SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5109
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. |
As of January 21, 2019
Title: An act relating to authorizing certain fairs with special occasion licenses to have multiple concessionaires.
Brief Description: Authorizing certain fairs with special occasion licenses to have multiple concessionaires.
Sponsors: Senator Zeiger.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Labor & Commerce: 1/17/19.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE |
Staff: Richard Rodger (786-7461)
Background: Special Occasion Licenses. A not-for-profit society or organization that obtains a special occasion liquor license may sell spirits, beer, and wine by the individual glass to be consumed on the premises. The special occasion license permits the licensee to serve liquor at a specified event, on a specified date and place. The fee for this license is $60 per day and the organization is limited to sales on no more than 12 single-day events per year. Once per year, certain agricultural fairs may count a multiple day fair as one event.
Agricultural Fairs. Agricultural fairs are exhibitions intended to promote agriculture by including, among other things, a balanced variety of exhibits of livestock and agricultural products. Agricultural fairs are divided into four categories:
area fairs serve an area larger than one county'
county fairs serve the interests of certain single counties;
community fairs serve a smaller area than an area fair or county fair; and
youth shows and fairs serve three or more counties and have the purpose of educating and training rural youth.
Summary of Bill: Special occasion licensees that are agricultural area, county, or community fairs may have multiple vendors and service locations within the fair venue for the sale of spirits, beer, and wine by the individual serving for on-premises consumption. Access to the fairgrounds must be controlled and enclosed by fencing.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony : PRO: The idea is that fairs could have multiple venders serving alcohol on the fairgrounds. For example, the fairs would like to allow a self-serve beer truck as a separate vendor, in addition to the existing beer gardens. The fiscal note on this bill sounds rather excessive and we will work with the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) to try to reduce the impact. We are not trying to increase alcohol consumption, but to make the service more convenient for the customers. This does not involve a mass expansion of alcohol. Most fairs do not allow any alcohol.
CON: A recent study concluded that there is not a safe level of alcohol consumption. We need to carefully evaluate all legislation that expands alcohol access and promotion. Not all legislation on alcohol is equally objectionable. This bill further allows alcohol in atypical situations that do not exist now and further contributes to the normalization of alcohol. These are not situations that are exclusively adults-only settings. LCB is opposed to the expansion of sales and service of alcohol at the fairs. These fairs all include youth participation and it is appropriate to limit the youth exposure to alcohol.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Hans Zeiger, Prime Sponsor; Heather Hansen, Washington State Fairs Association. CON: Seth Dawson, Washington Association for Substance Abuse Prevention; James McMahan, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs; Justin Nordhorn, Liquor and Cannabis Board.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.