Sec. 1. 28-A MRSA §1052-B, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 677, §2, is amended to read:

1. Special taste-testing festival license. Manufacturers of malt liquor or wine licensed as small breweries or farm wineries under section 1355 may apply jointly for an additional license to participate in a special taste-testing festival under this section. The special taste-testing festival license is valid for no more than 3 consecutive days and may be issued once annually.

Sec. 2. 28-A MRSA §1052-B, sub-§1-A is enacted to read:

1-A.__Out-of-state manufacturers.__Persons licensed as breweries and farm wineries by law in other states may apply for the special license under this section in accordance with conditions prescribed by the bureau.

Sec. 3. Rulemaking. The Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Liquor Enforcement shall adopt rules necessary for the implementation of this Act. Rules adopted pursuant to this Act are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

SUMMARY

This bill amends the law establishing special taste-testing festivals for breweries and farm wineries to:

1. Allow greater participation by all breweries in Maine by removing the requirement that they may only be small breweries; and

2. Expand the scope of the special once-a-year license to include out-of-state breweries and farm wineries subject to rules adopted by the Bureau of Liquor Enforcement within the Department of Public Safety.