SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2368

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

          Labor, Commerce & Trade, February 22, 1996

Title:  An act relating to class H liquor licenses at civic or convention centers.

Brief Description:  Expanding the granting of class H liquor licenses at civic or convention centers.

Sponsors:  Representatives Elliot, Regala and R. Fisher.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Labor, Commerce & Trade:  2/21/96, 2/22/96 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & TRADE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Pelz, Chair; Heavey, Vice Chair; A. Anderson, Deccio, Franklin, Newhouse and Wojahn.

Staff:  Katie Healy (786-7403)

Background:  Current law allows publicly-owned civic centers to serve alcohol through Class H licensees who operate at least one dining place in the facility.  The dining place must offer full meal service.  The civic center must have facilities for sports, entertainment, or conventions.  If liquor is served at more than one place, the Class H license may be extended to additional locations on the premises of the facility.

Summary of Bill:  Use of a Class H liquor license to serve alcohol at publicly-owned civic centers is extended to privately-owned civic or convention centers with facilities for sports, entertainment, and conventions.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill addresses an oversight in the original legislation.  Due to a quirk in the law, individual events at a private civic or convention center must arrange for a banquet license.  When convention center facilities were first created, they were public facilities.  Privately-owned convention centers cannot hold a liquor license, so the group renting the facility must obtain a banquet license.  This leaves the control and oversight of liquor service to the renter and not the owner of the facility.  There are a limited number of privately-owned facilities in the state.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Carter Mitchell, Liquor Control Board; Kevin Phelps, Landmark Convention Center; Kit Hawkins, Restaurant Assn.