Relating to prohibited activities in the administration of alcoholic beverage control by the department of revenue, and including effective date provisions

This bill relates to prohibited activities in the administration of alcoholic beverage control by the department of revenue (IDR). The bill specifies that not more than two members of the alcoholic beverages commission (member) shall directly or indirectly have an interest in alcohol-related enterprises, except as institutional investors. The bill prohibits a member from influencing, persuading, or inducing others to adopt political views of the member or favor any particular elective or appointive candidates. The bill prohibits the director of revenue from having any interest in alcohol-related enterprises, except as an institutional investor. The bill prohibits an IDR employee from licensing, permitting, or participating in the licensing or permitting of a person, business, or organization under the laws governing alcoholic beverages, if the employee has an ownership interest related to that person, business, or organization, or is in a position to exercise any control over the purchasing of alcoholic beverages through a position of employment with the person, business, or organization. The bill also prohibits an IDR employee from enforcing any law or rule governing alcoholic beverages against a person, business, or organization, if the employee has an ownership interest related to that person, business, or organization, or is in a position to exercise any control over the purchasing of alcoholic beverages through a position of employment with the person, business, or organization. The bill provides the director of revenue or an IDR employee who violates the bill shall, in addition to any other penalties provided by law, be subject to disciplinary action up to and including discharge from employment. The bill does not prohibit a member, the director of revenue, or an IDR employee from lawfully purchasing and keeping an alcoholic beverage in the person’s possession. The bill takes effect upon enactment.