Whereas, it is necessary that this legislation take effect immediately in order to allow affected in-state manufacturers to obtain off-premises licenses prior to the summer season; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 28-A MRSA §707, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1987, c. 342, §41, is further amended to read:

3. Retail licensee; interest in wholesaler or certificate of approval. No Except as authorized in section 1012, subsection 5, a retail licensee may not have any financial interest, direct or indirect, in any:

A. Maine manufacturer's or wholesaler's license; or

B. Certificate of approval issued to an out-of-state manufacturer or foreign wholesaler of malt liquor or wine.

Sec. 2. 28-A MRSA §707, sub-§4, as repealed and replaced by PL 1987, c. 342, §42, is amended to read:

4. Certificate of approval holder or Maine manufacturer; interest in wholesaler or retail license. No Except as authorized in section 1012, subsection 5, a certificate of approval holder or in-state manufacturer may not have any financial interest, direct or indirect, in any:

A. Maine wholesale license; or

B. Maine retail license.

Sec. 3. 28-A MRSA §1012, sub-§5 is enacted to read:

5.__Distillery off-premises license.__An in-state manufacturer may obtain a license to sell spirits for consumption off the manufacturer's premises, as long as the spirits were manufactured by that manufacturer, the manufacturer obtained the spirits for sale from a wholesale liquor provider and the spirits are sold on the premises of the manufacturer.