Bill Text: AZ HB2627 | 2022 | Fifty-fifth Legislature 2nd Regular | Engrossed


Bill Title: Ready-to-drink spirits products; tax

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-03-15 - House Committee of the Whole action: Do Pass Amended [HB2627 Detail]

Download: Arizona-2022-HB2627-Engrossed.html

 

 

 

House Engrossed

 

ready-to-drink spirits products; tax

 

 

 

 

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-fifth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2022

 

 

 

HOUSE BILL 2627

 

 

 

An Act

 

amending sections 4-101, 4-206.01, 42-3001, 42-3052, 42-3351, 42-3354 and 42-3355, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to liquor taxes.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 


Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 4-101, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE4-101. Definitions

In this title, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Act of violence":

(a) Means an incident that consists of a riot, a fight, an altercation or tumultuous conduct and that meets at least one of the following criteria:

(i) In which Bodily injuries are sustained by any person and the injuries would be obvious to a reasonable person.

(ii) is of sufficient intensity as to require the intervention of a peace officer to restore normal order.

(iii) In which A weapon is brandished, displayed or used.

(iv) In which A licensee or an employee or contractor of the licensee fails to follow a clear and direct lawful order from a law enforcement officer or a fire marshal.

(b) Does not include the use of nonlethal devices by a peace officer.

2. "Aggrieved party" means a person who resides at, owns or leases property within a one-mile radius of premises proposed to be licensed and who filed a written request with the department to speak in favor of or opposition to the issuance of the license not later than sixty days after filing the application or fifteen days after action by the local governing body, whichever is sooner.

3. "Beer":

(a) Means any beverage obtained by the alcoholic fermentation, infusion or decoction of barley malt, hops, rice, bran or other grain, glucose, sugar or molasses, or any combination of them, and may include, as adjuncts in fermentation, honey, fruit, fruit juice, fruit concentrate, herbs, spices and other food materials.

(b) Includes beer aged in an empty wooden barrel previously used to contain wine or distilled spirits and as such is not considered a dilution or mixture of any other spirituous liquor.

4. "Biometric identity verification device" means a device authorized by the department that instantly verifies the identity and age of a person by an electronic scan of a biometric of the person, through a fingerprint, iris image, facial image or other biometric characteristic, or any combination of these characteristics, that references the person's identity and age against any record described in section 4-241, subsection K, and that meets all of the following conditions:

(a) The authenticity of the record was previously verified by an electronic authentication process.

(b) The identity of and information about the record holder was previously verified through either:

(i) A secondary, electronic authentication process or set of processes using commercially available data, such as a public records query or a knowledge-based authentication quiz.

(ii) Using a state or federal government system of records for digital authentication.

(c) The authenticated record was securely linked to biometrics contemporaneously collected from the verified record holder and is stored in a centralized, highly secured, encrypted biometric database.

5. "Board" means the state liquor board.

6. "Bona fide guest" means:

(a) An individual who is personally familiar to the member, who is personally sponsored by the member and whose presence as a guest is in response to a specific and personal invitation.

(b) In the case of a club that meets the criteria prescribed in paragraph 8, subdivision (a) of this section, a current member of the armed services of the United States who presents proper military identification and any member of a recognized veterans' organization of the United States and of any country allied with the United States during current or past wars or through treaty arrangements.

7. "Broken package" means any container of spirituous liquor on which the United States tax seal has been broken or removed or from which the cap, cork or seal placed on the container by the manufacturer has been removed.

8. "Club" includes any of the following organizations where the sale of spirituous liquor for consumption on the premises is made only to members, spouses of members, families of members, bona fide guests of members and guests at other events authorized in this title:

(a) A post, chapter, camp or other local unit composed solely of veterans and its duly recognized auxiliary that has been chartered by the Congress of the United States for patriotic, fraternal or benevolent purposes and that has, as the owner, lessee or occupant, operated an establishment for that purpose in this state.

(b) A chapter, aerie, parlor, lodge or other local unit of an American national fraternal organization that has, as the owner, lessee or occupant, operated an establishment for fraternal purposes in this state. An American national fraternal organization as used in this subdivision shall actively operate in at least thirty-six states or have been in active continuous existence for at least twenty years.

(c) A hall or building association of a local unit mentioned in subdivisions (a) and (b) of this paragraph of which all of the capital stock is owned by the local unit or the members and that operates the clubroom facilities of the local unit.

(d) A golf club that has more than fifty bona fide members and that owns, maintains or operates a bona fide golf links together with a clubhouse.

(e) A social club that has more than one hundred bona fide members who are actual residents of the county in which it is located, that owns, maintains or operates club quarters, that is authorized and incorporated to operate as a nonprofit club under the laws of this state, and that has been continuously incorporated and operating for a period of at least one year. The club shall have had, during this one-year period, a bona fide membership with regular meetings conducted at least once each month, and the membership shall be and shall have been actively engaged in carrying out the objects of the club.  The club's membership shall consist of bona fide dues-paying members paying dues of at least $6 per year, payable monthly, quarterly or annually, which have been recorded by the secretary of the club, and the members at the time of application for a club license shall be in good standing having for at least one full year paid dues. At least fifty-one percent of the members shall have signified their intention to secure a social club license by personally signing a petition, on a form prescribed by the board, which shall also include the correct mailing address of each signer. The petition shall not have been signed by a member at a date earlier than one hundred eighty days before the filing of the application.  The club shall qualify for exemption from the payment of state income taxes under title 43. It is the intent of this subdivision that a license shall not be granted to a club that is, or has been, primarily formed or activated to obtain a license to sell liquor, but solely to a bona fide club, where the sale of liquor is incidental to the main purposes of the club.

(f) An airline club operated by or for airlines that are certificated by the United States government and that maintain or operate club quarters located at airports with international status.

9. "Company" or "association", when used in reference to a corporation, includes successors or assigns.

10. "Control" means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of an applicant or licensee, whether through the ownership of voting securities or a partnership interest, by agreement or otherwise. Control is presumed to exist if a person has the direct or indirect ownership of or power to vote ten percent or more of the outstanding voting securities of the applicant or licensee or to control in any manner the election of one or more of the directors of the applicant or licensee.  In the case of a partnership, control is presumed to mean the general partner or a limited partner who holds ten percent or more of the voting rights of the partnership. For the purposes of determining the percentage of voting securities owned, controlled or held by a person, there shall be aggregated with the voting securities attributed to the person the voting securities of an officer, partner, employee or agent of the person or a spouse, parent or child of the person.  Control is also presumed to exist if a creditor of the applicant or licensee holds a beneficial interest in ten percent or more of the liabilities of the licensee. The presumptions in this paragraph regarding control are rebuttable.

11. "Controlling person" means a person directly or indirectly possessing control of an applicant or licensee.

12. "Craft distiller" means a distiller in the United States or in a territory or possession of the United States that holds a license pursuant to section 4-205.10.

13. "Department" means the department of liquor licenses and control.

14. "Director" means the director of the department of liquor licenses and control.

15. "Distilled spirits":

(a) Includes alcohol, brandy, whiskey, rum, tequila, mescal, gin, absinthe, a compound or mixture of any of them or of any of them with any vegetable or other substance, alcohol bitters, bitters containing alcohol, fruits preserved in ardent spirits, and any alcoholic mixture or preparation, whether patented or otherwise, that may in sufficient quantities produce intoxication.

(b) Includes ready-to-drink spirits products unless expressly provided otherwise.

16. "Employee" means any person who performs any service on licensed premises on a full-time, part-time or contract basis with consent of the licensee, whether or not the person is denominated an employee or independent contractor or otherwise. Employee does not include a person who is exclusively on the premises for musical or vocal performances, for repair or maintenance of the premises or for the delivery of goods to the licensee.

17. "Farm winery" means a winery in the United States or in a territory or possession of the United States that holds a license pursuant to section 4-205.04.

18. "Government license" means a license to serve and sell spirituous liquor on specified premises available only to a state agency, state board, state commission, county, city, town, community college or state university or the national guard or Arizona coliseum and exposition center on application by the governing body of the state agency, state board, state commission, county, city, town, community college or state university or the national guard or Arizona exposition and state fair board.

19. "Legal drinking age" means twenty-one years of age or older.

20. "License" means a license or an interim retail permit issued pursuant to this title.

21. "Licensee" means a person who has been issued a license or an interim retail permit pursuant to this title or a special event licensee.

22. "License fees" means fees collected for license issuance, license application, license renewal, interim permit issuance and license transfer between persons or locations.

23. "Manager" means a natural person who meets the standards required of licensees and who has authority to organize, direct, carry on, control or otherwise operate a licensed business on a temporary or full-time basis.

24. "Menu food item" means a food item from a regular menu, special menu or happy hour menu that is prepared by the licensee or the licensee's employee.

25. "Microbrewery" means a brewery in the United States or in a territory or possession of the United States that meets the requirements of section 4-205.08.

26. "Mixed cocktail":

(a) Means any drink combined at the premises of an authorized licensee that contains a spirituous liquor and that is combined with at least one other ingredient, which may include additional spirituous liquors, fruit juice, vegetable juice, mixers, cream, flavored syrup or other ingredients except water, and that when combined contains more than one-half of one percent of alcohol by volume.

(b) Does not include a drink sold in an original manufacturer's packaging or any drink poured from an original manufacturer's package without the addition of all of the cocktail's other ingredients at the premises of the licensed bar, liquor store or restaurant.

27. "Off-sale retailer" means any person that operates a bona fide regularly established retail liquor store selling that sells spirituous liquors, wines and beer and any established retail store that sells commodities other than spirituous liquors and that is engaged in the sale of spirituous liquors only in the original unbroken package, to be taken away from the premises of the retailer and to be consumed off the premises.

28. "On-sale retailer" means any person operating an establishment where spirituous liquors are sold in the original container for consumption on or off the premises or in individual portions for consumption on the premises.

29. "Permanent occupancy" means the maximum occupancy of the building or facility as set by the office of the state fire marshal for the jurisdiction in which the building or facility is located.

30. "Person" includes a partnership, limited liability company, association, company or corporation, as well as a natural person.

31. "Premises" or "licensed premises":

(a) Means the area from which the licensee is authorized to sell, dispense or serve spirituous liquors under the provision of the license. Premises or licensed premises

(b) Includes a patio that is not contiguous to the remainder of the premises or licensed premises if the patio is separated from the remainder of the premises or licensed premises by a public or private walkway or driveway not to exceed thirty feet, subject to rules the director may adopt to establish criteria for noncontiguous premises.

32. "ready-to-drink spirits products" means distilled spirits mixed with other beverages that may contain flavoring or coloring materials and other ingredients, that do not exceed twelve percent alcohol by volume, that are sealed in an original container of not more than 24 ounces and that are sold in the manufacturer's original packaging.

32. 33. "Registered alcohol delivery contractor":

(a) Means a person who delivers spirituous liquor to a consumer on behalf of a bar, beer and wine bar, liquor store, beer and wine store or restaurant.

(b) Does not include:

(i) A motor carrier as defined in section 28-5201.

(ii) An independent contractor, a subcontractor of an independent contractor, an employee of an independent contractor or an employee of a subcontractor as provided in section 4-203, subsection J.

33. 34. "Registered mail" includes certified mail.

34. 35. "Registered retail agent" means any person who is authorized pursuant to section 4-222 to purchase spirituous liquors for and on behalf of the person and other retail licensees.

35. 36. "Repeated acts of violence" means:

(a) For licensed premises with a permanent occupancy of two hundred or fewer persons, two or more acts of violence occurring within seven days or three or more acts of violence occurring within thirty days.

(b) For licensed premises with a permanent occupancy of more than two hundred but not more than four hundred persons, four or more acts of violence within thirty days.

(c) For licensed premises with a permanent occupancy of more than four hundred but not more than six hundred fifty persons, five or more acts of violence within thirty days.

(d) For licensed premises with a permanent occupancy of more than six hundred fifty but not more than one thousand fifty persons, six or more acts of violence within thirty days.

(e) For licensed premises with a permanent occupancy of more than one thousand fifty persons, seven or more acts of violence within thirty days.

36. 37. "Sell" includes soliciting or receiving an order for, keeping or exposing for sale, directly or indirectly delivering for value, peddling, keeping with intent to sell and trafficking in.

37. 38. "Spirituous liquor" includes alcohol, brandy, whiskey, rum, tequila, mescal, gin, wine, porter, ale, beer, any malt liquor or malt beverage, absinthe, a compound or mixture of any of them or of any of them with any vegetable or other substance, alcohol bitters, bitters containing alcohol, any liquid mixture or preparation, whether patented or otherwise, that produces intoxication, fruits preserved in ardent spirits, and beverages containing more than one-half of one percent of alcohol by volume.

38. 39. "Tamperproof sealed" means designed to prevent consumption without the removal of a tamperproof cap, seal, cork or closure that has a device, mechanism or adhesive that clearly shows whether a container has been opened.

39. 40. "Vehicle" means any means of transportation by land, water or air, and includes everything made use of in any way for such transportation.

40. 41. "Vending machine" means a machine that dispenses merchandise through the means of coin, token, credit card or other nonpersonal means of accepting payment for merchandise received.

41. 42. "Veteran" means a person who has served in the United States air force, army, navy, marine corps or coast guard, as an active nurse in the services of the American red cross, in the army and navy nurse corps in time of war, or in any expedition of the armed forces of the United States, and who has received a discharge other than dishonorable.

42. 43. "Voting security" means any security presently entitling the owner or holder of the security to vote for the election of directors of an applicant or a licensee.

43. 44. "Wine" means the product obtained by the fermentation of grapes, other agricultural products containing natural or added sugar or cider or any such alcoholic beverage fortified with grape brandy and containing not more than twenty-four percent of alcohol by volume. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 4-206.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE4-206.01. Bar, beer and wine bar or liquor store licenses; number permitted; fee; sampling privileges; off-sale permit

A. The director shall determine the total number of spirituous liquor licenses by type and in each county. The director shall publish a listing of that information as determined by the director.

B. In each county, the director, each year, shall issue additional bar or liquor store licenses at the rate of one of each type for each additional ten thousand person increase over the population in that county as of July 1, 2010. For every license that has been revoked or reverted in any county, the director may issue a new license of the same series in the same county, except that if there are more than five licenses of a particular class, the director may issue five new licenses plus an additional number of new licenses equivalent to twenty percent of the difference between the number of revoked or reverted licenses per year and five. The director may waive the issuance of licenses in a county for one year where there has been no request made to the department for the issuance of a new license of that series. For the purposes of this subsection, the population of a county is deemed to be the population estimated by the office of economic opportunity as of July 1 of each year.

C. In each county, the director, each year, shall issue additional beer and wine bar licenses at the rate of one for each additional five thousand person increase over the population in that county as of July 1, 2010.  Beginning January 1, 2022, In each county, the director, each year, shall issue additional beer and wine bar licenses at the rate of one for each additional ten thousand person increase over the population in that county as of July 1, 2010. For every license that has been revoked or reverted in any county, the director may issue a new license of the same series in the same county, except that if there are more than five licenses of a particular class, the director may issue five new licenses plus an additional number of new licenses equivalent to twenty percent of the difference between the number of revoked or reverted licenses per year and five. The director may waive the issuance of licenses in a county for one year if there has been no request made to the department for the issuance of a new license of that series. For the purposes of this subsection, the population of a county is deemed to be the population estimated as of July 1 of each year by the office of economic opportunity.

D. A person issued a license authorized by subsection B or C of this section shall pay an additional issuance fee equal to the license's fair market value that shall be paid to the state general fund. An appraisal shall be conducted to determine the fair market value of that license type in a specific county.  The fair market value is defined to mean the price arrived at in good faith that a knowledgeable and willing buyer will pay and is computed by determining the average value, or weighted average value if there are trends in license pricing in that county, of licenses of the same type, free of any encumbrances, sold on the open market in the same county during the prior twelve months, but if there are not three or more sales then the fair market value is determined by two appraisals furnished to the department by independent professional appraisers employed by the director. The valuation method under both approaches shall take into account trends in the value of licenses of the specific type during the previous twelve months. A new license authorized pursuant to subsection B or C of this section may not be issued to a person or entity that has had a similar license revoked or reverted unless the person or entity provides the director with satisfactory proof that all previous liens on the revoked or reverted license have been satisfied in full.

E. The director shall employ professional appraisal services to determine the fair market value of bar, beer and wine bar or liquor store licenses.

F. If more than one person applies for an available license, a priority of applicants shall be determined by a random selection method prescribed by the director, except that the number of times that a person may enter the random selection process shall not exceed the number of licenses of that series that are available for issuance.  For the purposes of this subsection, a partnership, limited liability company, association, company or corporation is considered the same person if it is owned, managed, operated or controlled by the same controlling person.

G. Bar licenses and beer and wine bar licenses shall be issued and used only if the clear primary purpose and actual primary use is for on-sale retailer privileges. The off-sale privileges associated with a bar license and a beer and wine bar license shall be limited to use, which is clearly auxiliary to the active primary on-sale privilege. A bar license or a beer and wine bar license shall not be issued or used if the associated off-sale use, by total retail spirituous liquor sales, exceeds thirty percent of the sales price of on-sale spirituous liquors by the licensee at that location. For dual licenses issued pursuant to a single site or where a second license is issued to a site that already has a spirituous liquor license, other than settlement licenses issued as provided by law, the applicant has the burden of establishing that public convenience and the best interest of the community will be served by the issuance of the license.

H. The director may issue a beer and wine store license to the holder of a beer and wine bar license simultaneously at the same premises. An applicant for a beer and wine bar license and a beer and wine store license may consolidate the application and may apply for both licenses at the same time. The holder of each license shall fully comply with this title. A beer and wine bar license and beer and wine store license on the same premises shall be owned by and issued to the same licensee.

I. The director may issue a beer and wine bar license to the holder of a liquor store license issued simultaneously at the same premises. An applicant for a liquor store license and a beer and wine bar license may consolidate the application and may apply for both licenses at the same time.  The holder of each license shall fully comply with this title. A liquor store license and a beer and wine bar license on the same premises shall be owned by and issued to the same licensee.

J. The director may issue a restaurant license to the holder of a beer and wine bar license issued simultaneously at the same premises. An applicant for a restaurant license and a beer and wine bar license may consolidate the application and may apply for both licenses at the same time. The holder of each license shall fully comply with this title. A restaurant license and a beer and wine bar license on the same premises shall be owned by and issued to the same licensee. The limitation stated in subsection G of this section with respect to the off-sale privileges of the beer and wine bar licenses shall be measured against the on-sales of beer and wine sales of the establishment. For the purposes of compliance with section 4-205.02, subsection M, paragraph 2, it shall be conclusively presumed that all on-premises sales of spirituous liquors are made under the authority of the restaurant license.

K. An applicant for a liquor store license or a beer and wine store license and the licensee of a liquor store license or a beer and wine store license may apply for sampling privileges associated with the license.  Beer and wine store premises containing less than five thousand square feet must dedicate at least seventy-five percent of retail shelf space to the sale of spirituous liquor in order to be eligible for sampling privileges. A person desiring a sampling privilege associated with a liquor store license shall apply to the director on a form prescribed and furnished by the director. The application for sampling privileges may be filed for an existing license or may be submitted with an initial license application. The request for sampling approval, the review of the application and the issuance of approval shall be conducted under the same procedures for the issuance of a spirituous liquor license prescribed in section 4-201.  After a sampling privilege has been issued for a liquor store license or a beer and wine store license, the sampling privilege shall be noted on the license itself and in the records of the department. The sampling rights associated with a license are not transferable. The director may charge a fee for processing each application for sampling privileges and a renewal fee as provided in this section.  A city or town shall not charge any fee relating to the issuance or renewal of a sampling privilege. Notwithstanding section 4-244, paragraph 19, a liquor store licensee or a beer and wine store licensee that holds a license with sampling privileges may provide spirituous liquor sampling subject to the following requirements:

1. Any open product shall be kept locked by the licensee when the sampling area is not staffed.

2. The licensee is otherwise subject to all other provisions of this title. The licensee is liable for any violation of this title committed in connection with the sampling.

3. The licensed retailer shall make sales of sampled products from the licensed retail premises.

4. The licensee shall not charge any customer for the sampling of any products, except that the licensee may charge a fee for bona fide educational classes conducted in a classroom by an instructor on the licensed premises where the sampling of any spirituous liquor product is incidental to the course taught and to the course materials presented.

5. The sampling shall be conducted under the supervision of an employee of a sponsoring distiller, vintner, brewer, wholesaler or retail licensee.

6. Accurate records of sampling products dispensed shall be retained by the licensee.

7. Sampling shall be limited to three ounces of beer or cooler-type products, one and one-half ounces of wine and one ounce of distilled spirits per person, per brand, per day.

8. The sampling shall be conducted only on the licensed premises.

L. If a beer and wine bar license and a beer and wine store license are issued at the same premises, for the purposes of reporting liquor purchases under each license, all spirituous beverages purchased for sampling are conclusively presumed to be purchased under the beer and wine bar license and all spirituous liquor sold off-sale are conclusively presumed to be purchased under the beer and wine store license.

M. The director may issue a beer and wine store license to the holder of a bar license simultaneously at the same premises.  An applicant for a beer and wine store license and a bar license may consolidate the application and may apply for both licenses at the same time.  The holder of each license shall fully comply with this title. A beer and wine store license and a bar license on the same premises shall be owned by and issued to the same licensee.  If a beer and wine store license and a bar license are issued at the same premises, for purposes of reporting liquor purchases under each license, all off-sale beer, ready-to-drink spirits products and wine sales are conclusively presumed to be purchased under the beer and wine store license. END_STATUTE

Sec. 3. Section 42-3001, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE42-3001. Definitions

In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Affix" and "affixed" include imprinting tax meter stamps on packages and individual containers as authorized by the department.

2. "Brand family" has the same meaning prescribed in section 44-7111.

3. "Cavendish" means a tobacco product that is smoked from a pipe and that meets one of the following criteria:

(a) Is described as cavendish, as containing cavendish or as a cavendish blend on its packaging, labeling or promotional materials.

(b) Appears to have been processed or manufactured with an amount of flavorings and humectants that exceeds twenty percent of the weight of the tobacco contained in the product.

(c) Appears to be blended with or contain a tobacco product described in subdivision (b) of this paragraph.

4. "Cider" means vinous liquor that is made from the normal alcoholic fermentation of the juice of sound, ripe apples, pears or other pome fruit, including flavored, sparkling and carbonated cider and cider made from condensed apple, pear or other pome fruit must, and that contains more than one-half of one percent of alcohol by volume but not more than seven percent of alcohol by volume.

5. "Cigar" means any roll of tobacco wrapped in leaf tobacco or in any substance containing tobacco other than any roll of tobacco that is a cigarette, as defined in paragraph 6, subdivision (b) of this section.

6. "Cigarette" means either of the following:

(a) Any roll of tobacco wrapped in paper or any substance not containing tobacco.

(b) Any roll of tobacco wrapped in any substance containing tobacco that, because of its appearance, the type of tobacco used in the filler or its packaging and labeling, is likely to be offered to or purchased by a consumer as a cigarette described in subdivision (a) of this paragraph.  This subdivision shall be interpreted consistently with the classification guidelines established by the federal alcohol and tobacco tax and trade bureau.

7. "Consumer" means a person in this state that comes into possession of any luxury subject to the tax imposed by this chapter and that, on coming into possession of the luxury, is not a distributor intending to sell or distribute the luxury, a retailer or a wholesaler.

8. "Craft distiller" means a distiller in the United States or in a territory or possession of the United States that holds a license pursuant to section 4-205.10.

9. "Distributor" means any person that manufactures, produces, ships, transports or imports into this state or in any manner acquires or possesses for the purpose of making the first sale of the following:

(a) Cigarettes without Arizona tax stamps affixed as required by this article.

(b) Roll-your-own tobacco or other tobacco products on which the taxes have not been paid as required by this chapter.

10. "Farm winery" has the same meaning prescribed in section 4-101.

11. "First sale" means the initial sale or distribution in intrastate commerce or the initial use or consumption of cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco or other tobacco products.

12. "Luxury" means any article, object or device on which a tax is imposed under this chapter.

13. "Malt liquor" means any liquid that contains more than one-half of one percent alcohol by volume and that is made by the process of fermentation and not distillation of hops or grains, but not including:

(a) Liquids made by the process of distillation of such substances.

(b) Medicines that are unsuitable for beverage purposes.

14. "Master settlement agreement" has the same meaning prescribed in section 44-7101.

15. "Microbrewery" has the same meaning prescribed in section 4-101.

16. "Nonparticipating manufacturer" has the same meaning prescribed in section 44-7111.

17. "Other tobacco products" means tobacco products other than cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco.

18. "Participating manufacturer" has the same meaning prescribed in section 44-7111.

19. "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation, municipal corporation, estate, trust, club, society or other group or combination acting as a unit, and the plural as well as the singular number.

20. "Place of business":

(a) Means a building, facility site or location where an order is received or where tobacco products are sold, distributed or transferred.  Place of business

(b) Does not include a vehicle.

21. "ready-to-drink spirits products" means distilled spirits mixed with other beverages that may contain flavoring or coloring materials and other ingredients, that do not exceed twelve percent alcohol by volume, that are sealed in an original container of not more than 24 ounces and are sold in the manufacturer's original packaging.

21. 22. "Retailer" means any person that comes into possession of any luxury subject to the taxes imposed by this chapter for the purpose of selling it for consumption and not for resale.

22. 23. "Roll-your-own tobacco" means any tobacco that, because of its appearance, type, packaging or labeling, is suitable for use and likely to be offered to or purchased by consumers as tobacco for making cigarettes. This paragraph shall be interpreted consistently with the term as used in section 44-7101. This paragraph shall be interpreted consistently with the classification guidelines established by the federal alcohol and tobacco tax and trade bureau.

23. 24. "Smoking tobacco":

(a) Means any tobacco that, because of its appearance, type, packaging, labeling or promotion, is suitable for use and likely to be offered to or purchased by consumers as tobacco for making cigarettes or otherwise consumed by burning. Smoking tobacco

(b) Includes pipe tobacco and roll-your-own tobacco.

24. 25. "Spirituous liquor":

(a) Means any liquid that contains more than one-half of one percent alcohol by volume, that is produced by distillation of any fermented substance and that is used or prepared for use as a beverage. Spirituous liquor

(b) Does not include medicines that are unsuitable for beverage purposes.

25. 26. "Tobacco product manufacturer" has the same meaning prescribed in section 44-7101.

26. 27. "Tobacco products" means all luxuries included in section 42-3052, paragraphs 5 through 9.

27. 28. "Vehicle" means a device in, on or by which a person or property is or may be transported or drawn on the roads of this state regardless of the means by which it is propelled or whether it runs on a track.

28. 29. "Vinous liquor":

(a) Means any liquid that contains more than one-half of one percent alcohol by volume and that is made by the process of fermentation of grapes, berries, fruits, vegetables or other substances. But

(b) Does not include:

(a) (i) Liquids in which hops or grains are used in the process of fermentation.

(b) (ii) Liquids made by the process of distillation of hops or grains.

(c) (iii) Medicines that are unsuitable for beverage purposes.

29. 30. "Wholesaler" means a person that sells any spirituous, vinous or malt liquor taxed under this chapter to retail dealers or for the purposes of resale only. END_STATUTE

Sec. 4. Section 42-3052, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE42-3052. Classifications of luxuries; rates of tax

The taxes under this chapter are imposed at the following rates:

1. On each sealed container of spirituous liquor, at the rate of three dollars $3 per gallon and at a proportionate rate for any lesser or greater quantity than one gallon.

2. On each container of vinous liquor, except cider, of which the alcoholic content is not greater than twenty-four per cent percent by volume, at the rate of eighty-four cents $.84 per gallon and at a proportionate rate for any lesser or greater quantity than one gallon.

3. On each container of vinous liquor of which the alcoholic content is greater than twenty-four per cent percent by volume, containing eight ounces or less, twenty-five cents $.25, and for each eight ounces for containers containing more than eight ounces, twenty-five cents $.25.

4. On each gallon of malt liquor or cider, sixteen cents $.16, and at a proportionate rate for any lesser or greater quantity than one gallon.

5. on each sealed container of ready-to-drink spirits PRODUCTS, $1 per gallon and at a proportionate rate for any lesser or greater quantity than one gallon.

5. 6. On each cigarette, nine-tenths cent $.009.

6. 7. On smoking tobacco, snuff, fine cut chewing tobacco, cut and granulated tobacco, shorts and refuse of fine cut chewing tobacco, and refuse, scraps, clippings, cuttings and sweepings of tobacco, excluding tobacco powder or tobacco products used exclusively for agricultural or horticultural purposes and unfit for human consumption, two cents $.02 per ounce or major fraction of an ounce.

7. 8. On all cavendish, plug or twist tobacco, one-half cent $.005 per ounce or fractional part of an ounce.

8. 9. On each twenty small cigars or fractional part weighing not more than three pounds per thousand, four cents $.04.

9. 10. On cigars of all descriptions except those included in paragraph 8 of this section, made of tobacco or any tobacco substitute:

(a) If manufactured to retail at not more than five cents $.05 each, two cents $.02 on each three cigars.

(b) If manufactured to retail at more than five cents $.05 each, two cents $.02 on each cigar. END_STATUTE

Sec. 5. Section 42-3351, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE42-3351. Bonds required of liquor wholesalers; exemption

A. Every wholesaler of spirituous, vinous and malt liquors and ready-to-drink spirits products shall file with the department, in such form as the department prescribes, a bond or bonds duly executed by the wholesaler as principal and with a corporation duly authorized to execute and write bonds within the state as surety, payable to the state and conditioned upon on the payment of all taxes, penalties and other obligations of the wholesaler arising under this chapter.

B. The department shall fix the total amount of the bond or bonds required of the wholesaler and may increase or reduce the amount at any time. In fixing the total amount, the department shall require a bond or bonds equivalent in total amount to twice the wholesaler's estimated monthly tax, ascertained in such manner as the department deems proper. The total amount of the bond or bonds required of any wholesaler shall not be less than two thousand dollars $2,000.

C. A wholesaler is exempt from the requirements of this section if the wholesaler has made timely payment of the taxes imposed by this chapter for the twenty-four consecutive months immediately preceding the current month. END_STATUTE

Sec. 6. Section 42-3354, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE42-3354. Return and payment by spirituous and vinous liquor and ready-to-drink spirits product wholesalers

A. Every wholesaler of spirituous liquors selling spirituous liquors within the this state shall pay the tax under this chapter on all such liquor sold within the this state and add the amount of the tax to the sales price.

B. Every wholesaler of vinous liquors selling vinous liquors other than ciders as defined in section 42-3001 within this state shall pay the tax under this chapter on all such liquors sold within this state and add the amount of tax to the sales price.

c. Every wholesaler of ready-to-drink spirits products selling ready-to-drink spirits products within this state shall pay the tax pursuant to this chapter on all such products sold within this state and add the amount of tax to the sales price.

C. d. The wholesaler shall pay the tax to the department monthly on or before the twentieth day of the month next succeeding the month in which the tax accrues.

D. e. On or before the date prescribed by subsection D of this section, the wholesaler shall prepare a sworn return for the month in which the tax accrues in the form prescribed by the department, showing:

1. The amount of spirituous liquors sold in this state during the month in which the tax accrues.

2. The amount of vinous liquors other than ciders as defined in section 42-3001 sold in the this state during the month in which the tax accrues.

3. The amount of ready-to-drink spirits products sold in this state during the month in which the tax accrues.

3. 4. The amount of tax for the period covered by the return.

4. 5. Any other information that the department deems necessary for the proper administration of this chapter.

E. f. The wholesaler shall deliver the return, together with a remittance of the amount of the tax due, to the department.

F. g. Any taxpayer that fails to pay the tax within ten days from after the date on which the payment becomes due is subject to and shall pay a penalty determined under section 42-1125, plus interest at the rate determined pursuant to section 42-1123 from the time the tax was due and payable until paid.

G. h. For reporting periods beginning from and after December 31, 2019, or when the department has established an electronic filing program, whichever is later, each taxpayer shall file electronically any report or return required under this chapter.  The report or return is considered to be filed and received by the department on the date of the electronic postmark pursuant to section 42-1105.02. END_STATUTE

Sec. 7. Section 42-3355, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE42-3355. Return and payment by farm wineries, manufacturers, direct shipment licensees, microbreweries and craft distillers

A. Every farm winery selling vinous liquor at retail or to a retail licensee pursuant to title 4, chapter 2 manufactured or produced on the premises, producer of vinous liquor that sells at retail pursuant to section 4-243.02 or direct shipment licensee that sells pursuant to section 4-203.04 shall pay the tax under this chapter on all such liquor sold at retail or to a retail licensee within this state and add the amount of the tax to the sales price.

B. Every microbrewery selling malt liquor at retail or to a retail licensee pursuant to title 4, chapter 2 manufactured or produced on the premises or a manufacturer of beer that sells at retail pursuant to section 4-243.02 shall pay the tax under this chapter on all malt liquor sold at retail or to a retail licensee within this state and add the amount of the tax to the sales price.

C. Every craft distiller selling spirituous liquor or ready-to-drink spirits products at retail or to a retail licensee pursuant to title 4, chapter 2, manufactured or produced on the premises or a distiller of spirituous liquor or ready-to-drink spirits products that sells at retail pursuant to section 4-243.02 shall pay the tax under this chapter on all spirituous liquor or ready-to-drink spirits products sold at retail or to a retail licensee within this state and add the amount of the tax to the sales price.

D. The farm winery, manufacturer, microbrewery, craft distiller or direct shipment licensee shall pay the tax to the department monthly on or before the twentieth day of the month next succeeding the month in which the tax accrues.

E. On or before that date, the farm winery, manufacturer, microbrewery, craft distiller or direct shipment licensee shall prepare a sworn return for the month in which the tax accrues in the form prescribed by the department, showing:

1. The amount of liquors or beer sold in this state during the month in which the tax accrues.

2. The amount of tax for the period covered by the return.

3. Any other information that the department deems necessary for the proper administration of this chapter.

F. The farm winery, manufacturer, microbrewery, craft distiller or direct shipment licensee shall deliver the return, together with a remittance of the amount of the tax due, to the department.

G. Any taxpayer that fails to pay the tax within ten days after the date on which the payment becomes due is subject to and shall pay a penalty determined under section 42-1125, plus interest at the rate determined pursuant to section 42-1123 from the time the tax was due and payable until paid.

H. For reporting periods beginning from and after December 31, 2019, or when the department has established an electronic filing program, whichever is later, each taxpayer shall file electronically any report or return required under this chapter.  The report or return is considered to be filed and received by the department on the date of the electronic postmark pursuant to section 42-1105.02. END_STATUTE

Sec. 8. Applicability 

This act applies to taxable periods beginning on or after the first day of the month following the general effective date.

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