SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 2739

BYRepresentatives Dellwo, Moyer, Rector, Silver, Day, D. Sommers, Jesernig, Wolfe and Padden

Establishing a license to sell liquor in motels.

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 20, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; DeJarnatt, Patrick, Sutherland.

Senate Staff:Barbara Howard (786-7410)

                  February 21, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS, FEBRUARY 20, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Hotels and clubs with class H liquor licenses may sell liquor by the bottle to registered guests for consumption in guest rooms, hospitality rooms, or at banquets.  Guests may remove from the premises any unused portion of purchased liquor in its original container.  To be a "hotel" for purposes of a class H license, a facility must have a dining room serving complete meals.

There is no authorization for a facility offering sleeping accommodations but ineligible for a class H license to sell liquor by the bottle to guests.

SUMMARY:

A new class M liquor license is established.  The license may be issued to a motel, which is defined as a facility offering three or more self-contained units to travelers and transient guests. The license must not be issued to a motel offering rooms on an hourly basis.  The license authorizes the motel to sell individual bottles of spirits not to exceed 50 milliliters, individual bottles of wine not to exceed 187 milliliters, and individual cans and bottles of beer not to exceed 12 ounces, to registered guests for consumption in guest rooms.

The alcohol must be kept in locked honor bars and the bars must also contain snack foods.  A licensee may not have honor bars in more than one-half of its guest rooms.  The licensee must require proof of age from guests requesting the use of an honor bar.  The guest must also sign an affidavit verifying that no one under 21 years of age will have access to the alcohol.

The board shall charge a reasonable fee for this license.  The licensee shall purchase all spirits to be sold from the Liquor Control Board.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested January 27, 1990

Senate Committee - Testified: R. Terry Lynch, Innkeepers (pro); Raymond E. Thieman, Innkeepers (pro); Becky Bogard, WA State Hotel and Motel Association (pro); Carter Mitchell, Liquor Control Board (con); Gary Edwards, Thurston County Sheriff (con)