BILL REQ. #:  S-1559.1 

Read first time 02/06/2007.   Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development.

     AN ACT Relating to requiring additional state liquor stores to engage in Sunday sales; amending RCW 66.08.166 and 66.08.190; and adding a new section to chapter 43.110 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 66.08.166 and 2005 c 231 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     By September 1, 2005, the board shall expand operations in at least twenty state-operated retail stores to include Sundays. By September 1, 2007, the board shall expand operations in at least twenty-nine additional retail stores to include Sundays. The board shall select the stores that are expected to gross the most revenues on Sunday by considering factors including, but not limited to, population density, proximity to shopping centers, and proximity to other businesses that are open on Sunday. The selected stores shall be open for retail business a minimum of five hours on Sunday. In implementing this program, if the board determines it would be beneficial to retain a consultant to assist the board in determining appropriate stores for the program and monitoring the results of the program, the agency is authorized to do so. The board shall track gross sales and expenses of the selected stores and compare them to previous years' sales and projected sales and expenses before opening on Sunday. The board shall also examine the sales of state and contract liquor stores in proximity to those stores opened on Sundays to determine whether Sunday openings ((has [have])) have reduced the sales of other state and contract liquor stores that are not open on Sundays. The board shall present this information to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the legislature by January 31, ((2007)) 2009.

Sec. 2   RCW 66.08.190 and 2003 1st sp.s. c 25 s 927 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Except for revenues generated by the 2003 surcharge of $0.42/liter on retail sales of spirits that shall be distributed to the state general fund during the 2003-2005 biennium, when excess funds are distributed, all moneys subject to distribution shall be disbursed as follows:
     (a) Three-tenths of one percent to border areas under RCW 66.08.195; and
     (b) From the amount remaining after distribution under (a) of this subsection, (i) fifty percent to the general fund of the state, (ii) ten percent to the counties of the state, and (iii) forty percent to the incorporated cities and towns of the state.
     (2) During the months of June, September, December, and March of each year, prior to disbursing the distribution to incorporated cities and towns under subsection (1)(b) of this section, the treasurer shall deduct from that distribution an amount that will fund that quarter's allotments under RCW 43.88.110 from any legislative appropriation from the city and town research services account. The treasurer shall deposit the amount deducted into the city and town research services account.
     (3) At the start of each fiscal year and prior to disbursing the distribution to the state general fund under subsection (1)(b) of this section, the treasurer shall deduct from the general fund distribution one million nine hundred fifty thousand dollars to be deposited into the public benefit and research services account created in section 3 of this act.
     (4) The governor may notify and direct the state treasurer to withhold the revenues to which the counties and cities are entitled under this section if the counties or cities are found to be in noncompliance pursuant to RCW 36.70A.340.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 43.110 RCW to read as follows:
     The public benefit and research services account is created in the state treasury. The account shall consist of all money deposited, transferred, or appropriated to the account by the legislature. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the administrative office of the courts to assist the superior courts with language interpreter services and to assist the municipal council with research and services for ports and special purpose districts.