SENATE BILL No. 1624

 

 

November 12, 2008, Introduced by Senator SANBORN and referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Regulatory Reform.

 

 

 

     A bill to amend 1998 PA 58, entitled

 

"Michigan liquor control code of 1998,"

 

by amending section 603 (MCL 436.1603), as amended by 2008 PA 218.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 603. (1) Except as provided in subsection subsections (6)

 

to (12) and section 605, a manufacturer, mixed spirit drink

 

manufacturer, warehouser, wholesaler, outstate seller of beer,

 

outstate seller of wine, outstate seller of mixed spirit drink, or

 

vendor of spirits shall not have any financial interest, directly

 

or indirectly, in the establishment, maintenance, operation, or

 

promotion of the business of any other vendor.

 

     (2) Except as provided in subsection subsections (6) to (12)

 

and section 605, a manufacturer, mixed spirit drink manufacturer,

 

warehouser, wholesaler, outstate seller of beer, outstate seller of

 


wine, outstate seller of mixed spirit drink, or vendor of spirits

 

or a stockholder of a manufacturer, mixed spirit drink

 

manufacturer, warehouser, wholesaler, outstate seller of beer,

 

outstate seller of wine, outstate seller of mixed spirit drink, or

 

vendor of spirits shall not have an interest by ownership in fee,

 

leasehold, mortgage, or otherwise, directly or indirectly, in the

 

establishment, maintenance, operation, or promotion of the business

 

of any other vendor.

 

     (3) Except as provided in subsection subsections (6) to (12)

 

and section 605, a manufacturer, mixed spirit drink manufacturer,

 

warehouser, wholesaler, outstate seller of beer, outstate seller of

 

wine, outstate seller of mixed spirit drink, or vendor of spirits

 

shall not have an interest directly or indirectly by interlocking

 

directors in a corporation or by interlocking stock ownership in a

 

corporation in the establishment, maintenance, operation, or

 

promotion of the business of any other vendor.

 

     (4) Except as provided in subsection subsections (6) to (12)

 

and section 605, a person shall not buy the stocks of a

 

manufacturer, mixed spirit drink manufacturer, warehouser,

 

wholesaler, outstate seller of beer, outstate seller of wine,

 

outstate seller of mixed spirit drink, or vendor of spirits and

 

place the stock in any portfolio under an arrangement, written

 

trust agreement, or form of investment trust agreement and issue

 

participating shares based upon the portfolio, trust agreement, or

 

investment trust agreement, and sell the participating shares

 

within this state.

 

     (5) The commission may approve a brandy manufacturer to sell

 


brandy made by that brandy manufacturer in a restaurant for

 

consumption on or off the premises if the restaurant is owned by

 

the brandy manufacturer or operated by another person under an

 

agreement approved by the commission and is located on the premises

 

where the brandy manufacturer is licensed. Brandy sold for

 

consumption off the premises under this subsection shall be sold at

 

the uniform price established by the commission.

 

     (6) The commission shall allow a small distiller to sell

 

brands of spirits it manufactures for consumption on the licensed

 

premises at that distillery.

 

     (7) A brewpub may have an interest in up to 2 other brewpubs

 

so long as the combined production of all the locations in which

 

the brewpub has an interest does not exceed 5,000 barrels of beer

 

per calendar year.

 

     (8) This section does not prohibit any of the following:

 

     (a) A supplier from having any interest, directly or

 

indirectly, in any other supplier.

 

     (b) A wholesaler from holding an outstate seller or wine,

 

outstate seller of beer, outstate seller of mixed spirit drink, or

 

a warehouser license as long as the license is issued to the same

 

legal entity as the wholesale license.

 

     (c) A wholesaler from holding any interest, directly or

 

indirectly, in a vendor of spirits.

 

     (9) The commission may approve the following pursuant to R

 

436.1023(3) of the Michigan administrative code, subject to the

 

written approval of the United States department of treasury,

 

bureau of alcohol and tobacco tax and trade:

 


     (a) A wine maker participating with 1 or more wine makers in

 

an alternating proprietor operation in accordance with 27 CFR part

 

24, subpart D, section 24.136.

 

     (b) A brewer participating with 1 or more brewers in an

 

alternating proprietor operation in accordance with 27 CFR part 25,

 

subpart F, section 25.52a.

 

     (10) The commission may approve the operation of an off-site

 

tasting room by 2 or more wine makers under the provisions of

 

section 537(3).

 

     (11) A manufacturer is prohibited from having any interest,

 

directly or indirectly, in a wholesaler.

 

     (12) A wine maker is prohibited from collectively delivering

 

wine, with any other wine maker, to retail licensees.

 

     (13) As used in this section:

 

     (a) "Manufacturer" means, notwithstanding section 109(1), a

 

wine maker, small wine maker, brewer, micro brewer, manufacturer of

 

spirits, small distiller, brandy manufacturer, and mixed spirit

 

drink manufacturer.

 

     (b) "Supplier" means a manufacturer, mixed spirit drink

 

manufacturer, outstate seller of beer, outstate seller of wine,

 

outstate seller of mixed spirit drink, and vendor of spirits.