SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 6339

                      AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 17, 1992

Brief Description:  Eliminating the county size requirement for class F wine retailer's licenses.

SPONSORS: Senator Hayner

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

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

Staff:  Patrick Woods (786‑7430)

Hearing Dates: February 5, 1992; February 6, 1992

BACKGROUND:

Currently the Liquor Control Board is authorized to issue a class F wine retailer's license to wine shops, grocery stores, taverns, and certain restaurants to sell wine by the bottle for off-premise consumption. 

In addition, the board was authorized in 1987 to issue a class F restricted wine retailer's license which prohibits a licensee from selling fortified wine.  "Fortified wine" is defined as wine containing 14 percent of alcohol or more by volume.

A class F restricted wine retailer's license may only be issued in counties with populations over 300,000; these include the counties of King, Pierce, Snohomish and Spokane.

SUMMARY:

The Liquor Control Board's statutory prohibition on issuing class F restricted wine retailer's license in counties with populations of less than 300,000 is removed. 

A class F restricted wine retailer's license may be issued in all counties of the state.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

Expanding the authority of the Liquor Control Board to issue a class F restricted wine retailer's license in all counties of the state will assist communities statewide in addressing the problems concerning the sale of fortified wine.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Mark Morrissette, Pasco Downtown Development Association (pro); Carter Mitchell, Liquor Control Board