Adopted
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO 1 PROPOSED TO
House Bill No. 512
BY: Committee
Amend by striking all after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
SECTION 1. Definitions. In addition to the definitions provided in Section 67-1-5, which apply to this article, the following terms as used in this article shall have the following meanings unless otherwise required by the context:
(a) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Revenue;
(b) "Construction contractor" means an entity contracting with the department to design and construct a warehouse under this article;
(c) "Occasional improvements" means items of maintenance, repairs, upgrades or other improvements for the warehouse or its equipment that are not individually performed on a monthly basis;
(d) "Regular maintenance" means monthly overhead expenses, including, but not limited to, utilities, cleaning services and lawn care;
(e) "Shipping costs" means the average quarterly cost per case of alcoholic beverages delivered, measured from the time the delivery vehicle departs the warehouse to the time it arrives at the permittee's premises;
(f) "State" means the State of Mississippi;
(g) "Warehouse" or "new warehouse" means a liquor distribution warehouse constructed under this article;
(h) "Warehouse operator" or "operator" means an entity contracting with the department to perform warehouse and distribution operations; and
(i) "Warehouse and distribution operations" or "operations" means services provided to or on behalf of the state for the management of the warehouse and the distribution of alcoholic beverages.
SECTION 2. Warehouse construction. (1) The department, using the monies available in the ABC Warehouse Construction Fund created in Section 6(1) of this act and such other monies as the Legislature may make available, shall purchase land for and shall provide for the design and construction of a warehouse for the division in the most expedient and cost-effective manner practicable.
(3) The contract for design and construction shall provide that the operator shall be consulted so that the warehouse may, so far as possible, suit the preferences of the operator in furtherance of effective operations. The contract shall also provide that the design shall aim to fill demand for the next twenty-five (25) years.
(4) A contract for warehouse construction shall not be entered into unless the construction contractor has demonstrated:
(a) The qualifications, experience and management personnel necessary to carry out the terms of the contract;
(b) The ability to comply with applicable federal and state laws; and
(c) The ability to expedite the design and construction of facilities comparable to the warehouse.
SECTION 3. Warehouse and distribution operations. (1) The department shall contract for warehouse and distribution operations. The operator shall assume responsibility for operations at the warehouse used by the department when the term of the contract begins, and shall thereafter assume responsibility for operations at the new warehouse after its construction.
(2) The department shall pay regular maintenance expenses and shall reimburse the operator for services performed under the contract out of monies appropriated by the Legislature.
(3) The contract shall include the following terms:
(a) The department shall pay the operator cost-plus on these operations at a set dollar amount per case of alcoholic beverages sold. Otherwise, the contract shall not alter the current cash flow of operations;
(b) The operator shall be allotted a monthly spending limit for occasional improvements. The state may, at any time, review the operator's spending. The operator shall obtain prior state approval for any spending over the monthly limit set in the contract. The contract may allow either or both of the following methods for funding occasional improvements:
(i) The operator may pay out of pocket, in which case the state will reimburse the operator on a monthly basis out of monies in the ABC Warehouse Improvements Fund created in Section 6(2) of this act; or
(ii) The contract compliance officer authorized under Section 5 of this act may pay on behalf of the department by accessing the monies in the ABC Warehouse Improvements Fund;
(c) Shipping costs shall be calculated every quarter and shall be based on the actual shipping costs of the previous quarter. The contract shall specify the categories of expenses that may be considered actual shipping costs;
( * * *d) If the operator negotiates a discount
off the price of alcoholic beverages received by the operator for distribution on
behalf of the state, the benefit of the discount shall be split evenly between the
operator and the state; and
( * * *e) The operator may use the TAP system
as used by the department or may integrate it with the operator's own software.
(4) The initial contract for operations shall be for a period of not more than ten (10) years, with the option to renew for additional periods of not more than ten (10) years at a time. The contract shall provide that all employees needed for operations shall be employees of the operator.
(5) A contract for warehouse and distribution operations shall not be entered into unless the operator has demonstrated:
(a) The qualifications, experience and management personnel necessary to carry out the terms of the contract;
(b) The ability to comply with applicable federal and state laws; and
(c) A history of successful management and distribution operations for comparable facilities.
(6) A contract for operations shall not be entered into unless the following requirements are met:
(a) In addition to fire and casualty insurance, the operator provides at least Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00) of liability insurance. The liability insurance shall be issued by an insurance company with a rating of at least an A- according to A.M. Best standards. In determining the adequacy of such insurance, the Department of Finance and Administration shall determine whether:
(i) The insurance is adequate to protect the state from any and all actions by a third party against the operator or the state as a result of the contract;
(ii) The insurance is adequate to protect the state against any and all claims arising as a result of any occurrence during the term of the contract;
(iii) The insurance is adequate to assure the operator's ability to fulfill its contract with the state in all respects, and to assure that the operator is not limited in this ability because of financial liability which results from judgments; and
(iv) The insurance is adequate to satisfy such other requirements specified by the independent risk management/actuarial firm.
(b) The sovereign immunity of the state shall not apply to the operator. Neither the operator nor the operator's insurer may plead the defense of sovereign immunity in any action arising out of the performance of the contract.
(c) The operator shall post a performance bond to assure the operator's faithful performance of the specifications and conditions of the contract. The bond is required throughout the term of the contract. The terms and conditions must be approved by the department and the Department of Finance and Administration, and such approval is a condition precedent to the contract taking effect.
(d) The operator shall defend any suit or claim brought against the state arising out of any act or omission in operations, and shall hold the state harmless from such claim or suit. The operator shall be solely responsible for the payment of any legal or other costs relative to any such claim or suit. The operator shall reimburse the state for any costs that it may incur as a result of such claim or suit immediately upon being submitted a statement therefor by the Attorney General.
Any suit brought or claim made arising out of any act or omission in operations shall be made or brought against the operator and not the state.
The Attorney General retains all rights and emoluments of his or her office which include direction and control over any litigation or claim involving the state.
SECTION 4. Resumption of control by state upon contract termination. A plan shall be developed and certified by the commissioner which demonstrates the method by which the state would resume control of the warehouse upon termination of the contract for operations. The plan shall be submitted for review and comment to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House, the Chairmen of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee, and the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review.
SECTION 5. Contract compliance officer. (1) The commissioner shall designate an employee of the department as a contract compliance officer within the department who shall monitor the contract between the state and the operator for warehouse and distribution operations, and shall assure operator compliance with its performance work statement.
(2) The contract compliance officer shall be responsible for monitoring all aspects of the warehouse. The officer shall be provided an on-site work area, shall be on site on a daily basis, and shall have access to all areas of the warehouse and staff at all times. The operator shall provide any and all data, reports and other materials that the contract compliance officer determines are necessary to carry out monitoring responsibilities under this section.
(3) The contract compliance officer shall have the authority to access monies in the ABC Warehouse Improvements Fund created in Section 6(2) of this act for the purpose of making payments on behalf of the department for occasional improvements consistent with the terms of the contract.
(4) The contract compliance officer shall report at least annually, or as requested, to the Governor and the Legislature.
(2) A special fund, to be designated the "ABC Warehouse Improvements Fund," is created within the State Treasury. The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state. Monies in this special fund shall be used to assist the Department of Revenue in paying the costs associated with occasional improvements. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings or interest earned on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund.
SECTION 7. (1) As used in this section, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
(a) "Accreted value" of any bond means, as of any date of computation, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the stated initial value of such bond, plus (ii) the interest accrued thereon from the issue date to the date of computation at the rate, compounded semiannually, that is necessary to produce the approximate yield to maturity shown for bonds of the same maturity.
(b) "State" means the State of Mississippi.
(c) "Commission" means the State Bond Commission.
(2) (a) Monies deposited into the ABC Warehouse Construction Fund created in Section 6(1) of this act shall be disbursed, in the discretion of the Department of Finance and Administration, to assist the Department of Revenue in paying the costs associated with land acquisition for, and the design, construction, furnishing and equipping of, a new warehouse for its Alcoholic Beverage Control Division.
(b) Amounts deposited into the ABC Warehouse Construction Fund created in Section 6(1) of this act shall be disbursed to pay the costs of the projects described in paragraph (a) of this subsection. Promptly after the commission has certified, by resolution duly adopted, that the projects described in paragraph (a) of this subsection have been completed, abandoned, or cannot be completed in a timely fashion, any amounts remaining in such special fund shall be applied to pay debt service on the bonds issued under this section, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds and as directed by the commission.
(3) (a) The commission, at one time, or from time to time, may declare by resolution the necessity for issuance of general obligation bonds of the State of Mississippi to provide funds for all costs incurred or to be incurred for the purposes described in subsection (2) of this section. Upon the adoption of a resolution by the Department of Finance and Administration, declaring the necessity for the issuance of any part or all of the general obligation bonds authorized by this subsection, the department shall deliver a certified copy of its resolution or resolutions to the commission. Upon receipt of such resolution, the commission, in its discretion, may act as the issuing agent, prescribe the form of the bonds, determine the appropriate method for sale of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids or negotiate the sale of the bonds, issue and sell the bonds so authorized to be sold, and do any and all other things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of such bonds. The total amount of bonds issued under this section shall not exceed Fifty-five Million Dollars ($55,000,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this section after July 1, 2026.
(b) Any investment earnings on amounts deposited into the ABC Warehouse Construction Fund created in Section 6(1) of this act shall be used to pay debt service on bonds issued under this section, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing issuance of such bonds.
(4) The principal of and interest on the bonds authorized under this section shall be payable in the manner provided in this subsection. Such bonds shall bear such date or dates, be in such denomination or denominations, bear interest at such rate or rates (not to exceed the limits set forth in Section 75-17-101, Mississippi Code of 1972), be payable at such place or places within or without the State of Mississippi, shall mature absolutely at such time or times not to exceed twenty-five (25) years from date of issue, be redeemable before maturity at such time or times and upon such terms, with or without premium, shall bear such registration privileges, and shall be substantially in such form, all as shall be determined by resolution of the commission.
(5) The bonds authorized by this section shall be signed by the chairman of the commission, or by his facsimile signature, and the official seal of the commission shall be affixed thereto, attested by the secretary of the commission. The interest coupons, if any, to be attached to such bonds may be executed by the facsimile signatures of such officers. Whenever any such bonds have been signed by the officials designated to sign the bonds who were in office at the time of such signing, but who may have ceased to be such officers before the sale and delivery of such bonds, or who may not have been in office on the date such bonds may bear, the signatures of such officers upon such bonds and coupons shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes and have the same effect as if the person so officially signing such bonds had remained in office until their delivery to the purchaser, or had been in office on the date such bonds may bear. However, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, such bonds may be issued as provided in the Registered Bond Act of the State of Mississippi.
(6) All bonds and interest coupons issued under the provisions of this section have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code, and in exercising the powers granted by this section, the commission shall not be required to and need not comply with the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code.
(7) The commission shall act as issuing agent for the bonds authorized under this section, prescribe the form of the bonds, determine the appropriate method for sale of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids or negotiate the sale of the bonds, issue and sell the bonds so authorized to be sold, pay all fees and costs incurred in such issuance and sale, and do any and all other things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of such bonds. The commission is authorized and empowered to pay the costs that are incident to the sale, issuance and delivery of the bonds authorized under this section from the proceeds derived from the sale of such bonds. The commission may sell such bonds on sealed bids at public sale or may negotiate the sale of the bonds for such price as it may determine to be for the best interest of the State of Mississippi. All interest accruing on such bonds so issued shall be payable semiannually or annually.
If such bonds are sold by sealed bids at public sale, notice of the sale shall be published at least one time, not less than ten (10) days before the date of sale, and shall be so published in one or more newspapers published or having a general circulation in the City of Jackson, Mississippi, selected by the commission.
The commission, when issuing any bonds under the authority of this section, may provide that bonds, at the option of the State of Mississippi, may be called in for payment and redemption at the call price named therein and accrued interest on such date or dates named therein.
(8) The bonds issued under the provisions of this section are general obligations of the State of Mississippi, and for the payment thereof the full faith and credit of the State of Mississippi is irrevocably pledged. If the funds appropriated by the Legislature are insufficient to pay the principal of and the interest on such bonds as they become due, then the deficiency shall be paid by the State Treasurer from any funds in the State Treasury not otherwise appropriated. All such bonds shall contain recitals on their faces substantially covering the provisions of this subsection.
(9) Upon the issuance and sale of bonds under the provisions of this section, the commission shall transfer the proceeds of any such sale or sales to the ABC Warehouse Construction Fund created in Section 6(1) of this act. The proceeds of such bonds shall be disbursed solely upon the order of the Department of Finance and Administration under such restrictions, if any, as may be contained in the resolution providing for the issuance of the bonds.
(10) The bonds authorized under this section may be issued without any other proceedings or the happening of any other conditions or things other than those proceedings, conditions and things which are specified or required by this section. Any resolution providing for the issuance of bonds under the provisions of this section shall become effective immediately upon its adoption by the commission, and any such resolution may be adopted at any regular or special meeting of the commission by a majority of its members.
(11) The bonds authorized under the authority of this section may be validated in the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, in the manner and with the force and effect provided by Title 31, Chapter 13, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the validation of county, municipal, school district and other bonds. The notice to taxpayers required by such statutes shall be published in a newspaper published or having a general circulation in the City of Jackson, Mississippi.
(12) Any holder of bonds issued under the provisions of this section or of any of the interest coupons pertaining thereto may, either at law or in equity, by suit, action, mandamus or other proceeding, protect and enforce any and all rights granted under this section, or under such resolution, and may enforce and compel performance of all duties required by this section to be performed, in order to provide for the payment of bonds and interest thereon.
(13) All bonds issued under the provisions of this section shall be legal investments for trustees and other fiduciaries, and for savings banks, trust companies and insurance companies organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi, and such bonds shall be legal securities which may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers and bodies of this state and all municipalities and political subdivisions for the purpose of securing the deposit of public funds.
(14) Bonds issued under the provisions of this section and income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation in the State of Mississippi.
(15) The proceeds of the bonds issued under this section shall be used solely for the purposes herein provided, including the costs incident to the issuance and sale of such bonds.
(16) The State Treasurer is authorized, without further process of law, to certify to the Department of Finance and Administration the necessity for warrants. The Department of Finance and Administration is authorized and directed to issue such warrants, in such amounts as may be necessary to pay when due the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, or the accreted value of, all bonds issued under this section. The State Treasurer shall forward the necessary amount to the designated place or places of payment of such bonds in ample time to discharge such bonds, or the interest thereon, on the due dates thereof.
(17) This section shall be deemed to be full and complete authority for the exercise of the powers herein granted, but this section shall not be deemed to repeal or to be in derogation of any existing law of this state.
SECTION 8. Section 27-71-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-71-11. (1) The * * * department shall from time
to time by resolution request the State Bond Commission to provide sufficient
funds required to maintain an adequate alcoholic beverage inventory. Said
funds shall be provided under the provisions of Chapter 557, Laws of 1966.
(2) The * * * department or its warehouse operator
shall add to the cost of all alcoholic beverages a markup of twenty-seven and
one-half percent (27-1/2%), inclusive of the three percent (3%) markup imposed
by Section 27-71-7(2).
(3) In addition to other excise taxes and markups imposed in this section and in Section 27-71-7, the department or its warehouse operator shall add to the cost of all alcoholic beverages shipped a charge of Twenty-five Cents (25¢) per case, to be deposited into the ABC Warehouse Improvements Fund created in Section 6(2) of this act. However, if the amount in the ABC Warehouse Improvements Fund reaches Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) before July 1, 2027, this charge shall be suspended until July 1, 2027. If the amount in the ABC Warehouse Improvements Fund reaches Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00) between July 1, 2027, and July 1, 2030, this charge shall be suspended until July 1, 2030. If the amount in the ABC Warehouse Improvements Fund reaches Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000.00) between July 1, 2030, and July 1, 2032, this charge shall be suspended until July 1, 2032. The charge shall be permanently discontinued on or after July 1, 2032, in the month in which the amount in the ABC Warehouse Improvements Fund reaches Twenty-five Million Dollars ($25,000,000.00).
(4) The * * * department or its warehouse operator
shall sell alcoholic beverages at uniform prices throughout the state.
SECTION 9. Section 27-71-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-71-29. All taxes levied
by this article shall be paid to the department * * * in cash or by personal check, cashier's
check, bank exchange, post office money order or express money order and shall
be deposited by the department in the State Treasury on the same day collected,
but no remittances other than cash shall be a final discharge of liability for
the tax herein imposed and levied unless and until it has been paid in cash to
the department.
All taxes levied under Section 27-71-7(1) and received by the department under this article shall be paid into the General Fund, and the three percent (3%) levied under Section 27-71-7(2) and received by the department under this article shall be paid into the special fund in the State Treasury designated as the "Alcoholism Treatment and Rehabilitation Fund" as required by law. Any funds derived from the sale of alcoholic beverages in excess of inventory requirements shall be paid not less often than annually into the General Fund, except for fees charged by the department or its warehouse operator for the defraying of costs associated with shipping alcoholic beverages. The revenue derived from these fees shall be deposited by the department into a special fund, hereby created in the State Treasury, which is designated the "ABC Shipping Fund." The monies in this special fund shall be earmarked for use by the department or its warehouse operator for any expenditure made to ship alcoholic beverages. Any net proceeds remaining in the special fund on August 1 of any fiscal year shall not lapse into the General Fund. "Net proceeds" in this section means the total of all fees collected by the department or its warehouse operator to defray the costs of shipping less the actual costs of shipping.
SECTION 10. Section 27-65-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-65-5. "Wholesaler," "jobber" or "distributor" means a person doing a regularly organized wholesale or jobbing business, known to the trade as such, and selling to licensed retail dealers or other wholesalers for resale in the regular course of business. This classification has no bearing on rates of tax due under this chapter, each sale or part of sales being taxable or exempt depending upon the class in which it falls.
"Wholesale sales" shall apply to:
(1) A sale of tangible
personal property taxable under * * * Section 27-65-17 * * * for resale in the
regular line of business, when made in good faith to a retailer regularly
selling or renting that property and when the dealer is licensed under Section
27-65-27 of this chapter if located in this state.
A sale of a service taxable under Section 27-65-23 for resale in the regular line of business, when made to a regular dealer in that service and when the dealer is licensed under Section 27-65-27 of this chapter if located in this state, or a charge for custom processing rendered upon merchandise for resale or rental by a dealer licensed under Section 27-65-27.
A sale of telecommunications services taxable under Section 27-65-19 for resale in the regular course of business, when made to a regular telecommunications provider of the service and the provider is the holder of a permit issued under Section 27-65-27 and is located in this state or is providing telecommunications services in this state.
A sale of specified digital product taxable under Section 27-65-26 for resale in the regular course of business, when made to a regular dealer of specified digital products and the dealer is the holder of a permit issued under Section 27-65-27 and is located in this state.
"Wholesale sale" shall not include a transaction whereby property is delivered to, and collection for the transaction is made from, a person that will consume the property rather than resell it even though the billing is to a retailer.
However, when a taxpayer sells merchandise and has paid a rate equal to the retail rate of tax on the purchase price to a wholesaler, the taxpayer may take credit for the tax paid to the wholesaler from the tax due on the sale of the merchandise specifically included in his return to the commissioner.
(2) A sale of tangible personal property (except sand or gravel when sold by the producer thereof) or service which is to become a component part of a structure or improvement erected, constructed, repaired, or made only when the sale is made to a contractor taxable under Section 27-65-21 of this chapter on the contract in which the component materials are to be used; and only when the contractor holds a material purchase certificate as required by Section 27-65-21 of this chapter.
(3) A sale of boxes, crates, cartons, cans, bottles and other packaging materials to a retailer or retail custom processor for use as a container to accompany goods or services sold by the retailer or custom processor where possession thereof will pass to the customer at the time of sale of the goods or services contained therein.
(4) The value of soft drinks and syrup withdrawn from the business by a manufacturer for sale at retail and food or drink withdrawn by a manufacturer or wholesaler to be sold through full service vending machines for human consumption.
The quantity of property or services sold or the price at which sold is immaterial in determining whether or not a sale is at wholesale. Sales may be classed as wholesale, or exempt, only if evidenced by proper and adequate records and invoices to substantiate the wholesale rate or exemption from the tax on each individual sale.
The substantiation of the wholesale sales must be by an invoice clearly indicating the date, the name and address of the vendor and vendee, the items sold and the price thereof. Such proof of wholesale sales shall be filed in chronological order and thus preserved for a period of three (3) years from the date of sale. These records shall be subject to inspection by the commissioner and his agents, at their discretion, for the verification of returns filed by either the wholesaler or his customers.
The substantiation of an exempt sale must be by an invoice containing the same information as required for the wholesale sales. This requirement shall apply equally to a retailer making wholesale or exempt sales.
Any failure to comply with all the above requirements shall subject the violator to the retail rate of tax on all such violations.
SECTION 11. Section 27-65-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-65-25. Upon every person
engaging or continuing within this state in the business of selling alcoholic
beverages at retail, the sales of which are legal under the provisions of
Chapter 1 of Title 67, Mississippi Code of 1972, there is hereby levied,
assessed and shall be collected a tax equal to seven percent (7%) of the gross proceeds
of the retail sales of the business. * * *
SECTION 12. Section 7-7-211, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
7-7-211. The department shall have the power and it shall be its duty:
(a) To identify and define for all public offices of the state and its subdivisions generally accepted accounting principles or other accounting principles as promulgated by nationally recognized professional organizations and to consult with the State Fiscal Officer in the prescription and implementation of accounting rules and regulations;
(b) To provide best practices, for all public offices of regional and local subdivisions of the state, systems of accounting, budgeting and reporting financial facts relating to said offices in conformity with legal requirements and with generally accepted accounting principles or other accounting principles as promulgated by nationally recognized professional organizations; to assist such subdivisions in need of assistance in the installation of such systems; to revise such systems when deemed necessary, and to report to the Legislature at periodic times the extent to which each office is maintaining such systems, along with such recommendations to the Legislature for improvement as seem desirable;
(c) To study and analyze existing managerial policies, methods, procedures, duties and services of the various state departments and institutions upon written request of the Governor, the Legislature or any committee or other body empowered by the Legislature to make such request to determine whether and where operations can be eliminated, combined, simplified and improved;
(d) To postaudit each year and, when deemed necessary, preaudit and investigate the financial affairs of the departments, institutions, boards, commissions, or other agencies of state government, as part of the publication of a comprehensive annual financial report for the State of Mississippi, or as deemed necessary by the State Auditor. In complying with the requirements of this paragraph, the department shall have the authority to conduct all necessary audit procedures on an interim and year-end basis;
(e) To postaudit and, when deemed necessary, preaudit and investigate separately the financial affairs of (i) the offices, boards and commissions of county governments and any departments and institutions thereof and therein; (ii) public school districts, departments of education and junior college districts; and (iii) any other local offices or agencies which share revenues derived from taxes or fees imposed by the State Legislature or receive grants from revenues collected by governmental divisions of the state; the cost of such audits, investigations or other services to be paid as follows: Such part shall be paid by the state from appropriations made by the Legislature for the operation of the State Department of Audit as may exceed the sum of Thirty-five Dollars ($35.00) per man-hour for the services of each staff person engaged in performing the audit or other service plus the actual cost of any independent specialist firm contracted by the State Auditor to assist in the performance of the audit, which sum shall be paid by the county, district, department, institution or other agency audited out of its general fund or any other available funds from which such payment is not prohibited by law. Costs paid for independent specialists or firms contracted by the State Auditor shall be paid by the audited entity through the State Auditor to the specialist or firm conducting the postaudit.
Each school district in the state shall have its financial records audited annually, at the end of each fiscal year, either by the State Auditor or by a certified public accountant approved by the State Auditor. Beginning with the audits of fiscal year 2010 activity, no certified public accountant shall be selected to perform the annual audit of a school district who has audited that district for three (3) or more consecutive years previously. Certified public accountants shall be selected in a manner determined by the State Auditor. The school district shall have the responsibility to pay for the audit, including the review by the State Auditor of audits performed by certified public accountants;
(f) To postaudit and, when deemed necessary, preaudit and investigate the financial affairs of the levee boards; agencies created by the Legislature or by executive order of the Governor; profit or nonprofit business entities administering programs financed by funds flowing through the State Treasury or through any of the agencies of the state, or its subdivisions; and all other public bodies supported by funds derived in part or wholly from public funds, except municipalities which annually submit an audit prepared by a qualified certified public accountant using methods and procedures prescribed by the department;
(g) To make written demand, when necessary, for the recovery of any amounts representing public funds improperly withheld, misappropriated and/or otherwise illegally expended by an officer, employee or administrative body of any state, county or other public office, and/or for the recovery of the value of any public property disposed of in an unlawful manner by a public officer, employee or administrative body, such demands to be made (i) upon the person or persons liable for such amounts and upon the surety on official bond thereof, and/or (ii) upon any individual, partnership, corporation or association to whom the illegal expenditure was made or with whom the unlawful disposition of public property was made, if such individual, partnership, corporation or association knew or had reason to know through the exercising of reasonable diligence that the expenditure was illegal or the disposition unlawful. Such demand shall be premised on competent evidence, which shall include at least one (1) of the following: (i) sworn statements, (ii) written documentation, (iii) physical evidence, or (iv) reports and findings of government or other law enforcement agencies. Other provisions notwithstanding, a demand letter issued pursuant to this paragraph shall remain confidential by the State Auditor until the individual against whom the demand letter is being filed has been served with a copy of such demand letter. If, however, such individual cannot be notified within fifteen (15) days using reasonable means and due diligence, such notification shall be made to the individual's bonding company, if he or she is bonded. Each such demand shall be paid into the proper treasury of the state, county or other public body through the office of the department in the amount demanded within thirty (30) days from the date thereof, together with interest thereon in the sum of one percent (1%) per month from the date such amount or amounts were improperly withheld, misappropriated and/or otherwise illegally expended. In the event, however, such person or persons or such surety shall refuse, neglect or otherwise fail to pay the amount demanded and the interest due thereon within the allotted thirty (30) days, the State Auditor shall have the authority and it shall be his duty to institute suit, and the Attorney General shall prosecute the same in any court of the state to the end that there shall be recovered the total of such amounts from the person or persons and surety on official bond named therein; and the amounts so recovered shall be paid into the proper treasury of the state, county or other public body through the State Auditor. In any case where written demand is issued to a surety on the official bond of such person or persons and the surety refuses, neglects or otherwise fails within one hundred twenty (120) days to either pay the amount demanded and the interest due thereon or to give the State Auditor a written response with specific reasons for nonpayment, then the surety shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount of twelve percent (12%) of the bond, not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), to be deposited into the State General Fund;
(h) To investigate any
alleged or suspected violation of the laws of the state by any officer or
employee of the state, county or other public office in the purchase, sale or the
use of any supplies, services, equipment or other property belonging thereto; and
in such investigation to do any and all things necessary to procure evidence
sufficient either to prove or disprove the existence of such alleged or suspected
violations. The * * * Division of Investigation of the State Department
of Audit may investigate, for the purpose of prosecution, any suspected criminal
violation of the provisions of this chapter. For the purpose of administration
and enforcement of this chapter, the enforcement employees of the * * * Division of Investigation of
the State Department of Audit have the powers of a law enforcement officer of
this state, and shall be empowered to make arrests and to serve and execute
search warrants and other valid legal process anywhere within the State of
Mississippi. All enforcement employees of the * * * Division of Investigation of
the State Department of Audit hired on or after July 1, 1993, shall be required
to complete the Law Enforcement Officers Training Program and shall meet the
standards of the program;
(i) To issue subpoenas, with the approval of, and returnable to, a judge of a chancery or circuit court, in termtime or in vacation, to examine the records, documents or other evidence of persons, firms, corporations or any other entities insofar as such records, documents or other evidence relate to dealings with any state, county or other public entity. The circuit or chancery judge must serve the county in which the records, documents or other evidence is located; or where all or part of the transaction or transactions occurred which are the subject of the subpoena;
(j) In any instances in which the State Auditor is or shall be authorized or required to examine or audit, whether preaudit or postaudit, any books, ledgers, accounts or other records of the affairs of any public hospital owned or owned and operated by one or more political subdivisions or parts thereof or any combination thereof, or any school district, including activity funds thereof, it shall be sufficient compliance therewith, in the discretion of the State Auditor, that such examination or audit be made from the report of any audit or other examination certified by a certified public accountant and prepared by or under the supervision of such certified public accountant. Such audits shall be made in accordance with generally accepted standards of auditing, with the use of an audit program prepared by the State Auditor, and final reports of such audits shall conform to the format prescribed by the State Auditor. All files, working papers, notes, correspondence and all other data compiled during the course of the audit shall be available, without cost, to the State Auditor for examination and abstracting during the normal business hours of any business day. The expense of such certified reports shall be borne by the respective hospital, or any available school district funds other than minimum program funds, subject to examination or audit. The State Auditor shall not be bound by such certified reports and may, in his or their discretion, conduct such examination or audit from the books, ledgers, accounts or other records involved as may be appropriate and authorized by law;
(k) The State Auditor shall have the authority to contract with qualified public accounting firms to perform selected audits required in paragraphs (d), (e), (f) and (j) of this section, if funds are made available for such contracts by the Legislature, or if funds are available from the governmental entity covered by paragraphs (d), (e), (f) and (j). Such audits shall be made in accordance with generally accepted standards of auditing. All files, working papers, notes, correspondence and all other data compiled during the course of the audit shall be available, without cost, to the State Auditor for examination and abstracting during the normal business hours of any business day;
(l) The State Auditor shall have the authority to establish training courses and programs for the personnel of the various state and local governmental entities under the jurisdiction of the Office of the State Auditor. The training courses and programs shall include, but not be limited to, topics on internal control of funds, property and equipment control and inventory, governmental accounting and financial reporting, and internal auditing. The State Auditor is authorized to charge a fee from the participants of these courses and programs, which fee shall be deposited into the Department of Audit Special Fund. State and local governmental entities are authorized to pay such fee and any travel expenses out of their general funds or any other available funds from which such payment is not prohibited by law;
(m) Upon written request by the Governor or any member of the State Legislature, the State Auditor may audit any state funds and/or state and federal funds received by any nonprofit corporation incorporated under the laws of this state;
(n) To conduct performance audits of personal or professional service contracts by state agencies on a random sampling basis, or upon request of the State Personal Service Contract Review Board under Section 25-9-120(3);
(o) At the discretion of the State Auditor, the Auditor may conduct risk assessments, as well as performance and compliance audits based on Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS) of any state-funded economic development program authorized under Title 57, Mississippi Code of 1972. After risk assessments or program audits, the State Auditor may conduct audits of those projects deemed high-risk, specifically as they identify any potential wrongdoing or noncompliance based on objectives of the economic development program. The Auditor is granted authority to gather, audit and review data and information from the Mississippi Development Authority or any of its agents, the Department of Revenue or its warehouse operator, and when necessary under this paragraph, the recipient business or businesses or any other private, public or nonprofit entity with information relevant to the audit project. The maximum amount the State Auditor may bill the oversight agency under this paragraph in any fiscal year is One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00), based on reasonable and necessary expenses;
(p) To review and approve any independent auditor selected by the Mississippi Lottery Corporation in accordance with Section 27-115-89, to conduct an annual audit of the corporation; and
(q) To conduct audits or investigations of the Mississippi Lottery Corporation if in the opinion of the State Auditor conditions justify such audits or investigations.
SECTION 13. Section 27-71-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-71-7. (1) There is hereby levied and assessed an excise tax upon each case of alcoholic beverages sold by the department or its warehouse operator to be collected from each retail licensee at the time of sale in accordance with the following schedule:
(a) Distilled spirits................ $2.50 per gallon
(b) Sparkling wine and champagne...... $1.00 per gallon
(c) Other wines, including
native wines.................................... $ .35 per gallon
(2) (a) In addition to the
tax levied by subsection (1) of this section, and in addition to any other markup
collected, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division shall collect a markup of three
percent (3%) on all alcoholic beverages, as defined in Section 67-1-5, Mississippi
Code of 1972, which are sold by the * * * department or its warehouse operator.
The proceeds of the markup shall be collected by the * * * department or its warehouse operator
from each purchaser at the time of purchase.
(b) Until June 30, 1987, the revenue derived from this three percent (3%) markup shall be deposited by the division in the State Treasury to the credit of the "Alcoholism Treatment and Rehabilitation Fund," a special fund which is hereby created in the State Treasury, and shall be used by the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse of the State Department of Mental Health and public or private centers or organizations solely for funding of treatment and rehabilitation programs for alcoholics and alcohol abusers which are sponsored by the division or public or private centers or organizations in such amounts as the Legislature may appropriate to the division for use by the division or public or private centers or organizations for such programs. Any tax revenue in the fund which is not encumbered at the end of the fiscal year shall lapse to the General Fund. It is the intent of the Legislature that the State Department of Mental Health shall continue to seek funds from other sources and shall use the funds appropriated for the purposes of this section and Section 27-71-29 to match all federal funds which may be available for alcoholism treatment and rehabilitation.
From and after July 1, 1987, the revenue derived from this three percent (3%) markup shall be deposited by the division in the State Treasury to the credit of the "Mental Health Programs Fund," a special fund which is hereby created in the State Treasury and shall be used by the State Department of Mental Health for the service programs of the department. Any revenue in the "Alcoholism Treatment and Rehabilitation Fund" which is not encumbered at the end of Fiscal Year 1987 shall be deposited to the credit of the "Mental Health Programs Fund."
SECTION 14. Section 27-71-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-71-9. The * * * department may promulgate
regulations authorizing persons holding on-premises retailer's permits for
common carriers, as provided herein, to file periodic reports and pay a tax
based upon the value of alcoholic beverages sold while in this state, in lieu
of purchasing all such alcoholic beverages from the * * * department or its warehouse operator.
Such tax shall not be less than an amount equivalent to the gross profit plus
all taxes that would have been derived from the sale of a like quantity of
alcoholic beverages by the * * * department or its warehouse operator.
SECTION 15. Section 27-71-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-71-13. The * * * department or its warehouse operator
shall purchase directly from the manufacturer, except under the following
conditions:
(a) Foreign brands which are not readily obtainable directly from the manufacturer.
(b) When the * * * department or its warehouse operator
can conclusively prove that unusual or extraordinary circumstances exist and
the required or desired brands can be purchased at substantially lower prices
from wholesalers or brokerage firms.
In all instances involving
purchases, other than directly from the manufacturer, the * * * department or its warehouse operator
shall maintain full and complete records clearly reflecting the justification
for such purchases. Said records shall include invoices, price lists,
comparative prices, bills of lading and a certificate of justification signed
by the director of the * * * division or the appropriate authority of
the department's warehouse operator, as to the conditions requiring the
purchase or purchases. All such records shall be retained for a period of
three (3) years.
SECTION 16. Section 27-71-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-71-15. Except as otherwise
provided in Section 67-9-1 for the transportation of limited amounts of alcoholic
beverages for the use of an alcohol processing permittee, if transportation requires
passage through a county which has not authorized the sale of alcoholic
beverages, such transportation shall be by a sealed vehicle. Such seal shall
remain unbroken until the vehicle shall reach the place of business operated by
the permittee. The operator of any vehicle transporting alcoholic beverages
shall have in his possession an invoice issued by the * * * department or its warehouse operator
at the time of the wholesale sale covering the merchandise transported by the
vehicle. The * * *
department is authorized to issue regulations controlling the
transportation of alcoholic beverages.
When the restrictions
imposed by this section and by the regulation of the * * * department have not been
violated, the person transporting alcoholic beverages through a county wherein
the sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited shall not be guilty of unlawful
possession and such merchandise shall be immune from seizure.
SECTION 17. Section 27-71-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-71-17. It shall be
unlawful for any person to counterfeit or reuse any label prescribed by the * * * department and used to
identify alcoholic beverages sold at wholesale by the * * * department or its warehouse operator
and, upon conviction, the person shall be punished by a fine of not more than
Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary
for not less than one (1) year, nor more than ten (10) years, or both.
SECTION 18. Section 67-1-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-5. For the purposes of this chapter and unless otherwise required by the context:
(a) "Alcoholic beverage" means any alcoholic liquid, including wines of more than five percent (5%) of alcohol by weight, capable of being consumed as a beverage by a human being, but shall not include light wine, light spirit product and beer, as defined in Section 67-3-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, but shall include native wines and native spirits. The words "alcoholic beverage" shall not include ethyl alcohol manufactured or distilled solely for fuel purposes or beer of an alcoholic content of more than eight percent (8%) by weight if the beer is legally manufactured in this state for sale in another state.
(b) "Alcohol" means the product of distillation of any fermented liquid, whatever the origin thereof, and includes synthetic ethyl alcohol, but does not include denatured alcohol or wood alcohol.
(c) "Distilled spirits" means any beverage containing more than six percent (6%) of alcohol by weight produced by distillation of fermented grain, starch, molasses or sugar, including dilutions and mixtures of these beverages.
(d) "Wine" or "vinous liquor" means any product obtained from the alcoholic fermentation of the juice of sound, ripe grapes, fruits, honey or berries and made in accordance with the revenue laws of the United States.
(e) "Person" means and includes any individual, partnership, corporation, association or other legal entity whatsoever.
(f) "Manufacturer" means any person engaged in manufacturing, distilling, rectifying, blending or bottling any alcoholic beverage.
(g) "Wholesaler" means any person, other than a manufacturer, engaged in distributing or selling any alcoholic beverage at wholesale for delivery within or without this state when such sale is for the purpose of resale by the purchaser.
(h) "Retailer" means any person who sells, distributes, or offers for sale or distribution, any alcoholic beverage for use or consumption by the purchaser and not for resale.
(i) "State Tax Commission," "commission" or "department" means the Department of Revenue of the State of Mississippi, which shall create a division in its organization to be known as the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division. Any reference to the commission or the department hereafter means the powers and duties of the Department of Revenue with reference to supervision of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division.
(j) "Division" means the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the Department of Revenue.
(k) "Municipality" means any incorporated city or town of this state.
(l) "Hotel" means an establishment within a municipality, or within a qualified resort area approved as such by the department, where, in consideration of payment, food and lodging are habitually furnished to travelers and wherein are located at least twenty (20) adequately furnished and completely separate sleeping rooms with adequate facilities that persons usually apply for and receive as overnight accommodations. Hotels in towns or cities of more than twenty-five thousand (25,000) population are similarly defined except that they must have fifty (50) or more sleeping rooms. Any such establishment described in this paragraph with less than fifty (50) beds shall operate one or more regular dining rooms designed to be constantly frequented by customers each day. When used in this chapter, the word "hotel" shall also be construed to include any establishment that meets the definition of "bed and breakfast inn" as provided in this section.
(m) "Restaurant" means:
(i) A place which is regularly and in a bona fide manner used and kept open for the serving of meals to guests for compensation, which has suitable seating facilities for guests, and which has suitable kitchen facilities connected therewith for cooking an assortment of foods and meals commonly ordered at various hours of the day; the service of such food as sandwiches and salads only shall not be deemed in compliance with this requirement. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, no place shall qualify as a restaurant under this chapter unless twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the revenue derived from such place shall be from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages, or unless the value of food given to and consumed by customers is equal to twenty-five percent (25%) or more of total revenue; or
(ii) Any privately owned business located in a building in a historic district where the district is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, where the building has a total occupancy rating of not less than one thousand (1,000) and where the business regularly utilizes ten thousand (10,000) square feet or more in the building for live entertainment, including not only the stage, lobby or area where the audience sits and/or stands, but also any other portion of the building necessary for the operation of the business, including any kitchen area, bar area, storage area and office space, but excluding any area for parking. In addition to the other requirements of this subparagraph, the business must also serve food to guests for compensation within the building and derive the majority of its revenue from event-related fees, including, but not limited to, admission fees or ticket sales to live entertainment in the building, and from the rental of all or part of the facilities of the business in the building to another party for a specific event or function.
(n) "Club" means an association or a corporation:
(i) Organized or created under the laws of this state for a period of five (5) years prior to July 1, 1966;
(ii) Organized not primarily for pecuniary profit but for the promotion of some common object other than the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages;
(iii) Maintained by its members through the payment of annual dues;
(iv) Owning, hiring or leasing a building or space in a building of such extent and character as may be suitable and adequate for the reasonable and comfortable use and accommodation of its members and their guests;
(v) The affairs and management of which are conducted by a board of directors, board of governors, executive committee, or similar governing body chosen by the members at a regular meeting held at some periodic interval; and
(vi) No member, officer, agent or employee of which is paid, or directly or indirectly receives, in the form of a salary or other compensation any profit from the distribution or sale of alcoholic beverages to the club or to members or guests of the club beyond such salary or compensation as may be fixed and voted at a proper meeting by the board of directors or other governing body out of the general revenues of the club.
The department may, in its discretion, waive the five-year provision of this paragraph. In order to qualify under this paragraph, a club must file with the department, at the time of its application for a license under this chapter, two (2) copies of a list of the names and residences of its members and similarly file, within ten (10) days after the election of any additional member, his name and address. Each club applying for a license shall also file with the department at the time of the application a copy of its articles of association, charter of incorporation, bylaws or other instruments governing the business and affairs thereof.
(o) "Qualified resort area" means any area or locality outside of the limits of incorporated municipalities in this state commonly known and accepted as a place which regularly and customarily attracts tourists, vacationists and other transients because of its historical, scenic or recreational facilities or attractions, or because of other attributes which regularly and customarily appeal to and attract tourists, vacationists and other transients in substantial numbers; however, no area or locality shall so qualify as a resort area until it has been duly and properly approved as such by the department. The department may not approve an area as a qualified resort area after July 1, 2018, if any portion of such proposed area is located within two (2) miles of a convent or monastery that is located in a county traversed by Interstate 55 and U.S. Highway 98. A convent or monastery may waive such distance restrictions in favor of allowing approval by the department of an area as a qualified resort area. Such waiver shall be in written form from the owner, the governing body, or the appropriate officer of the convent or monastery having the authority to execute such a waiver, and the waiver shall be filed with and verified by the department before becoming effective.
(i) The department may approve an area or locality outside of the limits of an incorporated municipality that is in the process of being developed as a qualified resort area if such area or locality, when developed, can reasonably be expected to meet the requisites of the definition of the term "qualified resort area." In such a case, the status of qualified resort area shall not take effect until completion of the development.
(ii) The term includes any state park which is declared a resort area by the department; however, such declaration may only be initiated in a written request for resort area status made to the department by the Executive Director of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and no permit for the sale of any alcoholic beverage, as defined in this chapter, except an on-premises retailer's permit, shall be issued for a hotel, restaurant or bed and breakfast inn in such park.
(iii) The term includes:
1. The clubhouses associated with the state park golf courses at the Lefleur's Bluff State Park, the John Kyle State Park, the Percy Quin State Park and the Hugh White State Park;
2. The clubhouse and associated golf course, tennis courts and related facilities and swimming pool and related facilities where the golf course, tennis courts and related facilities and swimming pool and related facilities are adjacent to one or more planned residential developments and the golf course and all such developments collectively include at least seven hundred fifty (750) acres and at least four hundred (400) residential units;
3. Any facility located on property that is a game reserve with restricted access that consists of at least three thousand (3,000) contiguous acres with no public roads and that offers as a service hunts for a fee to overnight guests of the facility;
4. Any facility located on federal property surrounding a lake and designated as a recreational area by the United States Army Corps of Engineers that consists of at least one thousand five hundred (1,500) acres;
5. Any facility that is located in a municipality that is bordered by the Pearl River, traversed by Mississippi Highway 25, adjacent to the boundaries of the Jackson International Airport and is located in a county which has voted against coming out from under the dry law; however, any such facility may only be located in areas designated by the governing authorities of such municipality;
6. Any municipality with a population in excess of ten thousand (10,000) according to the latest federal decennial census that is located in a county that is bordered by the Pearl River and is not traversed by Interstate Highway 20, with a population in excess of forty-five thousand (45,000) according to the latest federal decennial census; however, the governing authorities of such a municipality may by ordinance:
a. Specify the hours of operation of facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale;
b. Specify the percentage of revenue that facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages;
c. Designate the areas in which facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale may be located;
7. The West Pearl Restaurant Tax District as defined in Chapter 912, Local and Private Laws of 2007;
8. a. Land that is located in any county in which Mississippi Highway 43 and Mississippi Highway 25 intersect and:
A. Owned by the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District, and/or
B. Located within the Reservoir Community District, zoned commercial, east of Old Fannin Road, north of Regatta Drive, south of Spillway Road, west of Hugh Ward Boulevard and accessible by Old Fannin Road, Spillway Road, Spann Drive and/or Lake Vista Place, and/or
C. Located within the Reservoir Community District, zoned commercial, west of Old Fannin Road, south of Spillway Road and extending to the boundary of the corporate limits of the City of Flowood, Mississippi;
b. The board of supervisors of such county, with respect to B and C of item 8.a., may by resolution or other order:
A. Specify the hours of operation of facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale,
B. Specify the percentage of revenue that facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages, and
C. Designate the areas in which facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale may be located;
9. Any facility located on property that is a game reserve with restricted access that consists of at least eight hundred (800) contiguous acres with no public roads, that offers as a service hunts for a fee to overnight guests of the facility, and has accommodations for at least fifty (50) overnight guests;
10. Any facility that:
a. Consists of at least six thousand (6,000) square feet being heated and cooled along with an additional adjacent area that consists of at least two thousand two hundred (2,200) square feet regardless of whether heated and cooled,
b. For a fee is used to host events such as weddings, reunions and conventions,
c. Provides lodging accommodations regardless of whether part of the facility and/or located adjacent to or in close proximity to the facility, and
d. Is located on property that consists of at least thirty (30) contiguous acres;
11. Any facility and related property:
a. Located on property that consists of at least one hundred twenty-five (125) contiguous acres and consisting of an eighteen (18) hole golf course, and/or located in a facility that consists of at least eight thousand (8,000) square feet being heated and cooled,
b. Used for the purpose of providing meals and hosting events, and
c. Used for the purpose of teaching culinary arts courses and/or turf management and grounds keeping courses, and/or outdoor recreation and leadership courses;
12. Any facility and related property that:
a. Consist of at least eight thousand (8,000) square feet being heated and cooled,
b. For a fee is used to host events,
c. Is used for the purpose of culinary arts courses, and/or live entertainment courses and art performances, and/or outdoor recreation and leadership courses;
13. The clubhouse and associated golf course where the golf course is adjacent to one or more residential developments and the golf course and all such developments collectively include at least two hundred (200) acres and at least one hundred fifty (150) residential units and are located a. in a county that has voted against coming out from under the dry law; and b. outside of but in close proximity to a municipality in such county which has voted under Section 67-1-14, after January 1, 2013, to come out from under the dry law;
14. The clubhouse and associated eighteen (18) hole golf course located in a municipality traversed by Interstate Highway 55 and U.S. Highway 51 that has voted to come out from under the dry law;
15. a. Land that is planned for mixed use development and consists of at least two hundred (200) contiguous acres with one or more planned residential developments collectively planned to include at least two hundred (200) residential units when completed, and also including a facility that consists of at least four thousand (4,000) square feet that is not part of such land but is located adjacent to or in close proximity thereto, and which land is located:
A. In a county that has voted to come out from under the dry law,
B. Outside the corporate limits of any municipality in such county and adjacent to or in close proximity to a golf course located in a municipality in such county, and
C. Within one (1) mile of a state institution of higher learning;
b. The board of supervisors of such county may by resolution or other order:
A. Specify the hours of operation of facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale,
B. Specify the percentage of revenue that facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages, and
C. Designate the areas in which facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale may be located;
16. Any facility with a capacity of five hundred (500) people or more, to be used as a venue for private events, on a tract of land in the Southwest Quarter of Section 33, Township 2 South, Range 7 East, of a county where U.S. Highway 45 and U.S. Highway 72 intersect and that has not voted to come out from under the dry law;
17. One hundred five (105) contiguous acres, more or less, located in Hinds County, Mississippi, and in the City of Jackson, Mississippi, whereon are constructed a variety of buildings, improvements, grounds or objects for the purpose of holding events thereon to promote agricultural and industrial development in Mississippi;
18. Land that is owned by a state institution of higher learning and:
a. Located entirely within a county that has elected by majority vote not to permit the transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture of light wine and beer pursuant to Section 67-3-7, and
b. Adjacent to but outside the incorporated limits of a municipality that has elected by majority vote to permit the sale, receipt, storage and transportation of light wine and beer pursuant to Section 67-3-9.
If any portion of the land described in this item 18 has been declared a qualified resort area by the department before July 1, 2020, then that qualified resort area shall be incorporated into the qualified resort area created by this item 18;
19. Any facility and related property:
a. Used as a flea market or similar venue during a weekend (Saturday and Sunday) immediately preceding the first Monday of a month and having an annual average of at least one thousand (1,000) visitors for each such weekend and five hundred (500) vendors for Saturday of each such weekend, and
b. Located in a county that has not voted to come out from under the dry law and outside of but in close proximity to a municipality located in such county and which municipality has voted to come out from under the dry law;
20. Blocks 1, 2 and 3 of the original town square in any municipality with a population in excess of one thousand five hundred (1,500) according to the latest federal decennial census and which is located in:
a. A county traversed by Interstate 55 and Interstate 20, and
b. A judicial district that has not voted to come out from under the dry law;
21. Any municipality with a population in excess of two thousand (2,000) according to the latest federal decennial census and in which is located a part of White's Creek Lake and in which U.S. Highway 82 intersects with Mississippi Highway 9 and located in a county that is partially bordered on one (1) side by the Big Black River; however, the governing authorities of such a municipality may by ordinance:
a. Specify the hours of operation of facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale;
b. Specify the percentage of revenue that facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages; and
c. Designate the areas in which facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale may be located;
22. A restaurant located on a two-acre tract adjacent to a five-hundred-fifty-acre lake in the northeast corner of a county traversed by U.S. Interstate 55 and U.S. Highway 84;
23. Any tracts of land in Oktibbeha County, situated north of Bailey Howell Drive, Lee Boulevard and Old Mayhew Road, east of George Perry Street and south of Mississippi Highway 182, and not located on the property of a state institution of higher learning; however, the board of supervisors of such county may by resolution or other order:
a. Specify the hours of operation of facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale;
b. Specify the percentage of revenue that facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages; and
c. Designate the areas in which facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale may be located;
24. A municipality in which Mississippi Highway 27 and Mississippi Highway 28 intersect; however, the governing authorities of such a municipality may by ordinance:
a. Specify the hours of operation of facilities offering alcoholic beverages for sale;
b. Specify the percentage of revenue that facilities offering alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages; and
c. Designate the areas in which facilities offering alcoholic beverages for sale may be located;
25. A municipality through which run Mississippi Highway 35 and Interstate 20; however, the governing authorities of such a municipality may by ordinance:
a. Specify the hours of operation of facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale;
b. Specify the percentage of revenue that facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages; and
c. Designate the areas in which facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale may be located;
26. A municipality in which Mississippi Highway 16 and Mississippi Highway 35 intersect; however, the governing authorities of such a municipality may by ordinance:
a. Specify the hours of operation of facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale;
b. Specify the percentage of revenue that facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages; and
c. Designate the areas in which facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale may be located;
27. A municipality in which U.S. Highway 82 and Old Highway 61 intersect; however, the governing authorities of such a municipality may by ordinance:
a. Specify the hours of operation of facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale;
b. Specify the percentage of revenue that facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages; and
c. Designate the areas in which facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale may be located;
28. A municipality in which Mississippi Highway 8 meets Mississippi Highway 1; however, the governing authorities of such a municipality may by ordinance:
a. Specify the hours of operation of facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale;
b. Specify the percentage of revenue that facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages; and
c. Designate the areas in which facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale may be located;
29. A municipality in which U.S. Highway 82 and Mississippi Highway 1 intersect; however, the governing authorities of such a municipality may by ordinance:
a. Specify the hours of operation of facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale;
b. Specify the percentage of revenue that facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages; and
c. Designate the areas in which facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale may be located;
30. A municipality in which Mississippi Highway 50 meets Mississippi Highway 9; however, the governing authorities of such a municipality may by ordinance:
a. Specify the hours of operation of facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale;
b. Specify the percentage of revenue that facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages; and
c. Designate the areas in which facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale may be located;
31. An area bounded on the north by Pearl Street, on the east by West Street, on the south by Court Street and on the west by Farish Street, within a municipality bordered on the east by the Pearl River and through which run Interstate 20 and Interstate 55; however, the governing authorities of the municipality in which such area is located may by ordinance:
a. Specify the hours of operation of facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale;
b. Specify the percentage of revenue that facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages; and
c. Designate the areas in which facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale may be located;
32. Any facility and related property that:
a. Is contracted for mixed-use development improvements consisting of office and residential space and a restaurant and lounge, partially occupying the renovated space of a four-story commercial building which previously served as a financial institution; and adjacent property to the west consisting of a single-story office building that was originally occupied by the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of American Local Number 569; and
b. Is situated on a tract of land consisting of approximately one and one-tenth (1.10) acres, and the adjacent property to the west consisting of approximately 0.5 acres, located in a municipality which is the seat of county government, situated south of Interstate 10, traversed by U.S. Highway 90, partially bordered on one (1) side by the Pascagoula River and having its most southern boundary bordered by the Gulf of Mexico, with a population greater than twenty-two thousand (22,000) according to the 2010 federal decennial census; however, the governing authorities of such a municipality may by ordinance:
A. Specify the hours of operation of facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale;
B. Specify the percentage of revenue that facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages; and
C. Designate the areas within the facilities in which alcoholic beverages may be offered for sale;
33. Any facility with a maximum capacity of one hundred twenty (120) people that consists of at least three thousand (3,000) square feet being heated and cooled, has a commercial kitchen, has a pavilion that consists of at least nine thousand (9,000) square feet and is located on land more particularly described as follows:
All that part of the East Half of the Northwest Quarter of Section 21, Township 7 South, Range 4 East, Union County, Mississippi, that lies South of Mississippi State Highway 348 right-of-way and containing 19.48 acres, more or less.
ALSO,
The Northeast 38 acres of the Southwest Quarter of Section 21, Township 7 South, Range 4 East, Union County, Mississippi.
ALSO,
The South 81 1/2 acres of the Southwest Quarter of Section 21, Township 7 South, Range 4 East, Union County, Mississippi; and
34. A municipality in which U.S. Highway 51 and Mississippi Highway 16 intersect; however, the governing authorities of such a municipality may by ordinance:
a. Specify the hours of operation of facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale;
b. Specify the percentage of revenue that facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages; and
c. Designate the areas in which facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale may be located.
The status of these municipalities, districts, clubhouses, facilities, golf courses and areas described in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph (o) as qualified resort areas does not require any declaration of same by the department.
(p) "Native wine" means any product, produced in Mississippi for sale, having an alcohol content not to exceed twenty-one percent (21%) by weight and made in accordance with revenue laws of the United States, which shall be obtained primarily from the alcoholic fermentation of the juice of ripe grapes, fruits, berries, honey or vegetables grown and produced in Mississippi; provided that bulk, concentrated or fortified wines used for blending may be produced without this state and used in producing native wines. The department shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to permit a producer to import such bulk and/or fortified wines into this state for use in blending with native wines without payment of any excise tax that would otherwise accrue thereon.
(q) "Native winery" means any place or establishment within the State of Mississippi where native wine is produced, in whole or in part, for sale.
(r) "Bed and breakfast inn" means an establishment within a municipality where in consideration of payment, breakfast and lodging are habitually furnished to travelers and wherein are located not less than eight (8) and not more than nineteen (19) adequately furnished and completely separate sleeping rooms with adequate facilities, that persons usually apply for and receive as overnight accommodations; however, such restriction on the minimum number of sleeping rooms shall not apply to establishments on the National Register of Historic Places. No place shall qualify as a bed and breakfast inn under this chapter unless on the date of the initial application for a license under this chapter more than fifty percent (50%) of the sleeping rooms are located in a structure formerly used as a residence.
(s) "Board" shall refer to the Board of Tax Appeals of the State of Mississippi.
(t) "Spa facility" means an establishment within a municipality or qualified resort area and owned by a hotel where, in consideration of payment, patrons receive from licensed professionals a variety of private personal care treatments such as massages, facials, waxes, exfoliation and hairstyling.
(u) "Art studio or gallery" means an establishment within a municipality or qualified resort area that is in the sole business of allowing patrons to view and/or purchase paintings and other creative artwork.
(v) "Cooking school" means an establishment within a municipality or qualified resort area and owned by a nationally recognized company that offers an established culinary education curriculum and program where, in consideration of payment, patrons are given scheduled professional group instruction on culinary techniques. For purposes of this paragraph, the definition of cooking school shall not include schools or classes offered by grocery stores, convenience stores or drugstores.
(w) "Campus" means property owned by a public school district, community or junior college, college or university in this state where educational courses are taught, school functions are held, tests and examinations are administered or academic course credits are awarded; however, the term shall not include any "restaurant" or "hotel" that is located on property owned by a community or junior college, college or university in this state, and is operated by a third party who receives all revenue generated from food and alcoholic beverage sales.
(x) "Native spirit" shall mean any beverage, produced in Mississippi for sale, manufactured primarily by the distillation of fermented grain, starch, molasses or sugar produced in Mississippi, including dilutions and mixtures of these beverages. In order to be classified as "native spirit" under the provisions of this chapter, at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the finished product by volume shall have been obtained from distillation of fermented grain, starch, molasses or sugar grown and produced in Mississippi.
(y) "Native distillery" shall mean any place or establishment within this state where native spirit is produced in whole or in part for sale.
(z) "Warehouse operator" shall have the meaning ascribed in Section 1 of this act.
SECTION 19. Section 67-1-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-9. (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, distill, brew, sell, import into this state, export from the state, transport, distribute, warehouse, store, solicit, take order for, bottle, rectify, blend, treat, mix or process any alcoholic beverage except as authorized in this chapter. However, nothing contained herein shall prevent importers, wineries and distillers of alcoholic beverages from storing such alcoholic beverages in private bonded warehouses located within the State of Mississippi for the ultimate use and benefit of the Department of Revenue or its warehouse operator as provided in Section 67-1-41. The department is hereby authorized to promulgate rules and regulations for the establishment of such private bonded warehouses and for the control of alcoholic beverages stored in such warehouses. Additionally, nothing herein contained shall prevent any duly licensed practicing physician or dentist from possessing or using alcoholic liquor in the strict practice of his profession, or prevent any hospital or other institution caring for sick and diseased persons, from possessing and using alcoholic liquor for the treatment of bona fide patients of such hospital or other institution. Any drugstore employing a licensed pharmacist may possess and use alcoholic liquors in the combination of prescriptions of duly licensed physicians. The possession and dispensation of wine by an authorized representative of any church for the purpose of conducting any bona fide rite or religious ceremony conducted by such church shall not be prohibited by this chapter.
(2) Any person, upon conviction of any provision of this section, shall be punished as follows:
(a) By a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail not less than one (1) week nor more than three (3) months, or both, for the first conviction under this section.
(b) By a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail not less than sixty (60) days, nor more than six (6) months, or both fine and imprisonment, for the second conviction for violating this section.
(c) By a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary not less than one (1) year, nor more than five (5) years, or both fine and imprisonment, for conviction the third time under this section for the violation thereof after having been twice convicted of its violation.
(3) Nothing in this section shall make it unlawful to transport bottles or containers of alcoholic beverages that are legally purchased in this state if the bottles or containers are unopened and are being transported on state or federal highway.
SECTION 20. Section 67-1-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-19. Except as otherwise noted, the administration and enforcement of this chapter shall be vested in the Department of Revenue. There is hereby created the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division within and as a part of the Department of Revenue.
SECTION 21. Section 67-1-33, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-33. (1) No member of the Board of Tax Appeals, Commissioner of Revenue of the Department of Revenue, or person appointed or employed by the department under this chapter, including its warehouse operator, shall solicit, accept or receive any gift, gratuity, emolument or employment from any person subject to the provisions of this chapter, or from any officer, agent or employee thereof.
(2) No member of the Board of Tax Appeals, the Commissioner of Revenue of the Department of Revenue, or person appointed or employed by the department under this chapter, including its warehouse operator, shall solicit, request from or recommend, directly or indirectly, to any person subject to the provisions of this chapter, or to any officer, agent or employee thereof, the appointment of any person to any place or position.
(3) Every person subject to the provisions of this chapter, and every officer, agent or employee thereof, is hereby forbidden to offer to any member of the Board of Tax Appeals, to the Commissioner of Revenue or to any person appointed or employed by the department under this chapter, including its warehouse operator, any gift, gratuity, emolument or employment.
(4) If any member of the Board of Tax Appeals, the Commissioner of Revenue or any person appointed or employed by the department under this chapter, including its warehouse operator, shall violate any of the provisions of this section, he shall be removed from the office or employment held by him.
(5) Every person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(6) For purposes of this provision, the terms "gift," "gratuity," "emolument" and "employment" do not include the payment of expenses associated with social occasions afforded public servants or any other benefit that does not come within the definition of "pecuniary benefit" as defined in Section 25-4-103.
SECTION 22. Section 67-1-41, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-41. (1) The department is hereby created a wholesale distributor and seller of alcoholic beverages, not including malt liquors, within the State of Mississippi. It is granted the right to import and sell alcoholic beverages at wholesale within the state, and no person who is granted the right to sell, distribute or receive alcoholic beverages at retail shall purchase any alcoholic beverages from any source other than the department or its warehouse operator, except as authorized in subsections (4), (9) and (12) of this section. The department may establish warehouses, and the department or its warehouse operator may purchase alcoholic beverages in such quantities and from such sources as it may deem desirable and sell the alcoholic beverages to authorized permittees within the state including, at the discretion of the department or its warehouse operator, any retail distributors operating within any military post or qualified resort areas within the boundaries of the state, keeping a correct and accurate record of all such transactions and exercising such control over the distribution of alcoholic beverages as seem right and proper in keeping with the provisions or purposes of this chapter.
(2) No person for the purpose of sale shall manufacture, distill, brew, sell, possess, export, transport, distribute, warehouse, store, solicit, take orders for, bottle, rectify, blend, treat, mix or process any alcoholic beverage except in accordance with authority granted under this chapter, or as otherwise provided by law for native wines or native spirits.
(3) No alcoholic beverage intended for sale or resale shall be imported, shipped or brought into this state for delivery to any person other than as provided in this chapter, or as otherwise provided by law for native wines or native spirits.
(4) The department may promulgate rules and regulations which authorize on-premises retailers to purchase limited amounts of alcoholic beverages from package retailers and for package retailers to purchase limited amounts of alcoholic beverages from other package retailers. The department shall develop and provide forms to be completed by the on-premises retailers and the package retailers verifying the transaction. The completed forms shall be forwarded to the department within a period of time prescribed by the department.
(5) The department may promulgate rules which authorize the holder of a package retailer's permit to permit individual retail purchasers of packages of alcoholic beverages to return, for exchange, credit or refund, limited amounts of original sealed and unopened packages of alcoholic beverages purchased by the individual from the package retailer.
(6) The department shall maintain all forms to be completed by applicants necessary for licensure by the department at all district offices of the department.
(7) The department may promulgate rules which authorize the manufacturer of an alcoholic beverage or wine to import, transport and furnish or give a sample of alcoholic beverages or wines to the holders of package retailer's permits, on-premises retailer's permits, native wine or native spirit retailer's permits and temporary retailer's permits who have not previously purchased the brand of that manufacturer from the department or its warehouse operator. For each holder of the designated permits, the manufacturer may furnish not more than five hundred (500) milliliters of any brand of alcoholic beverage and not more than three (3) liters of any brand of wine.
(8) The department may promulgate rules disallowing open product sampling of alcoholic beverages or wines by the holders of package retailer's permits and permitting open product sampling of alcoholic beverages by the holders of on-premises retailer's permits. Permitted sample products shall be plainly identified "sample" and the actual sampling must occur in the presence of the manufacturer's representatives during the legal operating hours of on-premises retailers.
(9) The department may promulgate rules and regulations that authorize the holder of a research permit to import and purchase limited amounts of alcoholic beverages from importers, wineries and distillers of alcoholic beverages or from the department or its warehouse operator. The department shall develop and provide forms to be completed by the research permittee verifying each transaction. The completed forms shall be forwarded to the department within a period of time prescribed by the department. The records and inventory of alcoholic beverages shall be open to inspection at any time by the Director of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division or any duly authorized agent.
(10) The department may promulgate rules facilitating a retailer's on-site pickup of alcoholic beverages sold by the department or its warehouse operator, or as authorized by the department, including, but not limited to, native wines and native spirits, so that those alcoholic beverages may be delivered to the retailer at the manufacturer's location instead of via shipment from the department's warehouse.
(11) [Through June 30, 2023] This section shall not apply to alcoholic beverages authorized to be sold by the holder of a distillery retailer's permit or a festival wine permit.
(11) [From and after July 1, 2023] This section shall not apply to alcoholic beverages authorized to be sold by the holder of a distillery retailer's permit.
(12) (a) An individual resident of this state who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age may purchase wine from a winery and have the purchase shipped into this state so long as it is shipped to a package retailer permittee in Mississippi; however, the permittee shall pay to the department all taxes, fees and surcharges on the wine that are imposed upon the sale of wine shipped by the department or its warehouse operator. No credit shall be provided to the permittee for any taxes paid to another state as a result of the transaction. Package retailers may charge a service fee for receiving and handling shipments from wineries on behalf of the purchasers. The department shall develop and provide forms to be completed by the package retailer permittees verifying the transaction. The completed forms shall be forwarded to the department within a period of time prescribed by the department.
(b) The purchaser of wine that is to be shipped to a package retailer's store shall be required to get the prior approval of the package retailer before any wine is shipped to the package retailer. A purchaser is limited to no more than ten (10) cases of wine per year to be shipped to a package retailer. A package retailer shall notify a purchaser of wine within two (2) days after receiving the shipment of wine. If the purchaser of the wine does not pick up or take the wine from the package retailer within thirty (30) days after being notified by the package retailer, the package retailer may sell the wine as part of his inventory.
(c) Shipments of wine into this state under this section shall be made by a duly licensed carrier. It shall be the duty of every common or contract carrier, and of every firm or corporation that shall bring, carry or transport wine from outside the state for delivery inside the state to package retailer permittees on behalf of consumers, to prepare and file with the department, on a schedule as determined by the department, of known wine shipments containing the name of the common or contract carrier, firm or corporation making the report, the period of time covered by said report, the name and permit number of the winery, the name and permit number of the package retailer permittee receiving such wine, the weight of the package delivered to each package retailer permittee, a unique tracking number, and the date of delivery. Reports received by the department shall be made available by the department to the public via the Mississippi Public Records Act process in the same manner as other state alcohol filings.
Upon the department's request, any records supporting the report shall be made available to the department within a reasonable time after the department makes a written request for such records. Any records containing information relating to such reports shall be kept and preserved for a period of two (2) years, unless their destruction sooner is authorized, in writing, by the department, and shall be open and available to inspection by the department upon the department's written request. Reports shall also be made available to any law enforcement or regulatory body in the state in which the railroad company, express company, common or contract carrier making the report resides or does business.
Any common or contract carrier that willfully fails to make reports, as provided by this section or any of the rules and regulations of the department for the administration and enforcement of this section, is subject to a notification of violation. In the case of a continuing failure to make reports, the common or contract carrier is subject to possible license suspension and revocation at the department's discretion.
(d) A winery that ships wine under this section shall be deemed to have consented to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state, of the department, of any other state agency regarding the enforcement of this section, and of any related law, rules or regulations.
(e) Any person who makes, participates in, transports, imports or receives a shipment in violation of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six (6) months, or both. Each shipment shall constitute a separate offense.
(13) If any provision of this chapter, or its application to any person or circumstance, is determined by a court to be invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions shall be construed in accordance with the intent of the Legislature to further limit rather than expand commerce in alcoholic beverages to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the state's residents, and to enhance strict regulatory control over taxation, distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages through the three-tier regulatory system imposed by this chapter upon all alcoholic beverages to curb relationships and practices calculated to stimulate sales and impair the state's policy favoring trade stability and the promotion of temperance.
SECTION 23. Section 67-1-43, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-43. Any authorized retail
distributor who shall purchase or receive * * * alcoholic beverages
from any source except from the department or its warehouse operator,
unless authorized by rules and regulations of the department promulgated under
Section 67-1-41, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof
shall be punished by a fine of not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00),
nor more than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00), to which may be added imprisonment
in the county jail for not more than six (6) months. Any authorization of such
person to sell intoxicating beverages may be revoked as provided by law.
SECTION 24. Section 67-1-45, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-45. No manufacturer, rectifier or distiller of alcoholic beverages shall sell or attempt to sell any such alcoholic beverages, except malt liquor, within the State of Mississippi, except to the department or its warehouse operator, or as provided in Section 67-1-41, or pursuant to Section 67-1-51. A producer of native wine or native spirit may sell native wines or native spirits, respectively, to the department or its warehouse operator, or to consumers at the location of the native winery or native distillery or its immediate vicinity.
Any violation of this section by any manufacturer, rectifier or distiller shall be punished by a fine of not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), and not more than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00), to which may be added imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed six (6) months.
SECTION 25. Section 67-1-49, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-49. All distillers or
distributors having contracts with the * * * department or its warehouse
operator for the sale of alcoholic beverages to * * * the department or its warehouse
operator, shall, on or before February 1st of each year, file a statement,
under oath, with the * * * department and with the Secretary of State,
listing the names and addresses of each person, firm or corporation in Mississippi
to whom or which said distiller or distributor shall have paid or agreed to pay
any fee, retainer, salary, or remuneration, during the preceding year, together
with a statement of the purpose for such payment. Failure to file such
statement shall constitute grounds for the * * * department to suspend the right
of the distiller or distributor to sell to * * * the department or its warehouse
operator until such time as said statement shall be filed.
SECTION 26. Section 67-1-51, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-51. (1) Permits which may be issued by the department shall be as follows:
(a) Manufacturer's permit. A manufacturer's permit shall permit the manufacture, importation in bulk, bottling and storage of alcoholic liquor and its distribution and sale to manufacturers holding permits under this chapter in this state and to persons outside the state who are authorized by law to purchase the same, and to sell as provided by this chapter.
Manufacturer's permits shall be of the following classes:
Class 1. Distiller's and/or rectifier's permit, which shall authorize the holder thereof to operate a distillery for the production of distilled spirits by distillation or redistillation and/or to operate a rectifying plant for the purifying, refining, mixing, blending, flavoring or reducing in proof of distilled spirits and alcohol.
Class 2. Wine manufacturer's permit, which shall authorize the holder thereof to manufacture, import in bulk, bottle and store wine or vinous liquor.
Class 3. Native wine producer's permit, which shall authorize the holder thereof to produce, bottle, store and sell native wines.
Class 4. Native spirit producer's permit, which shall authorize the holder thereof to produce, bottle, store and sell native spirits.
(b) Package retailer's permit. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph and Section 67-1-52, a package retailer's permit shall authorize the holder thereof to operate a store exclusively for the sale at retail in original sealed and unopened packages of alcoholic beverages, including native wines and native spirits, not to be consumed on the premises where sold. Alcoholic beverages shall not be sold by any retailer in any package or container containing less than fifty (50) milliliters by liquid measure. A package retailer's permit, with prior approval from the department, shall authorize the holder thereof to sample new product furnished by a manufacturer's representative or his employees at the permitted place of business so long as the sampling otherwise complies with this chapter and applicable department regulations. Such samples may not be provided to customers at the permitted place of business. In addition to the sale at retail of packages of alcoholic beverages, the holder of a package retailer's permit is authorized to sell at retail corkscrews, wine glasses, soft drinks, ice, juices, mixers and other beverages commonly used to mix with alcoholic beverages. Nonalcoholic beverages sold by the holder of a package retailer's permit shall not be consumed on the premises where sold.
(c) On-premises retailer's permit. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, an on-premises retailer's permit shall authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages, including native wines and native spirits, for consumption on the licensed premises only; however, a patron of the permit holder may remove one (1) bottle of wine from the licensed premises if: (i) the patron consumed a portion of the bottle of wine in the course of consuming a meal purchased on the licensed premises; (ii) the permit holder securely reseals the bottle; (iii) the bottle is placed in a bag that is secured in a manner so that it will be visibly apparent if the bag is opened; and (iv) a dated receipt for the wine and the meal is available. Additionally, as part of a carryout order, a permit holder may sell one (1) bottle of wine to be removed from the licensed premises for every two (2) entrees ordered. Such a permit shall be issued only to qualified hotels, restaurants and clubs, small craft breweries, microbreweries, and to common carriers with adequate facilities for serving passengers. In resort areas, whether inside or outside of a municipality, the department, in its discretion, may issue on-premises retailer's permits to such establishments as it deems proper. An on-premises retailer's permit when issued to a common carrier shall authorize the sale and serving of alcoholic beverages aboard any licensed vehicle while moving through any county of the state; however, the sale of such alcoholic beverages shall not be permitted while such vehicle is stopped in a county that has not legalized such sales. If an on-premises retailer's permit is applied for by a common carrier operating solely in the water, such common carrier must, along with all other qualifications for a permit, (i) be certified to carry at least one hundred fifty (150) passengers and/or provide overnight accommodations for at least fifty (50) passengers and (ii) operate primarily in the waters within the State of Mississippi which lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi and/or on the Mississippi River or navigable waters within any county bordering on the Mississippi River.
(d) Solicitor's permit. A solicitor's permit shall authorize the holder thereof to act as salesman for a manufacturer or wholesaler holding a proper permit, to solicit on behalf of his employer orders for alcoholic beverages, and to otherwise promote his employer's products in a legitimate manner. Such a permit shall authorize the representation of and employment by one (1) principal only. However, the permittee may also, in the discretion of the department, be issued additional permits to represent other principals. No such permittee shall buy or sell alcoholic beverages for his own account, and no such beverage shall be brought into this state in pursuance of the exercise of such permit otherwise than through a permit issued to a wholesaler or manufacturer in the state.
(e) Native wine retailer's permit. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, a native wine retailer's permit shall be issued only to a holder of a Class 3 manufacturer's permit, and shall authorize the holder thereof to make retail sales of native wines to consumers for on-premises consumption or to consumers in originally sealed and unopened containers at an establishment located on the premises of or in the immediate vicinity of a native winery. When selling to consumers for on-premises consumption, a holder of a native wine retailer's permit may add to the native wine alcoholic beverages not produced on the premises, so long as the total volume of foreign beverage components does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the mixed beverage. Hours of sale shall be the same as those authorized for on-premises permittees in the city or county in which the native wine retailer is located.
(f) Temporary retailer's permit. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, a temporary retailer's permit shall permit the purchase and resale of alcoholic beverages, including native wines and native spirits, during legal hours on the premises described in the temporary permit only.
Temporary retailer's permits shall be of the following classes:
Class 1. A temporary one-day permit may be issued to bona fide nonprofit civic or charitable organizations authorizing the sale of alcoholic beverages, including native wine and native spirit, for consumption on the premises described in the temporary permit only. Class 1 permits may be issued only to applicants demonstrating to the department, by a statement signed under penalty of perjury submitted ten (10) days prior to the proposed date or such other time as the department may determine, that they meet the qualifications of Sections 67-1-11, 67-1-37, 67-1-51(2) and (3), 67-1-55, 67-1-57 (excluding paragraph (e)) and 67-1-59. Class 1 permittees shall obtain all alcoholic beverages from package retailers located in the county in which the temporary permit is issued. Alcoholic beverages remaining in stock upon expiration of the temporary permit may be returned by the permittee to the package retailer for a refund of the purchase price upon consent of the package retailer or may be kept by the permittee exclusively for personal use and consumption, subject to all laws pertaining to the illegal sale and possession of alcoholic beverages. The department, following review of the statement provided by the applicant and the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations, may issue the permit.
Class 2. A temporary permit, not to exceed seventy (70) days, may be issued to prospective permittees seeking to transfer a permit authorized in paragraph (c) of this subsection. A Class 2 permit may be issued only to applicants demonstrating to the department, by a statement signed under the penalty of perjury, that they meet the qualifications of Sections 67-1-5(l), (m), (n), (o), (p) or (q), 67-1-37, 67-1-51(2) and (3), 67-1-55, 67-1-57 and 67-1-59. The department, following a preliminary review of the statement provided by the applicant and the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations, may issue the permit.
Class 2 temporary permittees must purchase their alcoholic beverages directly from the department or its warehouse operator or, with approval of the department, purchase the remaining stock of the previous permittee. If the proposed applicant of a Class 1 or Class 2 temporary permit falsifies information contained in the application or statement, the applicant shall never again be eligible for a retail alcohol beverage permit and shall be subject to prosecution for perjury.
Class 3. A temporary one-day permit may be issued to a retail establishment authorizing the complimentary distribution of wine, including native wine, to patrons of the retail establishment at an open house or promotional event, for consumption only on the premises described in the temporary permit. A Class 3 permit may be issued only to an applicant demonstrating to the department, by a statement signed under penalty of perjury submitted ten (10) days before the proposed date or such other time as the department may determine, that it meets the qualifications of Sections 67-1-11, 67-1-37, 67-1-51(2) and (3), 67-1-55, 67-1-57 (excluding paragraph (e)) and 67-1-59. A Class 3 permit holder shall obtain all alcoholic beverages from the holder(s) of a package retailer's permit located in the county in which the temporary permit is issued. Wine remaining in stock upon expiration of the temporary permit may be returned by the Class 3 temporary permit holder to the package retailer for a refund of the purchase price, with consent of the package retailer, or may be kept by the Class 3 temporary permit holder exclusively for personal use and consumption, subject to all laws pertaining to the illegal sale and possession of alcoholic beverages. The department, following review of the statement provided by the applicant and the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations, may issue the permit. No retailer may receive more than twelve (12) Class 3 temporary permits in a calendar year. A Class 3 temporary permit shall not be issued to a retail establishment that either holds a merchant permit issued under paragraph (l) of this subsection, or holds a permit issued under Chapter 3, Title 67, Mississippi Code of 1972, authorizing the holder to engage in the business of a retailer of light wine or beer.
(g) Caterer's permit. A caterer's permit shall permit the purchase of alcoholic beverages by a person engaging in business as a caterer and the resale of alcoholic beverages by such person in conjunction with such catering business. No person shall qualify as a caterer unless forty percent (40%) or more of the revenue derived from such catering business shall be from the serving of prepared food and not from the sale of alcoholic beverages and unless such person has obtained a permit for such business from the Department of Health. A caterer's permit shall not authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages on the premises of the person engaging in business as a caterer; however, the holder of an on-premises retailer's permit may hold a caterer's permit. When the holder of an on-premises retailer's permit or an affiliated entity of the holder also holds a caterer's permit, the caterer's permit shall not authorize the service of alcoholic beverages on a consistent, recurring basis at a separate, fixed location owned or operated by the caterer, on-premises retailer or affiliated entity and an on-premises retailer's permit shall be required for the separate location. All sales of alcoholic beverages by holders of a caterer's permit shall be made at the location being catered by the caterer, and, except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, such sales may be made only for consumption at the catered location. The location being catered may be anywhere within a county or judicial district that has voted to come out from under the dry laws or in which the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages is otherwise authorized by law. Such sales shall be made pursuant to any other conditions and restrictions which apply to sales made by on-premises retail permittees. The holder of a caterer's permit or his employees shall remain at the catered location as long as alcoholic beverages are being sold pursuant to the permit issued under this paragraph (g), and the permittee shall have at the location the identification card issued by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the department. No unsold alcoholic beverages may be left at the catered location by the permittee upon the conclusion of his business at that location. Appropriate law enforcement officers and Alcoholic Beverage Control Division personnel may enter a catered location on private property in order to enforce laws governing the sale or serving of alcoholic beverages.
(h) Research permit. A research permit shall authorize the holder thereof to operate a research facility for the professional research of alcoholic beverages. Such permit shall authorize the holder of the permit to import and purchase limited amounts of alcoholic beverages from the department or from importers, wineries and distillers of alcoholic beverages for professional research.
(i) Alcohol processing permit. An alcohol processing permit shall authorize the holder thereof to purchase, transport and possess alcoholic beverages for the exclusive use in cooking, processing or manufacturing products which contain alcoholic beverages as an integral ingredient. An alcohol processing permit shall not authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages on the premises of the person engaging in the business of cooking, processing or manufacturing products which contain alcoholic beverages. The amounts of alcoholic beverages allowed under an alcohol processing permit shall be set by the department.
(j) Hospitality cart permit. A hospitality cart permit shall authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages from a mobile cart on a golf course that is the holder of an on-premises retailer's permit. The alcoholic beverages sold from the cart must be consumed within the boundaries of the golf course.
(k) Special service permit. A special service permit shall authorize the holder to sell commercially sealed alcoholic beverages to the operator of a commercial or private aircraft for en route consumption only by passengers. A special service permit shall be issued only to a fixed-base operator who contracts with an airport facility to provide fueling and other associated services to commercial and private aircraft.
(l) Merchant permit. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, a merchant permit shall be issued only to the owner of a spa facility, an art studio or gallery, or a cooking school, and shall authorize the holder to serve complimentary by the glass wine only, including native wine, at the holder's spa facility, art studio or gallery, or cooking school. A merchant permit holder shall obtain all wine from the holder of a package retailer's permit.
(m) Temporary alcoholic beverages charitable auction permit. A temporary permit, not to exceed five (5) days, may be issued to a qualifying charitable nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The permit shall authorize the holder to sell alcoholic beverages for the limited purpose of raising funds for the organization during a live or silent auction that is conducted by the organization and that meets the following requirements: (i) the auction is conducted in an area of the state where the sale of alcoholic beverages is authorized; (ii) if the auction is conducted on the premises of an on-premises retailer's permit holder, then the alcoholic beverages to be auctioned must be stored separately from the alcoholic beverages sold, stored or served on the premises, must be removed from the premises immediately following the auction, and may not be consumed on the premises; (iii) the permit holder may not conduct more than two (2) auctions during a calendar year; (iv) the permit holder may not pay a commission or promotional fee to any person to arrange or conduct the auction.
(n) Event venue retailer's permit. An event venue retailer's permit shall authorize the holder thereof to purchase and resell alcoholic beverages, including native wines and native spirits, for consumption on the premises during legal hours during events held on the licensed premises if food is being served at the event by a caterer who is not affiliated with or related to the permittee. The caterer must serve at least three (3) entrees. The permit may only be issued for venues that can accommodate two hundred (200) persons or more. The number of persons a venue may accommodate shall be determined by the local fire department and such determination shall be provided in writing and submitted along with all other documents required to be provided for an on-premises retailer's permit. The permittee must derive the majority of its revenue from event-related fees, including, but not limited to, admission fees or ticket sales for live entertainment in the building. "Event-related fees" do not include alcohol, beer or light wine sales or any fee which may be construed to cover the cost of alcohol, beer or light wine. This determination shall be made on a per event basis. An event may not last longer than two (2) consecutive days per week.
(o) Temporary theatre permit. A temporary theatre permit, not to exceed five (5) days, may be issued to a charitable nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code and owns or operates a theatre facility that features plays and other theatrical performances and productions. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, the permit shall authorize the holder to sell alcoholic beverages, including native wines and native spirits, to patrons of the theatre during performances and productions at the theatre facility for consumption during such performances and productions on the premises of the facility described in the permit. A temporary theatre permit holder shall obtain all alcoholic beverages from package retailers located in the county in which the permit is issued. Alcoholic beverages remaining in stock upon expiration of the temporary theatre permit may be returned by the permittee to the package retailer for a refund of the purchase price upon consent of the package retailer or may be kept by the permittee exclusively for personal use and consumption, subject to all laws pertaining to the illegal sale and possession of alcoholic beverages.
(p) Charter ship operator's permit. Subject to the provisions of this paragraph (p), a charter ship operator's permit shall authorize the holder thereof and its employees to serve, monitor, store and otherwise control the serving and availability of alcoholic beverages to customers of the permit holder during private charters under contract provided by the permit holder. A charter ship operator's permit shall authorize such action by the permit holder and its employees only as to alcoholic beverages brought onto the permit holder's ship by customers of the permit holder as part of such a private charter. All such alcoholic beverages must be removed from the charter ship at the conclusion of each private charter. A charter ship operator's permit shall not authorize the permit holder to sell, charge for or otherwise supply alcoholic beverages to customers, except as authorized in this paragraph (p). For the purposes of this paragraph (p), "charter ship operator" means a common carrier that (i) is certified to carry at least one hundred fifty (150) passengers and/or provide overnight accommodations for at least fifty (50) passengers, (ii) operates only in the waters within the State of Mississippi, which lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, and (iii) provides charters under contract for tours and trips in such waters.
(q) Distillery retailer's permit. The holder of a Class 1 manufacturer's permit may obtain a distillery retailer's permit. A distillery retailer's permit shall authorize the holder thereof to sell at retail alcoholic beverages to consumers for on-premises consumption, or to consumers by the sealed and unopened bottle from a retail location at the distillery for off-premises consumption. The holder may only sell product manufactured by the manufacturer at the distillery described in the permit. However, when selling to consumers for on-premises consumption, a holder of a distillery retailer's permit may add other beverages, alcoholic or not, so long as the total volume of other beverage components containing alcohol does not exceed twenty percent (20%). Hours of sale shall be the same as those authorized for on-premises permittees in the city or county in which the distillery retailer is located.
The holder shall not sell at
retail more than ten percent (10%) of the alcoholic beverages produced annually
at its distillery. The holder shall not make retail sales of more than two and
twenty-five one-hundredths (2.25) liters, in the aggregate, of the alcoholic beverages
produced at its distillery to any one (1) individual for consumption off the premises
of the distillery within a twenty-four-hour period. The hours of sale shall be
the same as those hours for package retailers under this chapter. The holder of
a distillery retailer's permit is not required to purchase the alcoholic beverages
authorized to be sold by this paragraph from the department's liquor distribution
warehouse; however, if the holder does not purchase the alcoholic beverages from
the department's liquor distribution warehouse, the holder shall pay to the department
all taxes, fees and surcharges on the alcoholic beverages that are imposed upon
the sale of alcoholic beverages shipped by the * * *
department or its warehouse operator. In addition to alcoholic beverages,
the holder of a distillery retailer's permit may sell at retail promotional products
from the same retail location, including shirts, hats, glasses, and other promotional
products customarily sold by alcoholic beverage manufacturers.
(r) Festival Wine Permit. Any wine manufacturer or native wine producer permitted by Mississippi or any other state is eligible to obtain a Festival Wine Permit. This permit authorizes the entity to transport product manufactured by it to festivals held within the State of Mississippi and sell sealed, unopened bottles to festival participants. The holder of this permit may provide samples at no charge to participants. "Festival" means any event at which three (3) or more vendors are present at a location for the sale or distribution of goods. The holder of a Festival Wine Permit is not required to purchase the alcoholic beverages authorized to be sold by this paragraph from the department's liquor distribution warehouse. However, if the holder does not purchase the alcoholic beverages from the department's liquor distribution warehouse, the holder of this permit shall pay to the department all taxes, fees and surcharges on the alcoholic beverages sold at such festivals that are imposed upon the sale of alcoholic beverages shipped by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the Department of Revenue. Additionally, the entity shall file all applicable reports and returns as prescribed by the department. This permit is issued per festival and provides authority to sell for two (2) consecutive days during the hours authorized for on-premises permittees' sales in that county or city. The holder of the permit shall be required to maintain all requirements set by Local Option Law for the service and sale of alcoholic beverages. This permit may be issued to entities participating in festivals at which a Class 1 temporary permit is in effect.
This paragraph (r) shall stand repealed from and after July 1, 2023.
(s) Charter vessel operator's permit. Subject to the provisions of this paragraph (s), a charter vessel operator's permit shall authorize the holder thereof and its employees to sell and serve alcoholic beverages to passengers of the permit holder during public tours, historical tours, ecological tours and sunset cruises provided by the permit holder. The permit shall authorize the holder to only sell alcoholic beverages, including native wines, to passengers of the charter vessel operator during public tours, historical tours, ecological tours and sunset cruises provided by the permit holder aboard the charter vessel operator for consumption during such tours and cruises on the premises of the charter vessel operator described in the permit. For the purposes of this paragraph (s), "charter vessel operator" means a common carrier that (i) is certified to carry at least forty-nine (49) passengers, (ii) operates only in the waters within the State of Mississippi, which lie south of Interstate 10 in the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, and lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, extending not further than one (1) mile south of such counties, and (iii) provides vessel services for tours and cruises in such waters as provided in this paragraph (s).
(t) Native spirit retailer's permit. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, a native spirit retailer's permit shall be issued only to a holder of a Class 4 manufacturer's permit, and shall authorize the holder thereof to make retail sales of native spirits to consumers for on-premises consumption or to consumers in originally sealed and unopened containers at an establishment located on the premises of or in the immediate vicinity of a native distillery. When selling to consumers for on-premises consumption, a holder of a native spirit retailer's permit may add to the native spirit alcoholic beverages not produced on the premises, so long as the total volume of foreign beverage components does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the mixed beverage. Hours of sale shall be the same as those authorized for on-premises permittees in the city or county in which the native spirit retailer is located.
(u) Delivery service permit. Any individual, limited liability company, corporation or partnership registered to do business in this state is eligible to obtain a delivery service permit. Subject to the provisions of Section 67-1-51.1, this permit authorizes the permittee, or its employee or an independent contractor acting on its behalf, to deliver alcoholic beverages, beer, light wine and light spirit product from a licensed retailer to a person in this state who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age for the individual's use and not for resale. This permit does not authorize the delivery of alcoholic beverages, beer, light wine or light spirit product to the premises of a location with a permit for the manufacture, distribution or retail sale of alcoholic beverages, beer, light wine or light spirit product. The holder of a package retailer's permit or an on-premises retailer's permit under Section 67-1-51 or of a beer, light wine and light spirit product permit under Section 67-3-19 is authorized to apply for a delivery service permit as a privilege separate from its existing retail permit.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4) of this section, retail permittees may hold more than one (1) retail permit, at the discretion of the department.
(3) (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, no authority shall be granted to any person to manufacture, sell or store for sale any intoxicating liquor as specified in this chapter within four hundred (400) feet of any church, school, kindergarten or funeral home. However, within an area zoned commercial or business, such minimum distance shall be not less than one hundred (100) feet.
(b) A church or funeral home may waive the distance restrictions imposed in this subsection in favor of allowing issuance by the department of a permit, pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, to authorize activity relating to the manufacturing, sale or storage of alcoholic beverages which would otherwise be prohibited under the minimum distance criterion. Such waiver shall be in written form from the owner, the governing body, or the appropriate officer of the church or funeral home having the authority to execute such a waiver, and the waiver shall be filed with and verified by the department before becoming effective.
(c) The distance restrictions imposed in this subsection shall not apply to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages at a bed and breakfast inn listed in the National Register of Historic Places or to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages in a historic district that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is a qualified resort area and is located in a municipality having a population greater than one hundred thousand (100,000) according to the latest federal decennial census.
(d) The distance restrictions imposed in this subsection shall not apply to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages at a qualified resort area as defined in Section
67-1-5(o)(iii)32.
(e) The distance restrictions imposed in this subsection shall not apply to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages at a licensed premises in a building formerly owned by a municipality and formerly leased by the municipality to a municipal school district and used by the municipal school district as a district bus shop facility.
(f) The distance restrictions imposed in this subsection shall not apply to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages at a licensed premises in a building consisting of at least five thousand (5,000) square feet and located approximately six hundred (600) feet from the intersection of Mississippi Highway 15 and Mississippi Highway 4.
(g) The distance restrictions imposed in this subsection shall not apply to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages at a licensed premises in a building located at the southeast corner of Ward and Tate Streets in the City of Senatobia, Mississippi.
(4) No person, either individually or as a member of a firm, partnership, limited liability company or association, or as a stockholder, officer or director in a corporation, shall own or control any interest in more than one (1) package retailer's permit, nor shall such person's spouse, if living in the same household of such person, any relative of such person, if living in the same household of such person, or any other person living in the same household with such person own any interest in any other package retailer's permit.
(5) (a) In addition to any other authority granted under this section, the holder of a permit issued under subsection (1)(c), (e), (f), (g), (l), (n) and/or (o) of this section may sell or otherwise provide alcoholic beverages and/or wine to a patron of the permit holder in the manner authorized in the permit and the patron may remove an open glass, cup or other container of the alcoholic beverage and/or wine from the licensed premises and may possess and consume the alcoholic beverage or wine outside of the licensed premises if: (i) the licensed premises is located within a leisure and recreation district created under Section 67-1-101 and (ii) the patron remains within the boundaries of the leisure and recreation district while in possession of the alcoholic beverage or wine.
(b) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to allow a person to bring any alcoholic beverages into a permitted premises except to the extent otherwise authorized by this chapter.
SECTION 27. Section 67-5-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-5-5. For purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the definitions ascribed herein, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) "Native wine" shall mean any product, produced in Mississippi for sale, having an alcohol content not to exceed twenty-one percent (21%) by weight and made in accordance with revenue laws of the United States, which shall be obtained primarily from the alcoholic fermentation of the juice of ripe grapes, fruits, berries, honey or vegetables grown and produced in Mississippi; provided that bulk, concentrated or fortified wines used for blending may be produced without this state and used in producing native wines. The commission shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to permit a producer to import such bulk and/or fortified wines into this state for use in blending with native wines without payment of any excise tax that would otherwise accrue thereon. In order to be classified as "native wine" under the provisions of this chapter, at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the finished product by volume shall have been obtained from fermentation of grapes, fruits, berries, honey or vegetables grown and produced in Mississippi.
(b) "Native winery" shall mean any place or establishment within this state where native wine is produced in whole or in part for sale.
(c) "Produce" shall mean to do or to perform any act or thing in the process of making native wine.
(d) "Person" shall mean one or more natural persons, or a corporation, partnership or association.
(e) "Producer" shall mean any person who owns, operates or conducts a native winery, but it does not mean the employees of such persons.
(f) "Consumer" shall mean any person who purchases native wine for the purpose of consuming it, giving it away, or distributing it in any way other than by sale, barter or exchange.
(g)
"Commission" or "department" shall mean the
Mississippi * * * Department of Revenue.
(h) "Division"
shall mean the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the * * * department.
SECTION 28. Section 67-5-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-5-11. (1) Within the State of Mississippi, every native winery is authorized to make sales to the department or its warehouse operator, or to consumers at the location of the native winery or its immediate vicinity. Every native winery is authorized to make sales to any producer, manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer or consumer located outside of the State of Mississippi who are authorized by law to purchase the same.
(2) With respect to native wines or distilled spirits sold by the department or its warehouse operator to retailers under Section 67-1-41, the native winery or distillery retailer may hold those wines or spirits for onsite pickup instead of shipping them to the department warehouse, at the option of the retailer and pursuant to any rules promulgated by the department.
SECTION 29. Section 67-5-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-5-13. (1) Upon every producer holding a permit for the production of native wine, there is levied and imposed for each location for the privilege of engaging and continuing in this state in the production of native wine an annual privilege license tax in an amount equal to Ten Dollars ($10.00) for each ten thousand (10,000) gallons, or any part thereof, of native wine produced by the winery.
(2) There is levied and
assessed an excise tax upon each case of native wine sold by a producer to any
source to be collected from the producer in the amount provided for in Section
27-71-7. However, native wine produced in Mississippi for export and sale
without this state and native wine produced in Mississippi and sold to the * * * department or its warehouse operator
shall not be subject to the excise tax, nor shall the tax accrue or be
collected on native wines dispensed, as free samples in quantities of not more
than six (6) ounces, in the tasting room of a native winery.
(3) The privilege tax imposed
by subsection (1) of this section shall be collected in the same manner as
presently provided by law for the collection of other alcoholic beverages. The
excise tax imposed by subsection (2) of this section shall be reported monthly
by the producer to the * * * department on all sales made in Mississippi to consumers
at the location of the native winery or its immediate vicinity, along with a
statement of gallonage produced during that month, and the producer shall remit
the tax due and owing with each report. The producer shall also include in the
report a statement of gallonage sold and exported for sale outside this state.
(4) All taxes levied by and collected under this section shall be deposited in the General Fund.
SECTION 30. Section 67-11-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-11-9. (1) Within the State of Mississippi, every native distillery is authorized to make sales to the department or its warehouse operator, or to consumers at the location of the native distillery or its immediate vicinity. Every native distillery is authorized to make sales to any producer, manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer or consumer located outside of the State of Mississippi who is authorized by law to purchase the same.
(2) With respect to native spirits sold by the department or its warehouse operator to retailers under Section 67-1-41, the native distillery may hold those spirits for onsite pickup instead of shipping them to the department warehouse, at the option of the retailer and pursuant to any rules promulgated by the department.
SECTION 31. Section 67-11-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-11-11. (1) Upon every producer holding a permit for the production of native spirits, there is levied and imposed for each location for the privilege of engaging and continuing in this state in the production of native spirits an annual privilege license tax in an amount equal to Ten Dollars ($10.00) for each one thousand (1,000) gallons, or any part thereof, of native spirits produced by the distillery.
(2) There is levied and assessed an excise tax upon each case of native spirit sold by a producer to any source to be collected from the producer in the amount provided for in Section 27-71-7. However, native spirit produced in Mississippi for export and sale without this state and native spirit produced in Mississippi and sold to the department or its warehouse operator shall not be subject to the excise tax, nor shall the tax accrue or be collected on native spirits dispensed, as free samples in quantities of not more than two (2) ounces, in the tasting room of a native distillery.
(3) The privilege tax imposed by subsection (1) of this section shall be collected in the same manner as presently provided by law for the collection of other alcoholic beverages. The excise tax imposed by subsection (2) of this section shall be reported monthly by the producer to the department on all sales made in Mississippi to consumers at the location of the native distillery in its immediate vicinity, along with a statement of gallonage produced during that month, and the producer shall remit the tax due and owing with each report. The producer shall also include in the report a statement of gallonage sold and exported for sale outside this state.
(4) All taxes levied by and collected under this section shall be deposited in the State General Fund.
SECTION 32. Sections 1 through 6 of this act shall be codified as a new article in Title 67, Chapter 1, Mississippi Code of 1972.
SECTION 33. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022, and shall stand repealed on June 30, 2022.
Further, amend by striking the title in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
AN ACT TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW WAREHOUSE FOR THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL DIVISION IN THE JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, METROPOLITAN AREA; TO PROVIDE THAT LAND ACQUISITION AND WAREHOUSE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SHALL BE FUNDED WITH MONIES FROM THE ABC WAREHOUSE CONSTRUCTION FUND AND SUCH OTHER MONIES AS THE LEGISLATURE MAY MAKE AVAILABLE; TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONTRACT FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE WAREHOUSE; TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT TO CONTRACT FOR WAREHOUSE AND DISTRIBUTION OPERATIONS; TO SPECIFY THAT THE OPERATOR SHALL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OPERATIONS AT THE WAREHOUSE CURRENTLY USED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND SHALL THEREAFTER ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR OPERATIONS AT THE NEW WAREHOUSE AFTER ITS CONSTRUCTION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PAY REGULAR MAINTENANCE EXPENSES AND SHALL REIMBURSE THE OPERATOR FOR SERVICES PERFORMED UNDER THE CONTRACT OUT OF MONIES APPROPRIATED BY THE LEGISLATURE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE SHALL PAY THE OPERATOR COST-PLUS ON THESE OPERATIONS AT A SET DOLLAR AMOUNT PER CASE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES SOLD; TO REQUIRE THE CALCULATION OF SHIPPING COSTS EVERY QUARTER, BASED ON THE ACTUAL SHIPPING COSTS OF THE PREVIOUS QUARTER, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE CONTRACT SHALL SPECIFY CATEGORIES OF EXPENSES THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED ACTUAL SHIPPING COSTS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE EVEN SHARING BETWEEN THE OPERATOR AND THE STATE OF ANY DISCOUNT NEGOTIATED BY THE OPERATOR OFF THE PRICE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES TO BE DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF THE STATE; TO PROVIDE THAT EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH OCCASIONAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WAREHOUSE AND ITS EQUIPMENT SHALL BE PAID FROM MONIES IN THE ABC WAREHOUSE IMPROVEMENTS FUND; TO REQUIRE THAT ALL EMPLOYEES NEEDED FOR WAREHOUSE AND DISTRIBUTION OPERATIONS BE EMPLOYEES OF THE OPERATOR; TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONTRACT FOR WAREHOUSE AND DISTRIBUTION OPERATIONS; TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE TO DEVELOP A PLAN DEMONSTRATING THE METHOD BY WHICH THE STATE WOULD RESUME CONTROL OF THE WAREHOUSE UPON TERMINATION OF THE CONTRACT; TO REQUIRE THAT THE PLAN BE SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE SHALL DESIGNATE AN EXISTING DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE AS A CONTRACT COMPLIANCE OFFICER TO MONITOR THE CONTRACT FOR WAREHOUSE AND DISTRIBUTION OPERATIONS AND SHALL ASSURE OPERATOR COMPLIANCE WITH ITS PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT; TO REQUIRE THE CONTRACT COMPLIANCE OFFICER TO REPORT AT LEAST ANNUALLY, OR AS REQUESTED, TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE; TO CREATE THE ABC WAREHOUSE CONSTRUCTION FUND AS A SPECIAL FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY TO ASSIST THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE IN PAYING THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH LAND ACQUISITION FOR, AND THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF, THE WAREHOUSE; TO CREATE THE ABC WAREHOUSE IMPROVEMENTS FUND AS A SPECIAL FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY TO ASSIST THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE IN PAYING THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH OCCASIONAL MAINTENANCE, REPAIRS, UPGRADES AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE WAREHOUSE AND ITS EQUIPMENT; TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF STATE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS IN AN AMOUNT OF $55,000,000.00 FOR THE ABC WAREHOUSE CONSTRUCTION FUND; TO AMEND SECTION 27-71-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE ABOVE, AND TO ADD A $0.25 CHARGE TO THE COST OF EACH CASE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES SHIPPED BY THE DEPARTMENT OR ITS WAREHOUSE OPERATOR, TO BE DEPOSITED INTO THE ABC WAREHOUSE IMPROVEMENTS FUND; TO PERIODICALLY SUSPEND THE CHARGE WHEN THE AMOUNT IN THE ABC WAREHOUSE IMPROVEMENTS FUND REACHES CERTAIN THRESHOLDS; TO AMEND SECTION 27-71-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE ABOVE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT PROCEEDS REMAINING IN THE ABC SHIPPING FUND ON AUGUST 1 OF ANY FISCAL YEAR SHALL NOT LAPSE INTO THE GENERAL FUND; TO AMEND SECTIONS 27-65-5 AND 27-65-25, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REMOVE THE SALES TAX ON WHOLESALE PURCHASES OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; TO AMEND SECTIONS 7-7-211, 27-71-7, 27-71-9, 27-71-13, 27-71-15, 27-71-17, 67-1-5, 67-1-9, 67-1-19, 67-1-33, 67-1-41, 67-1-43, 67-1-45, 67-1-49, 67-1-51, 67-5-5, 67-5-11, 67-5-13, 67-11-9 AND 67-11-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE ABOVE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.