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Existing law grants the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) with the exclusive authority to administer the provisions of the ABC Act in accordance with laws enacted by the Legislature.
This involves licensing individuals and businesses associated with the manufacture, importation and sale of alcoholic beverages in this state and the collection of license fees or occupation taxes for this purpose.
Existing law, known as the "tied-house" law, separates the alcoholic beverage industry into three component parts, or tiers, of manufacturer (including breweries, wineries and distilleries), wholesaler and retailer (both on-sale and off-sale).
According to Wiggins, who chairs the Senate Select Committee on California’s Wine Industry, “The complex restrictions of the ABC Act's tied-house laws make it difficult for wine and brandy manufacturers to utilize simple, modern ways of responding to consumer inquiries.”
She noted that current law references electronic Internet inquiries which could be narrowly construed to prohibit other types of electronic communications – such as texting.
Wiggins' bill, SB 1096, updates the law to allow wine customers to use modern technology, including texting and other electronic methods, to make inquires regarding where to purchase a winemaker’s wine.
Now that it has been approved by the Senate, SB 1096 next heads to the Assembly for consideration.
Wiggins represents the premium winegrowing regions of Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Mendocino Counties.
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- Written by: Office of Sen. Patricia Wiggins
LAKE COUNTY – On March 10, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger launched Microsoft’s Elevate America program in California.
Elevate America has been implemented across the nation for over a year and aims to prepare America for jobs in the 21st Century.
Microsoft provided California with 166,500 vouchers for a variety of trainings. There are vouchers for e-learning for Microsoft programs such as Windows, Word, Excel and PowerPoint; vouchers for IT professionals such as computer technicians and systems engineers; and exam vouchers for Microsoft certification. Certifications are for Microsoft Office 2003 and 2007.
Basic digital literacy is needed to complete these e-learning courses For a free computer skills assessment and free digital literacy tutorials, visit www.microsoft.com/elevateamerica.
Then, to claim a voucher, participants are recommended to visit their local Lake One-Stop so additional information can be given. Lake One-Stop offices are located at 55 First St., Lakeport, telephone 707-263-0630, or 4477 Moss Ave. Suite A in Clearlake, telephone 707-994-0633.
For a detailed breakdown of jobs associated with this type of training, visit www.microsoft.com/learning/education/roadmap/.
For assistance, those interested may call Microsoft at 800-636-7544 from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. An “MCP” number will be requested, but ignore that request; you don’t need this number. Or, send an e-mail to
All vouchers must be activated by June 8, 2010. If a participant has claimed an exam voucher, they must take the exam on or before June 8.
Call or visit a Lake One-Stop office nearest you for the details and to find out how to claim your free technology training voucher.
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- Written by: Editor
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