Assembly Passes Evans Legislation to Expand Non-Profit Ties with Wine Industry
California Political Desk
May 09, 2008
(Sacramento, CA) – The State Assembly unanimously approved legislation authored by Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) to help non-profit organizations organize fundraising events involving wine donated from California´s wine industry.
Assembly Bill (AB) 1964 passed with a 74-0 vote. It now moves to the State Senate for further review.
"It´s challenging enough for non-profits to raise the funds needed to do their important work," said Evans. "The law need not put needless obstacles in front of them. This bill creates new opportunities for non-profits to get the resources they need and simplifies the laws that they must follow."
"This is one of those areas where an existing law no longer makes sense," said Senator Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa), co-author of the legislation. "AB 1964 recognizes the relationship between not-for-profit organizations and the wine industry that enables non-profits to raise badly-needed funds at times when other potential sources may not be available to them."
AB 1964 increases from one to three the number of temporary alcohol licenses a non-profit can obtain each year from the Department of Alcoholic Beverages Control (ABC) to conduct wine dinner and wine auction fundraisers. It also allows non-profit organizations with a pending temporary alcohol license application filed with the ABC to temporarily store wine leading up to the event. Under current law, non-profit organizations must possess temporary alcohol license permits in order to organize any fundraising event involving wine. However, licensed non-profits cannot take into possession any wine until three days before the event. This creates a logistical bottleneck for the non-profit which must collect donated wine at the last minute.
Evans identified the issues addressed in AB 1964 last year through a series of public hearings called "Navigating the Maze," which brought representatives of the non-profit community, the wine industry, and the ABC together to discuss how to simplify the organization of fundraising events involving wine. Last year, Evans authored AB 323 which enables all vintners to donate and pour their wines at charitable fundraisers.
"We need to encourage compassionate people to give," said Evans. "That´s why I am proud to author legislation encouraging this combination of good wine and good works."
The California wine industry made over $115 million in charitable contributions in 2006, the most recent year for which data is available.
AB 1964 is supported by Wine Institute, Family Winemakers of California, the California Association of Nonprofits, and the Napa Valley Coalition of Nonprofit Agencies. Further information about this legislation is available online at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov.
Assembly Bill (AB) 1964 passed with a 74-0 vote. It now moves to the State Senate for further review.
"It´s challenging enough for non-profits to raise the funds needed to do their important work," said Evans. "The law need not put needless obstacles in front of them. This bill creates new opportunities for non-profits to get the resources they need and simplifies the laws that they must follow."
"This is one of those areas where an existing law no longer makes sense," said Senator Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa), co-author of the legislation. "AB 1964 recognizes the relationship between not-for-profit organizations and the wine industry that enables non-profits to raise badly-needed funds at times when other potential sources may not be available to them."
AB 1964 increases from one to three the number of temporary alcohol licenses a non-profit can obtain each year from the Department of Alcoholic Beverages Control (ABC) to conduct wine dinner and wine auction fundraisers. It also allows non-profit organizations with a pending temporary alcohol license application filed with the ABC to temporarily store wine leading up to the event. Under current law, non-profit organizations must possess temporary alcohol license permits in order to organize any fundraising event involving wine. However, licensed non-profits cannot take into possession any wine until three days before the event. This creates a logistical bottleneck for the non-profit which must collect donated wine at the last minute.
Evans identified the issues addressed in AB 1964 last year through a series of public hearings called "Navigating the Maze," which brought representatives of the non-profit community, the wine industry, and the ABC together to discuss how to simplify the organization of fundraising events involving wine. Last year, Evans authored AB 323 which enables all vintners to donate and pour their wines at charitable fundraisers.
"We need to encourage compassionate people to give," said Evans. "That´s why I am proud to author legislation encouraging this combination of good wine and good works."
The California wine industry made over $115 million in charitable contributions in 2006, the most recent year for which data is available.
AB 1964 is supported by Wine Institute, Family Winemakers of California, the California Association of Nonprofits, and the Napa Valley Coalition of Nonprofit Agencies. Further information about this legislation is available online at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov.
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