Virginia Spirits Board and Virginia Spirits Promotion Fund; established, report.

Virginia Spirits Board. Establishes the Virginia Spirits Board, within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Virginia Spirits Promotion Fund. The Board is composed of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, and nine gubernatorial-appointed nonlegislative citizens who represent coopers or maltsters and owners or operators of distilleries. Among its powers and duties, the Board is authorized to contract for research services to improve farming practices related to the growing of ingredients necessary for alcohol distillation in Virginia; enter into contracts with private and public entities to market, advertise, and promote the industry; and engage in revenue-producing activities. The Fund consists of general fund appropriations, fees from services rendered, and payments received for products, equipment, or goods supplied. The bill exempts contracts for advertising, marketing, or publishing that are entered into by the Board from certain provisions of the Virginia Public Procurement Act. This bill is identical to HB 1436.