SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1289
As of March 16, 2021
Title: An act relating to winery workforce development.
Brief Description: Concerning winery workforce development.
Sponsors: Representatives Chambers, Kloba, Robertson, Johnson, J., Sutherland, Fitzgibbon, Chandler, Jacobsen, Ybarra, Rude, Boehnke, Barkis and Klicker.
Brief History: Passed House: 3/8/21, 91-6.
Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs: 3/18/21.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Permits 18 to 21 year-old domestic winery employees to engage in wine production and work in a winery's production facility, so long as an adult age 21 years of age or older on duty is supervising. 
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Staff: Susan Jones (786-7404)
Background:

Domestic winery licensees and non-retail class licensees are permitted, under certain specified circumstances, to allow an employee or intern between the ages of 18 and 21 years old to handle, transport, or otherwise possess liquor. 
 
A domestic winery licensee may allow interns between the ages of 18 and 21 years old to engage in wine production-related work at the domestic winery's licensed location, as long as the intern is enrolled as a student at a community or technical college, regional university, or state university that holds a special permit for this purpose issued by the Liquor and Cannabis Board.  The student must be enrolled in a required or elective class as 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 occurring at or on the licensee's premises that violates liquor laws.

Summary of Bill:

A domestic winery employee who is between the ages of 18 and 21 years old may engage in wine production and work in a winery's production facility, so long as an adult age 21 years of age or older on duty is supervising such activities on the premises.  A winery employee under the age of 21 is not authorized to sell or serve wine or liquor.

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.