HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESB 6356

                  As Passed House - Amended

                        March 2, 1994

 

Title:  An act relating to cigarette machine locations.

 

Brief Description:  Providing an exception to the requirement that cigarette machines be located fully within premises from which minors are prohibited.

 

Sponsors:  Senator Quigley.

 

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Health Care, February 22, 1994, DPA;

  Passed House - Amended, March 2, 1994 95-0.

 

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

 

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 15 members:  Representatives Dellwo, Chair; L. Johnson, Vice Chair; Dyer, Ranking Minority Member; Ballasiotes, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Backlund; Conway; Cooke; Flemming; R. Johnson; Lemmon; Lisk; Mastin; Morris; Thibaudeau and Veloria.

 

Staff:  Bill Hagens (786-7131).

 

Background:  Present law [RCW 70.55.030--HB 2071 (1993)] makes it illegal to sell or permit to be sold any tobacco product through vending machines unless the device is located within premises from which minors are prohibited or in industrial worksites where minors are not employed and not less than 10 feet from all entrance or exit ways.

 

Proponents of this measure say that this requirement is not working in certain small establishments.

 

Summary of Bill:  The state liquor board is required to adopt rules that allow an exception to the requirement that a device be located not less than 10 feet from all entrance or exit ways to and from a premise if it is architecturally impractical for the device to be located not less than 10 feet from all entrance and exit ways.

 

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

 

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

 

Testimony For:  Greater flexibility is needed in small establishments.

 

Testimony Against:  Exemptions should not be made because it would be the thin edge in relaxing laws that are aimed at limiting minors' access to tobacco.

 

Witnesses:  Jo Wadsworth, Department of Health; and Carter Mitchell, Liquor Control Board.