Sec. TT-2. 28-A MRSA §88 is enacted to read:

§88.__Transfer of wholesale liquor activities

1.__Statement of purpose.__The Legislature finds that it is in the public interest to seek efficiencies and cost savings from privatizing the State's wholesale liquor business.__ Privatization may include the grant of one or more exclusive service territories in which a private sector entity has the exclusive right to distribute certain spirits subject to price regulation by the alcohol bureau.

2.__Authority.__The Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services may enter into a contract for the sale, franchise, license or lease of and may sell, franchise, license or lease the State's wholesale liquor activities associated with distributing and selling spirits and fortified wines sold by the State on January 1, 2003.__The buyer, franchise, licensee or lessee may sell and distribute to licensed state liquor stores all spirits and fortified wines sold by the State on January 1, 2003.

3.__Bidding procedures.__The Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services shall adopt rules to effect the transfer of the State's wholesale liquor business to a private entity.__The rules must include:

A.__A finding by the commissioner setting forth the method of transfer that promotes the Legislature's intent in enacting this section;

B.__Procedures designed to encourage vigorous bidding for the State's wholesale liquor business;

C.__Criteria for eligibility for service as a wholesale liquor provider, which must include a prohibition on private wholesale liquor vendors also serving as agency liquor stores;

D.__Criteria for eligibility as a wholesale liquor provider;

E.__A plan for the continued employment of state employees in the wholesale liquor business in Maine for a period of 2 years from the date of privatization; and

F.__Other rules that the commissioner determines are consistent with the Legislature's intent.