SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5463

                As Passed Senate, March 7, 1995

Title:  An act relating to alcohol servers training for on‑premises liquor licensees.

Brief Description:  Requiring alcohol servers to have alcohol servers permits.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Trade (originally sponsored by Senators Newhouse, Prentice and Franklin).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Labor, Commerce & Trade:  2/9/95, 2/16/95 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 3/7/95, 47‑1.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & TRADE

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5463 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Staff:  Traci Ratzliff (786-7452)

Background:  Currently, individuals who participate in the sale or service of alcoholic beverages at establishments licensed to sell such beverages for on-site consumption are not required to participate in any type of formal training in the service of alcoholic beverages, the effects of alcohol on consumers, or the state laws pertaining to the service of alcohol.  The Liquor Control Board (LCB) does provide, on a limited basis, voluntary training of alcohol servers for those establishments requesting such training.

Summary of Bill: A mandatory alcohol server training program is established.

Effective July 1, 1996, individuals participating in the sale or service of alcoholic beverages for on-premise consumption must complete a class 12 or 13 alcohol server training program. Managers or bartenders of licensed establishments are required to complete a class 12 training program.  Waitpersons serving alcoholic beverages at licensed establishments must complete a class 13 training program.  All persons applying for a class 13 permit must view a video training session.  Employers must compensate employees for the time spent participating in the class 13 training.  Grocery stores and the employees of such stores at which beer or wine is sold for on-premise consumption are exempt from the provisions of the act.

Individuals who successfully complete the required alcohol server training must be issued the appropriate permit by the entity providing the training.  The permit is valid for five years. A list of those individuals completing the required training must be forwarded to the LCB.

Liquor licensees are prohibited from hiring individuals involved in the sale or service of alcoholic beverages who do not complete the required alcohol server training.

Conditions under which the LCB may suspend or revoke a server permit are outlined.

The LCB is required to regulate the mandatory alcohol server training program.  The subjects to be covered in the class 12 and 13 programs are outlined.  Training programs are provided by liquor licensee associations, independent contractors, private persons, or private or public schools certified by the LCB.

The LCB may provide copies of videotaped training programs to liquor licensees at a reasonable cost.  The LCB is required to develop a model permit for the class 12 and 13 permits and may provide these to licensees or training entities for a nominal cost.

Individuals who have completed a nationally recognized alcohol management or intervention program since July 1, 1993 may be issued a class 12 or 13 permit upon providing proof of completion of such training to the LCB.

Penalties for violations of the act are outlined.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 3, 1995.

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

Testimony For:  Mandatory alcohol server training is necessary because some owners of establishments that sell alcohol and the employees of these establishments are unwilling to recognize the need/benefits of such training.  This bill will provide one more tool that can be used to prevent car accidents caused by the overuse of alcohol.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Dave Devoe, Olympia victims panel; Gary McClenaghan, Bob Gault, Ron Krause, Washington State Licensed Beverage Association; Shirley Anderson, David Sprague, Doug Shofstall, DWI victims panel; Kit Hawkins, Restaurant Association; Carter Mitchell, Liquor Control Board; Phil Wayt, Washington Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association.