(SACRAMENTO, CA) Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus and Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Wine, introduced Assembly Bill 323 today to enable thousands more winemakers in California to donate and pour their wines at non-profit fundraisers.

“The wine industry has given millions of dollars to important causes in our community and across the state,” says Evans.  “We shouldn’t prohibit or penalize anyone for helping out, as has been done under current law.”

AB 323 will enable type 17 (beer and wine wholesaler) and type 20 (off-sale beer and wine retailer) licensees to donate and pour their wines at non-profit fundraisers, a practice prohibited under the law today.  Currently, the bill is a statement of legislative intent to enact legislation with this objective.

“I’ve received input from many groups and individuals about how to write this bill,” notes Evans.  “I want to thoughtfully review all suggestions and move forward in the coming weeks.”

The introduction of this legislation follows a public meeting Evans convened in Napa last Friday with representatives of the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the non-profit community, and wine industry.  The meeting addressed the maze of limitations and requirements on wine donations to non-profits, the inability of type 17 and type 20 alcohol licensees to pour their wines at non-profit fundraisers, and the kinds of event permits that non-profits must have to host any event involving wine.

“The citation of three Napa winemakers for pouring their wines at a non-profit fundraiser last May showed that current law needs to be changed,” adds Evans.  “My legislation will prevent these citations from occurring in the future.”

Further information about this legislation will be available online at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov.