NY A00936

Increases excise taxes on alcohol effective April 1, 2011: beer tax from 14 cents to $1.80 per gallon, wine taxes from 30 cents to $2.64 per gallon, and liquor taxes from 67 cents to $1.23 per liter and $1.70 to $2.96 per liter depending on alcohol content.

Establishes an automatic annual adjustment to alcohol taxes each July 1st based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), with increases only taking effect if they exceed 10 percent.

Creates the Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Fund, with 70 percent of collected alcohol taxes allocated to this fund for distribution by the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services: 50 percent for prevention programs, 45 percent for treatment facilities, and 5 percent to the State Police for DWI enforcement.

Requires an annual report from the Commissioner of Taxation and Finance on fund spending, recipient entities and programs, funding amounts, and proposed budget for the upcoming year.

Establishes a 15-member task force to develop eligibility guidelines and make funding recommendations, with the Commissioner of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services as non-voting chair and members appointed by the governor, legislative leaders, and minority leaders.