Relating to excess beverage container refund value possessed by the alcoholic beverages division

This bill relates to excess refund value possessed by the alcoholic beverages division (ABD). Under current law, with some exceptions, ABD has the exclusive right of importation into the state of all forms of alcoholic liquor. A class “E” retail alcohol licensee may purchase alcoholic liquor from ABD at wholesale only. When ABD sells alcoholic liquor to a dealer, ABD adds cents per eligible container to the sale price. When a dealer sells beverages in eligible containers to a consumer, the dealer adds the 5-cent deposit to the sale price of each container. A consumer can take eligible containers to a participating dealer or redemption center and receive a 5-cent refund for every eligible container that the consumer returns. ABD contracts for the collection of containers from participating dealers, dealer agents, and redemption centers. The bill requires ABD to submit monthly any refund value excess to the treasurer of state, of which percent is deposited in the shelter assistance fund and percent is deposited in the general fund. The shelter assistance fund is used by the Iowa finance authority to issue grants for services for persons who are homeless or victims of domestic violence. The first submission under the bill, covering July 2023, is due August 15, 2023.