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Governor signs wine fundraiser bill

COMPANION BILL PENDING IN LEGISLATURE

SACRAMENTO, July 9, 2008 – Governor Schwarzenegger today signed Assembly Bill 1964, which expands the number of fundraisers at which nonprofit groups can pour California wine.

AB 1964, authored by Assemblywoman Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa, increases the number of temporary wine licenses that can be issued to a nonprofit from one to three times a year for the purpose of wine auctions and other wine-related fundraisers.

The law also allows groups with pending temporary licenses to store wine in their facilities up until the event.

The bill was co-authored by Sen. Patricia Wiggins, D-Santa Rosa.

A related bill still in the Legislature is AB 2090, also penned by Assemblywoman Evans. It would create a new type of temporary wine license for winegrape grower associations and professional winemaking organizations that will allow the groups to sell wine during special events. The legislation would allow them up to six special licenses a year for the purpose of promoting a particular agricultural area or educational event.

AB 2090 is set to be considered by the state Senate Appropriations Committee on July 14.