SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5022

              As Passed Senate, February 3, 1995

Title:  An act relating to identification cards for liquor purchases.

Brief Description:  Allowing United States military dependents' identification as identification cards for liquor purchases.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Trade (originally sponsored by Senators Fairley and Winsley).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Labor, Commerce & Trade:  1/24/95 [DPS].

Passed Senate 2/3/95, 44-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & TRADE

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5022 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

  Signed by Senators Pelz, Chair; Heavey, Vice Chair; Deccio, Franklin, Fraser, Hale, Newhouse, Palmer and Wojahn.

Staff:  Max Williams (786-7439)

Background:  Current law requires that for the purchase of alcohol, purchasers must provide one of five acceptable types of officially issued identification as proof of age:

1)Liquor control authority card of identification of Canada.

2)Driver license, instruction permit or ID card of any state.

3)U.S. active duty military identification.

4)Passport.

5)Merchant Marine ID card issued by U.S. Coast Guard. 

No other forms of identification as proof of age are legally allowable for the purchase of alcohol.  Nonactive military personnel including reservists, retired personnel and military dependents are prohibited from using their government-issued identification for the purchase of alcohol.

Summary of Bill:  United States armed forces identification cards issued to active duty personnel, reservists, retired personnel and military dependents are allowed as proof of age for the purchase of alcohol.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 13, 1995.

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

Testimony For:  The current law allowing only active duty military ID has prohibited some people of questionable age from using dependent and reservist ID, when other forms of ID have been unavailable.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Fairley, prime sponsor (pro); Carter Mitchell, Liquor Control Board (pro).