HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2123

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                      Commerce & Labor

Title:  An act relating to raffle prizes.

Brief Description:  Permitting nonprofit organizations to offer bottles of liquor as raffle prizes.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives O'Brien and Zellinsky.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Commerce & Labor, March 6, 1991, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Heavey, Chair; Cole, Vice Chair; Lisk, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Franklin; Jones; R. King; O'Brien; Prentice; Vance; and Wilson.

Minority Report: Do not pass.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Fuhrman, Ranking Minority Member.

Staff:  Jim Kelley (786-7166).

Background:  The gambling code does not limit the kinds of prizes that a bona fide charitable or nonprofit organization may offer at raffles.  However, under the liquor code, a person or organization must have a license to sell liquor.  The liquor code definition of "sale" and "sell" would include a raffle.

Summary of Bill:  A bona fide charitable or nonprofit organization may offer unopened bottles of liquor as prizes at raffles.

Fiscal Note:  Requested March 4, 1991.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Raffles are an excellent way for charities to raise money.  Unopened bottles of liquor make good prizes, but, it is technically not legal under the liquor code to give away liquor without a license.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Speaker Pro Tempore John L. O'Brien, Prime Sponsor.