Representative Joe Hackney

Legislative leaders form ABC reform study committee

 

Group to examine alcoholic beverage control structure, effectiveness, ethics

 

Raleigh – A new General Assembly study committee will examine the state’s alcoholic beverage control system and discuss ways to reform it, legislative leaders said Thursday.  The Joint Study Committee on Alcoholic Beverage Control, comprised of legislators and a cross-section of public members representing various perspectives, will make recommendations to the General Assembly prior to the legislative session that begins in May. Senator Don Vaughan of Guilford County and Representative Ray Warren of Alexander County will Co-Chair the Committee.

 

“Our ABC system needs to evolve just like any other business,” Speaker Hackney said. “We need to determine how best to make these changes and bring our system in line with modern-day standards of ethics and transparency.”

 

“We already know that we need more accountability and ethics reform in the ABC system.  What we need to explore further is what is working now and what we can improve,” Senator Basnight said.

 

The Committee will consider the following issues:

 

1. The report of the North Carolina General Assembly Program Evaluation Division on the effectiveness of the ABC system, and its recommended improvement options for the system.
2. The need for Statewide consistency and uniformity in ABC structures, rules, and ethics standards.
3. The current compensation structure for both State and local ABC board members and employees and making recommendations for any salary limitations or oversight that might be needed.
4. The governance structure of local ABC boards, the geographical proximity of local ABC boards, and making recommendations for any changes or reforms.
5. The amount and distribution of revenues from the current ABC system.
6. Ethics rules that are currently applicable to ABC Board members and employees, and making recommendations for any ethics rules that should be applied. 
7. The oversight and accountability of ABC boards, and making recommendations for any increase in oversight or procedures in order to increase accountability.
8. Whether additional gubernatorial authority over ABC Boards and employees, including the power to remove employees, should be granted.
9. The issue of privatization of the ABC system, and making recommendations as to the advisability of privatization and any potential savings to the State.  

 

 

President Pro Tempore Appointments	Speaker of the House Appointments
Senator Don Vaughan, Co-Chair	Representative Ray Warren, Co-Chair
Senator Charlie Albertson	Representative Larry M. Bell
Senator Stan Bingham	Representative James W. Crawford, Jr.
Senator Dan Blue	Representative Pryor Gibson
Senator Dan Clodfelter	Representative Dewey L. Hill
Senator Fletcher Hartsell	Representative Marvin W. Lucas
Senator Linda Garrou	Representative Edgar V. Starnes
Senator Steve Goss	Representative Fred F. Steen, II
Chief Tim Adams, Gastonia Police, Gaston County	Ronald Bogle, retired Judge of Superior Court, Orange County
Edward Cook, Harris-Teeter Supermarkets, Mecklenburg County	Karen Gottovi, former House member who served New Hanover County, Wake County
Howard Hunter, III, County Commissioner, Hertford County	Walter Harris, Chair of Chatham County ABC Board, Chatham County
Mayor Eddie Maynor, Hope Mills, Cumberland County	Edward Holmes, former House member who served Chatham County, Orange County
Paul Powell, Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association, Guilford County	Bill Hurley, former House member, Cumberland County
Fields Scarborough, Dare County ABC Board, Dare County	Peggy Richmond, Business owner, Orange County

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