HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5585

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                      Commerce & Labor

Title:  An act relating to licenses to sell liquor in motels.

Brief Description:  Establishing a license to sell liquor in motels.

Sponsor(s):  Senators West, Stratton, McCaslin and Saling.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Commerce & Labor, April 4, 1991, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 7 members:  Representatives Heavey, Chair; Fuhrman, Ranking Minority Member; R. King; O'Brien; Prentice; Vance; and Wilson.

Minority Report: Without recommendation.  Signed by 3 members:  Representatives Cole, Vice Chair; Franklin; and Jones.

Staff:  Jim Kelley (786-7166).

Background:  Hotels and clubs with class H liquor licenses may sell liquor by the bottle to registered guests for consumption in guest rooms, hospitality rooms, or at banquets.  Guests may remove from the premises any unused portion of purchased liquor in its original container.  To be a "hotel" for purposes of a class H license, a facility must have a dining room serving complete meals.

There is no authorization for a facility offering sleeping accommodations but ineligible for a class H license to sell liquor by the bottle to guests.

Summary of Bill:  A new class M liquor license is established.  The license may be issued to a motel, which is defined as a facility offering three or more self-contained units to travelers and transient guests.  The license must not be issued to a motel offering rooms on an hourly basis.  The license authorizes the motel to sell individual bottles of spirits not to exceed 50 milliliters, individual bottles of wine not to exceed 187 milliliters, and individual cans and bottles of beer not to exceed 12 ounces, to registered guests for consumption in guest rooms. 

The alcohol must be kept in locked honor bars and the bars must also contain snack foods.  A licensee may not have honor bars in more than one-half of its guest rooms.  The licensee must require proof of age from guests requesting the use of an honor bar.  The guest must also sign an affidavit verifying that no one under 21 years of age will have access to the alcohol. 

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  None.