributor (SDD) license to use a common carrier to deliver spirits to a consumer.

 --       Require a qualified retailer that has been issued licenses at two or more locations to fulfill the shipment of beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, or spirits from the location nearest to the consumer unless that location did not have the item ordered in stock.

 --       Require a direct shipper that sells, delivers, or imports wine to a consumer and is a wine manufacturer to direct ship only the wine it had manufactured and registered with the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC), wine purchased from another wine manufacturer and registered with the MLCC, or labeled shiners from another manufacturer and registered with the MLCC.

 --       Modify the definition of "direct shipper".

 --       Prohibit a wine maker or wine manufacturer that held a direct shipper license from holding a license in another state that was the substantial equivalent to a retailer license.

 --       Allow a qualified small distiller to sell and deliver spirits to a retailer licensed to purchase and sell spirits in the State, if certain conditions were met, and define "qualified small distiller".

Senate Bill 142 (S-1) would amend the Michigan Liquor Control Code to allow a mixed spirit drink manufacturer   or an out-of-State entity that was the substantial equivalent of a mixed spirit drink manufacturer to sell and deliver mixed spirit drink that it manufactured to a retailer in the State if certain conditions were met.

Senate Bill 143 (S-1) would amend Section 609 of the Liquor Control Code to modify references to "licensee" or "retail licensee" to refer instead to "retailer".

Senate Bill 144 (S-1) would amend the Michigan Liquor Control Code to do the following:

 --       Modify the definition of "mixed spirit drink" and other terms and definitions.

 --       Reduce a tax levied on all mixed spirit drink sold in bulk or a like ratio, from 48 cents per gallon, to 30 cents per gallon.

 --       Delete a provision prohibiting the MLCC from issuing an SDM license, an SDD license, or any other license that allows the sale of a