Program C: Alcohol and Tobacco Control

Return to the main page | Previous document | Next document

Program C: Alcohol and Tobacco Control

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The mission of the Alcohol and Tobacco Control Program is to oversee the alcoholic beverage and tobacco industries within the State of Louisiana, providing the state with an effective system of regulation of the alcoholic beverage and tobacco industries wherein any of those people qualified under law are allowed to participate in the industry and the interest of the public is protected by keeping illegal activities to a minimum.

The goals of the Alcohol and Tobacco Control Program are:

1. Have an effective, efficient, and modern program.

2. Provide the highest quality of service to taxpayers.

3. Improve voluntary compliance of the tax laws and regulatory statutes while maintaining respect for each taxpayer.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Control Program includes the following activities: Administrative and Compliance and Enforcement and Field Certification.

The Administrative and Compliance activity is responsible for licensing alcoholic beverage manufacturers, native wineries, retailers, and wholesalers, and retail and wholesale tobacco product dealers.

The Enforcement and Field Certification activity is responsible for enforcing Title 26 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, the Beer and Liquor Law, and the Youth Access to Tobacco Law. Enforcement agents, in conjunction with local law enforcement personnel, conduct random inspections at locations where alcoholic beverages and tobacco products are sold. Agents also investigate current license holders' operations to assure compliance with the sometimes complex fair trade laws that govern the industries.

OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

1. In FY 1998-99, the Alcohol and Tobacco Control Program will conduct at least one routine inspection of each alcoholic beverage permit holder every nine months and increase the number of investigations conducted with local law enforcement to monitor compliance with the new drinking age and continue the enforcement of the "Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco Law."

2. The Alcohol and Tobacco Control program will reduce the tax burden of the department procedures by simplifying application forms, continuing employee training, and monitoring "Responsible Vendor Seminars" to educate retailers.

RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR THE PROGRAM

SOURCE OF FUNDING

This program is funded with fees and self-generated revenues and interagency transfers. These fees are assessed the industry through the required purchase of various licenses, permits, etc. Also included are fines for violations. The interagency transfers are from the Department of Health and Hospitals for enforcement of the Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco Law.

ANALYSIS OF RECOMMENDATION

GENERAL FUND	TOTAL	T.O.	DESCRIPTION

$0	$2,246,429	47	ACT 18 FISCAL YEAR 1997-1998

			BA-7 TRANSACTIONS:
$0	$769,187	20	Act 1370 of 1997 - Tobacco Wholesaler and Retailer Permits
$0	$403,188	8	Act 1054 of 1997 - Responsible Vendor Program
$0	$86,232	2	Act 728 of 1997 - Out-of-State Sellers Program
$0	$0	1	Research Manager position for oversight of the Tobacco Compliance Program

$0	$3,505,036	78	EXISTING OPERATING BUDGET - December 10, 1997

$0	($634,734)	0	Equipment/Major Repairs Adjustment(s)
$0	$32,990	0	Annualization of 1997-'98 Merit Pay Adjustment(s)
$0	$36,704	0	1998-'99 Merit Pay Adjustment(s)
$0	($277)	0	Attrition Adjustment(s)
$0	($9,786)	0	Retirement Rate Adjustment(s)
$0	$17,309	0	Risk Management Adjustment(s)
$0	$1,595	0	Rent in State-owned Buildings Adjustment(s)
$0	$225	0	Maintenance of State-owned Buildings Adjustment(s)
$0	($68,535)	0	Reductions in Various Expenditure Categories; Including Reductions fully fund salaries
$0	$53,012	0	Annualization of Responsible Vendor Program (Act 1054 of 1997)
$0	$13,854	0	Annualization of Out-of-State Sellers Program (Act 728 of 1997)

$0	$2,947,393	78	TOTAL RECOMMENDED

$0	($557,643)	0	DIFFERENCE (TOTAL RECOMMENDED AND EXISTING OPERATING BUDGET)

The total means of financing for this program is recommended at 84.1% of the existing operating budget. It represents 58.2% of the total request ($5,065,960) for this program. The decrease in the recommended level is primarily attributed to nonrecurring acquisitions. The reduction of $68,535 from other line items, along with the attrition adjustment, is recommended to provide the necessary funding needed to fully fund the salaries of the 78 recommended positions.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

$5,500		Provide website for the Alcohol and Tobacco Control
$10,000		Create and maintain database for new software programs
$10,000		Provide legal research and brief to the Commissioner of the Alcohol and Tobacco Control
$10,000		Provide advice, opinion and expert testimony brochures, etc.

$35,500		TOTAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

OTHER CHARGES

		Interagency Transfers:
$95,190		Rent in State-owned Buildings
$5,407		Maintenance of State Buildings
$2,154		Payments to the Department of Civil Service
$26,605		Department of Public Safety - computer line usage

$129,356		TOTAL INTERAGENCY TRANSFERS

ACQUISITIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS

$17,025		Replacement office equipment including desks, chairs, printers, bookcases and computer hatches
$60,900		Replacement law enforcement equipment including radios, uniforms, cameras and emergency warning lights

$77,925		TOTAL ACQUISITIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS

Return to the main page | Previous document | Next document