Whereas, this resolve directs the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations to report back to the Legislature by March 1, 1999 on important matters to the State; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Study of Calais discount state liquor store. Resolved: That the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations in the Department of Administrative and Financial Services shall gather information on the operations of the Calais discount state liquor store for presentation to the Joint Standing Committee on Legal and Veterans Affairs. The information must include sales figures for the store, state revenue receipts, anticipated sales trends, impact on area agency stores and other businesses and any other information that the committee may need to determine whether public interests are served by continuation of the discount store in Calais. The information must be presented to the committee by March 1, 1999. The Joint Standing Committee on Legal and Veterans Affairs is authorized to report out legislation to the First Regular Session of the 119th Legislature in response to the information; and be it further

Sec. 2. Study of Alternative Pricing Mechanisms. Resolved: That the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations in the Department of Administrative and Financial Services shall examine ways to alter the pricing of liquor to enable agency stores to increase their profits, such as by increasing the 8% markup for agency stores. The bureau shall report its findings to the Joint Standing Committee on Legal and Veterans Affairs by March 1, 1999 and the committee is authorized to report out legislation to the First Regular Session of the 119th Legislature in response to this information.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved.