FINAL BILL REPORT
HB 1289
C 123 L 21
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Concerning winery workforce development.
Sponsors: Representatives Chambers, Kloba, Robertson, Johnson, J., Sutherland, Fitzgibbon, Chandler, Jacobsen, Ybarra, Rude, Boehnke, Barkis and Klicker.
House Committee on Commerce & Gaming
Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs
Background:

Domestic winery licensees and non-retail class licensees are permitted, under certain specified circumstances, to allow an employee or intern between age 18 and 21 years old to handle, transport, or otherwise possess liquor. 
 
For example, a domestic winery licensee may allow interns between age 18 and 21 years old to engage in wine production-related work at the domestic winery's licensed location if the intern is enrolled as a student at a community or technical college, regional university, or state university that holds a special permit issued by the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) for this specified purpose.  In addition, the intern must be enrolled in a class that is a part of a culinary, sommelier, wine business, enology, viticulture, wine technology, beer technology, or spirituous technology-related degree program.
 
A domestic winery or non-retail class liquor licensee is solely responsible for any act or omission of their employee or intern occurring at or on the licensee's premises that violates liquor laws.

Summary:

A domestic winery employee who is at least age 18, but under age 21, may engage in wine production and work in a winery's production facility if an adult age 21 or older is on duty supervising such activities on the winery's premises.  The authorization may not be interpreted to allow a winery employee under age 21 to taste, consume, sell, or serve liquor.

Votes on Final Passage:
House 91 6
Senate 45 1 (Senate amended)
House 91 7 (House concurred)
Effective:

July 25, 2021