Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Commerce & Gaming Committee |
SB 5001
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Clarifying provisions that allow for the tasting of alcohol by students under twenty-one years of age.
Sponsors: Senators Hewitt, Kohl-Welles, Conway, Schoesler, Keiser, Hatfield and Warnick.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 3/17/15
Staff: Thamas Osborn (786-7129).
Background:
The Liquor Control Board (LCB) is authorized to issue a special permit to a community or technical college to allow certain students to lawfully taste alcohol provided they are at least 18 years old, yet still under age 21, and enrolled in a class that is part of a culinary, wine technology, beer technology, or spirituous technology-related degree program. The issuance of the permit requires that the following criteria be met:
the permit applicant must be a qualifying community or technical college student;
the alcohol is tasted but not consumed by the student;
the tasting of the alcohol is for the purpose of educational training as part of the class curriculum and is approved by the educational provider;
the service and tasting of alcoholic beverages is supervised by a faculty or staff member who is 21 years of age or older and who possesses the requisite alcohol server permit issued by the LCB; and
an enrolled student permitted to taste an alcoholic beverage under this act may not purchase the alcoholic beverage.
The LCB is required to waive any permit fees that might otherwise be applicable.
Viticulture and enology are the two disciplines of wine production. Viticulture is the science, production, and study of grapes. Enology is the science and study of all aspects of wine and winemaking. The term "sommelier" is generally used to describe a restaurant employee who has extensive knowledge regarding wines and who orders and maintains the wines sold in the restaurant.
Summary of Bill:
The range of educational institutions that may receive the special permit from the LCB allowing the tasting of alcohol by underage students enrolled in specified culinary or alcoholic beverage technology classes is expanded to include regional and state universities.
In addition, the types of degree programs eligible for the special alcohol tasting permit is expanded to include sommelier, wine business, enology, and viticulture degree programs.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.