2015 -- S 0354

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LC000472

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - MANUFACTURING AND WHOLESALE

LICENSES

     Introduced By: Senators Satchell, Nesselbush, Pearson, Sosnowski, and Kettle

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 3-6-1.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 3-6 entitled "Manufacturing

and Wholesale Licenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     3-6-1.1. Farmer-winery licenses -- Fee. -- (a) For the purpose of encouraging the

development of domestic vineyards, the department shall issue a farmer-winery license to any

applicant of the state and to applying partnerships and to applying corporations organized under

the laws of any other state of the United States and admitted to do business in this state.

      (b) A winegrower may operate a farmer's winery under any conditions the department

may prescribe by regulation.

      (c) A winegrower may import fruit, flowers, herbs, and vegetables to produce not more

than seven thousand five hundred (7500) gallons of wine during his or her first year of operation,

not more than five thousand (5000) gallons during his or her second year of operation, not more

than two thousand five hundred (2500) gallons during his or her third year of operation and not

more than one thousand (1000) gallons per year thereafter.

      (d) If a winegrower suffers crop failure in his or her vineyard in a particular year to the

extent that the fruit yield from his or her vineyard that year is at least twenty-five percent (25%)

below the average yield for the previous two (2) years, the winegrower may import fruit into the

state during that year in an amount equal to the difference between the current year's yield and the

average for the previous two (2) years. A winegrower shall not import unfermented juice, wine or

alcohol into the state.

      (e) A winegrower may sell wine or winery products under his or her label and fermented

by him or her or another winegrower licensed by the state. He or she may sell wine or winery

products:

      (1) At wholesale to any person holding a valid license to manufacture alcoholic

beverages;

      (2) At wholesale to any person holding a valid wholesaler's and importer's license under

§§ 3-6-9 -- 3-6-11;

      (3) At wholesale to any person holding a valid farmer-winery license under this section;

      (4) At retail by the bottle to consumers for consumption off the winery premises;

provided, however a winegrower shall not sell wine at retail for delivery off the site of the winery

premises in Rhode Island directly to Rhode Island residents, except in the manner provided for

like sales and shipment in § 3-4-8 §§ 3-4-8 and 3-6-1.3.

      (5) At wholesale to any person in any state or territory in which the importation and sale

of wine is not prohibited by law;

      (6) At wholesale to any person in any foreign country;

      (7) At wholesale to liquor dealers holding a valid license under the provisions of title 3;

      (8) At wholesale to restaurants holding a valid license under the provisions of title 3; and

      (9) At retail by the bottle or by the glass for consumption on the winery premises.

      (f) A winegrower may not sell at retail to consumers any wine or winery product not

fermented in the state and sold under the brand name of the winery.

      (g) A winegrower may serve complimentary samples of wine produced by the winery

where the wine is fermented in the state and sold under the winery brand name.

      (h) All wines sold by a licensee shall be sold under any conditions and with any labels or

other marks to identify the producer as the department may prescribe.

      (i) Every applicant for a farmer-winery license shall, at the time of filing an application,

pay a license fee based on a reasonable estimate of the amount of wine to be produced during the

year covered by the license. Persons holding farmer-winery licenses shall report annually at the

end of the year covered by the license the amount of wine produced during that year. If the total

amount of wine produced during the year is less than the amount permitted by the fee already

paid, the state shall reimburse the licensee for whatever fee was paid in excess. If the total amount

of wine produced during the year exceeds the amount permitted by the fee already paid, the

licensee shall pay whatever additional fee is owing.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 3-6 of the General Laws entitled "Manufacturing and Wholesale

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Licenses" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:

     3-6-1.3. Farmers' Market Wine Sales. Notwithstanding any provision of the general or

public laws to the contrary, the department may issue to an applicant authorized to operate a

farmer-winery under § 3-6-1.1, a special license for the sale of wine produced by or for the

licensee in sealed containers for off-premise consumption at an indoor or outdoor farmers’

market. All sales of wine shall be conducted by an agent, representative, or solicitor of the

licensee to customers who are at least twenty-one (21) years of age. A licensee under this section

may provide, without charge, samples of wine to prospective customers at an indoor or outdoor

farmers’ market. All samples of wine shall be served by an agent, representative, or solicitor of

the licensee to individuals who are at least twenty-one (21) years of age and all samples shall be

consumed in the presence of such agent, representative, or solicitor of the licensee; provided,

however, that no sample shall exceed one ounce (1 oz.) of wine and no more than five (5)

samples shall be served to an individual prospective customer.

     An applicant for a special license under this section shall first submit a plan to the

department that shall demonstrate that the event is a farmers' market. The plan shall include a

description of the event, the date, time and location of the event, a copy of the operational

guidelines or rules for the event, written approval that the prospective licensee has been approved

as a vendor at the event, including the name and contact information of the on-site manager, and a

plan depicting the premises and the specific location where the license will be exercised.

     Upon review of the plan, the department may certify that the event is a farmers’ market;

provided, however, that in making that determination, the department shall consider the following

factors: (1) Operation as a farmers’ market or agricultural fair approved or inspected by the

department; (2) Frequency and regularity of the event, including dates, times and locations; (3)

Number of vendors; (4) Terms of vendor agreements; (5) Presence of an on-site manager; (6)

Training of the on-site manager; (7) Operational guidelines or rules, which shall include vendor

eligibility and produce source; (8) Focus of event on local agricultural products grown or

produced within the market area; (9) Types of shows or exhibits; and (10) Sponsorship or

operation by an agricultural or horticultural society organized under the laws of the state, or by a

local grange organization and/or association whose primary purpose is the promotion of

agriculture and its allied industries. The department may promulgate rules and regulations

necessary for the operation, oversight, approval, and inspection of farmers’ markets under this

section.

     The department may promulgate rules and regulations it deems appropriate to effectuate

the purposes of this section.

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     3-6-1.4.  Farmer-brewery licenses – Fee. – (a) For the purpose of encouraging the

development of domestic farmer breweries, the department shall issue a farmer-brewery license

to any applicant of the state and to applying partnerships and to applying corporations organized

under the laws of any other state of the United States and admitted to do business in this state.

     (b) A farmer may operate a farmer's brewery under any conditions the department may

prescribe by regulation.

     (c) A farmer-brewer may import fruit, flowers, herbs, and vegetables to produce not more

than seven thousand five hundred (7500) gallons of beer during his or her first year of operation,

not more than five thousand (5000) gallons during his or her second year of operation, not more

than two thousand five hundred (2500) gallons during his or her third year of operation and not

more than one thousand (1000) gallons per year thereafter.

     (d) If a farmer-brewer suffers crop failure on his or her farm in a particular year to the

extent that the crops yield from his or her farm-brewery that year is at least twenty-five percent

(25%) below the average yield for the previous two (2) years, the farmer-brewer may import fruit

into the state during that year in an amount equal to the difference between the current year's

yield and the average for the previous two (2) years. A farmer-brewer shall not import

unfermented juice, malt, beer or alcohol into the state.

     (e) A farmer-brewer may sell beer or brewery products under his or her label and brewed

by him or her or another farmer-brewery licensed by the state. He or she may sell beer or brewery

products:

     (1) At wholesale to any person holding a valid license to manufacture alcoholic

beverages;

     (2) At wholesale to any person holding a valid wholesaler's and importer's license under

§§ 3-6-9 and 3-6-11;

     (3) At wholesale to any person holding a valid farmer-brewer license under this section;

     (4) At retail by the bottle to consumers for consumption off the brewery premises;

provided, however a farmer-brewer shall not sell beer or brewery products at retail for delivery

off the site of the brewery premises in Rhode Island directly to Rhode Island residents, except in

the manner provided for like sales and shipment in §§ 3-4-8 and 3-6-1.5.

     (5) At wholesale to any person in any state or territory in which the importation and sale

of beer is not prohibited by law;

     (6) At wholesale to any person in any foreign country;

     (7) At wholesale to liquor dealers holding a valid license under the provisions of title 3;

     (8) At wholesale to restaurants holding a valid license under the provisions of title 3; and

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     (9) At retail by the bottle or by the glass for consumption on the brewery premises.

     (f) A farmer-brewer may not sell at retail to consumers any beer or brewery product not

brewed in the state and sold under the brand name of the brewery.

     (g) A farmer-brewer may serve complimentary samples of beer produced by the brewery

where the beer is brewed in the state and sold under the brewery brand name.

     (h) All beer and brewery products sold by a licensee shall be sold under any conditions

and with any labels or other marks to identify the producer as the department may prescribe.

     (i) Every applicant for a farmer-brewery license shall, at the time of filing an application,

pay a license fee based on a reasonable estimate of the amount of beer to be produced during the

year covered by the license. Persons holding farmer-brewery licenses shall report annually at the

end of the year covered by the license the amount of beer produced during that year. If the total

amount of beer produced during the year is less than the amount permitted by the fee already

paid, the state shall reimburse the licensee for whatever fee was paid in excess. If the total amount

of beer produced during the year exceeds the amount permitted by the fee already paid, the

licensee shall pay whatever additional fee is owing.

     3-6-1.5. Farmers' Market Beer Sales. -- Notwithstanding any provision of the general

or public laws to the contrary, the department may issue to an applicant authorized to operate a

farmer-brewery under § 3-6-1.4, a special license for the sale of beer produced by or for the

licensee in sealed containers for off-premise consumption at an indoor or outdoor farmers'

market. All sales of beer shall be conducted by an agent, representative, or solicitor of the

licensee to customers who are at least twenty-one (21) years of age. A licensee under this section

may provide, without charge, samples of beer to prospective customers at an indoor or outdoor

farmers’ market. All samples of beer shall be served by an agent, representative, or solicitor of

the licensee to individuals who are at least twenty-one (21) years of age and all samples shall be

consumed in the presence of such agent, representative, or solicitor of the licensee; provided,

however, that no sample shall exceed one ounce (1 oz.) of beer and no more than five (5) samples

shall be served to an individual prospective customer.

     An applicant for a special license under this section shall first submit a plan to the

department that shall demonstrate that the event is a farmers’ market. The plan shall include a

description of the event, the date, time and location of the event, a copy of the operational

guidelines or rules for the event, written approval that the prospective licensee has been approved

as a vendor at the event, including the name and contact information of the on-site manager, and a

plan depicting the premises and the specific location where the license will be exercised.

     Upon review of the plan, the department may certify that the event is a farmers’ market;

LC000472 - Page 5 of 7

provided, however, that in making that determination, the department shall consider the following

factors: (1) Operation as a farmers’ market or agricultural fair approved or inspected by the

department; (2) Frequency and regularity of the event, including dates, times and locations; (3)

Number of vendors; (4) Terms of vendor agreements; (5) Presence of an on-site manager; (6)

Training of the on-site manager; (7) Operational guidelines or rules, which shall include vendor

eligibility and produce source; (8) Focus of event on local agricultural products grown or

produced within the market area; (9) Types of shows or exhibits; and (10) Sponsorship or

operation by an agricultural or horticultural society organized under the laws of the state, or by a

local grange organization and/or association whose primary purpose is the promotion of

agriculture and its allied industries. The department may promulgate rules and regulations

necessary for the operation, oversight, approval, and inspection of farmers’ markets under this

section.

     The department may promulgate rules and regulations it deems appropriate to effectuate

the purposes of this section.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC000472

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - MANUFACTURING AND WHOLESALE

LICENSES

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     This act would amend the current law so that a farmer-winery or a farmer-brewery may,

under certain conditions, be licensed to sell wine/beer for off-premises consumption at a farmers'

market, similar to that permitted in Massachusetts.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000472

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