SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SHB 2843

        AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR, FEBRUARY 26, 1992

Brief Description:  Modifying provisions concerning liquor licenses.

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

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. 

      Signed by Senators Matson, Chairman; Bluechel, McCaslin, McMullen, Moore, Murray, and Skratek.

Staff:  Traci Anderson (786‑7452)

Hearing Dates: February 26, 1992

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:

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.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

Small groceries or other off premise class E licensees may sell malt liquor in kegs of up to five and one-half gallons without being required to obtain a class A or class B license if all such sales comply with laws concerning the registration of kegs.

The Liquor Control Board may charge class E licensees for keg registration booklets.  Fees are deposited into the liquor revolving fund and may be spent by the board without appropriation.

TESTIMONY FOR:

This bill makes technical changes to existing law.  It will allow the Kingdome and Tacoma Dome to more easily meet the intent of existing law.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Grace Cole, prime sponsor; Carter Mitchell, Liquor Control Board; Stu Halsan, Coors Brewing Company