HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 2843

                       As Passed House

                      February 14, 1992

Title:  An act relating to liquor licenses.

Brief Description:  Modifying provisions concerning liquor licenses.

Sponsor(s):  By House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives G. Cole, Heavey and Fuhrman; by request of Liquor Control Board).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Commerce & Labor, February 4, 1992, DPS;

Passed House, February 14, 1992, 92-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Heavey, Chair; G. Cole, Vice Chair; Fuhrman, Ranking Minority Member; Lisk, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Franklin; Jones; R. King; O'Brien; Prentice; Vance; and Wilson.

Staff:  Jim Kelley (786-7166).

Background:  A retail liquor license of any kind may only be issued to a person who has resided in Washington for at least one month prior to application.

In order to obtain a license, individual beer and wine wholesalers are required to be residents of the state, and corporations are required to have their principal place of business in this state.

Holders of class J special occasion wine licenses may sell limited quantities of wine for consumption off the premises if they have paid the additional $10 fee.  Class G special occasion beer license holders are not allowed to sell beer for consumption off the premises.

Civic centers with facilities for sports, entertainment, or conventions may obtain a class H liquor license.  However, they must provide food service to the same extent as any other class H licensee.  Often this requires them to offer food service even when there is not an event at the civic center.

Summary of Bill:  The requirement that a retail license may not be issued to a person who has not resided in the state for at least one month is stricken.

A retail license may not be issued to a corporation having any officer or director who was previously an officer or director of a defunct corporation that held a liquor license and discontinued business leaving unpaid taxes owing to the state, until the back taxes are paid in full.

The residency requirement for a beer or wine wholesaler's license is eliminated.  However, a beer or wine importer's license may not be issued to a person, partnership, or corporation, until they have established a principal office in the state and have designated an agent for the service of process.

A holder of a class G special occasion license may sell, at no more than two events per year, beer or malt liquor for consumption off the premises for a fee of $10.  Special occasion licensees holding a class G beer license may purchase beer from a beer retailer or a beer wholesaler, and class J wine license holders may purchase wine from a wine retailer or a wine wholesaler.  Beer manufacturers, importers, and wholesalers may advertise, pour, or dispense beer during judging or tasting events at which they are participants.

A class H licensed civic center must provide food service only if an event is being conducted at the facility.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This bill makes administrative and technical changes.  It should help the state collect some taxes.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Carter Mitchell, Liquor Control Board (in favor).