BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to improvements to the licensing sections of the Washington state liquor act; and amending RCW 66.24.010, 66.24.025, 66.24.210, 66.24.290, 66.24.300, 66.24.320, 66.24.330, and 66.24.490.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 66.24.010 and 1988 c 200 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Every license shall be issued in the name of the applicant, and the holder thereof shall not allow any other person to use the license.

(2) For the purpose of considering any application for a license, the board may cause an inspection of the premises to be made, and may inquire into all matters in connection with the construction and operation of the premises. For the purpose of reviewing any application for a license and for considering the denial, suspension or revocation of any license, the liquor control board may consider any prior criminal conduct of the applicant and the provisions of RCW 9.95.240 and of chapter 9.96A RCW shall not apply to such cases. The board may, in its discretion, grant or refuse the license applied for. Authority to approve an uncontested or unopposed license may be granted by the board to any staff member the board designates in writing. Conditions for granting such authority shall be adopted by rule. No retail license of any kind may be issued to:

(a) A person who has not resided in the state for at least one month prior to making application, except in cases of licenses issued to dining places on railroads, boats, or aircraft;

(b) A copartnership, unless all of the members thereof are qualified to obtain a license, as provided in this section;

(c) A person whose place of business is conducted by a manager or agent, unless such manager or agent possesses the same qualifications required of the licensee;

(d) A corporation, unless it was created under the laws of the state of Washington or holds a certificate of authority to transact business in the state of Washington.

(3) The board may, in its discretion, subject to the provisions of RCW 66.08.150, suspend or cancel any license; and all rights of the licensee to keep or sell liquor thereunder shall be suspended or terminated, as the case may be. The board may request the appointment of administrative law judges under chapter 34.12 RCW who shall have power to administer oaths, issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers, books, accounts, documents, and testimony, examine witnesses, and to receive testimony in any inquiry, investigation, hearing, or proceeding in any part of the state, under such rules and regulations as the board may adopt.

Witnesses shall be allowed fees and mileage each way to and from any such inquiry, investigation, hearing, or proceeding at the rate authorized by RCW 34.05.446, as now or hereafter amended. Fees need not be paid in advance of appearance of witnesses to testify or to produce books, records, or other legal evidence.

In case of disobedience of any person to comply with the order of the board or a subpoena issued by the board, or any of its members, or administrative law judges, or on the refusal of a witness to testify to any matter regarding which he or she may be lawfully interrogated, the judge of the superior court of the county in which the person resides, on application of any member of the board or administrative law judge, shall compel obedience by contempt proceedings, as in the case of disobedience of the requirements of a subpoena issued from said court or a refusal to testify therein.

(4) Upon receipt of notice of the suspension or cancellation of a license, the licensee shall forthwith deliver up the license to the board. Where the license has been suspended only, the board shall return the license to the licensee at the expiration or termination of the period of suspension. The board shall notify all vendors in the city or place where the licensee has its premises of the suspension or cancellation of the license; and no employee may allow or cause any liquor to be delivered to or for any person at the premises of that licensee.

(5)(a) At the time of the original issuance of a class H license, the board shall prorate the license fee charged to the new licensee according to the number of calendar quarters, or portion thereof, remaining until the first renewal of that license is required.

(b) Unless sooner canceled, every license issued by the board shall expire at midnight of the thirtieth day of June of the fiscal year for which it was issued. However, if the board deems it feasible and desirable to do so, it may establish, by rule pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW, a system for staggering the annual renewal dates for any and all licenses authorized by this chapter. If such a system of staggered annual renewal dates is established by the board, the license fees provided by this chapter shall be appropriately prorated during the first year that the system is in effect.

(6) Every license issued under this section shall be subject to all conditions and restrictions imposed by this title or by the regulations in force from time to time. All conditions and restrictions imposed by the board in the issuance of an individual license shall be listed on the face of the individual license along with the trade name, address, and expiration date.

(7) Every licensee shall post and keep posted its license, or licenses, in a conspicuous place on the premises.

(8) Before the board shall issue a license to an applicant it shall give notice of such application to the chief executive officer of the incorporated city or town, if the application be for a license within an incorporated city or town, or to the county legislative authority, if the application be for a license outside the boundaries of incorporated cities or towns; and such incorporated city or town, through the official or employee selected by it, or the county legislative authority or the official or employee selected by it, shall have the right to file with the board within twenty days after date of transmittal of such notice, written objections against the applicant or against the premises for which the license is asked, and shall include with such objections a statement of all facts upon which such objections are based, and in case written objections are filed, may request and the liquor control board may in its discretion hold a formal hearing subject to the applicable provisions of Title 34 RCW((~~, as now or hereafter amended~~)). Upon the granting of a license under this title the board shall send a duplicate of the license or written notification to the chief executive officer of the incorporated city or town in which the license is granted, or to the county legislative authority if the license is granted outside the boundaries of incorporated cities or towns.

(9) Before the board issues any license to any applicant, it shall give (a) due consideration to the location of the business to be conducted under such license with respect to the proximity of churches, schools, and public institutions and (b) written notice by certified mail of the application to churches, schools, and public institutions within five hundred feet of the premises to be licensed. The board shall issue no beer retailer license class A, B, D, or E or wine retailer license class C or F or class H license covering any premises not now licensed, if such premises are within five hundred feet of the premises of any tax-supported public elementary or secondary school measured along the most direct route over or across established public walks, streets, or other public passageway from the outer property line of the school grounds to the nearest public entrance of the premises proposed for license, and if, after receipt by the school or public institution of the notice as provided in this subsection, the board receives written notice, within twenty days after posting such notice, from an official representative or representatives of the school within five hundred feet of said proposed licensed premises, indicating to the board that there is an objection to the issuance of such license because of proximity to a school. For the purpose of this section, church shall mean a building erected for and used exclusively for religious worship and schooling or other activity in connection therewith. No liquor license may be issued or reissued by the board to any motor sports facility or licensee operating within the motor sports facility unless the motor sports facility enforces a program reasonably calculated to prevent alcohol or alcoholic beverages not purchased within the facility from entering the facility and such program is approved by local law enforcement agencies. It is the intent under this subsection that a retail license shall not be issued by the board where doing so would, in the judgment of the board, adversely affect a private school meeting the requirements for private schools under Title 28A RCW, which school is within five hundred feet of the proposed licensee. The board shall fully consider and give substantial weight to objections filed by private schools. If a license is issued despite the proximity of a private school, the board shall state in a letter addressed to the private school the board's reasons for issuing the license.

(10) The restrictions set forth in ((~~the preceding~~)) subsection (9) of this section shall not prohibit the board from authorizing the ((~~transfer~~)) assumption of existing licenses now located within the restricted area ((to)) by other persons or ((~~locations~~)) licenses or relocations of existing licensed premises within the restricted area((~~: PROVIDED, Such transfer shall~~)). In no case ((~~result in establishing~~)) may the licensed premises be moved closer to a church or school than it was before the ((~~transfer~~)) assumption or relocation.

(11) Nothing in this section prohibits the board, in its discretion, from issuing a temporary retail or wholesaler license to ((~~a transferee of a~~)) an applicant assuming an existing retail or wholesaler license to continue the operation of the retail or wholesaler premises during the period ((~~a transfer~~)) the application for the license ((~~from person to person at the same premises~~)) is pending and when the following conditions exist:

(a) The licensed premises has been operated under a retail or wholesaler license within ninety days of the date of filing the application for a temporary license;

(b) The retail or wholesaler license for the premises has been surrendered pursuant to issuance of a temporary operating license;

(c) The applicant for the temporary license has filed with the board an application ((~~for transfer of~~)) to assume the retail or wholesaler license at such premises to himself or herself; and

(d) The application for a temporary license is accompanied by a temporary license fee established by the board by rule.

A temporary license issued by the board under this section shall be for a period not to exceed sixty days. A temporary license may be extended at the discretion of the board for an additional sixty-day period upon payment of an additional fee and upon compliance with all conditions required in this section.

Refusal by the board to issue or extend a temporary license shall not entitle the applicant to request a hearing. A temporary license may be canceled or suspended summarily at any time if the board determines that good cause for cancellation or suspension exists. RCW 66.08.130 and chapter 34.05 RCW shall apply to temporary licenses.

Application for a temporary license shall be on such form as the board shall prescribe. If an application for a temporary license is withdrawn before issuance or is refused by the board, the fee which accompanied such application shall be refunded in full.

Sec. 2. RCW 66.24.025 and 1981 1st ex.s. c 5 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) ((The holder of one or more licenses may assign and transfer the same to any qualified person under such rules and regulations as the board may prescribe: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That no such assignment and transfer shall be made which will result in both a change of licensee and change of location; the fee for such assignment and transfer shall be seventy-five dollars: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That no fee will be charged for transfer)) If the board approves, a license may be transferred, without charge, to the surviving spouse only of a deceased licensee if the parties were maintaining a marital community and the license was issued in the names of one or both of the parties.

(2) The proposed sale of more than ten percent of the outstanding and/or issued stock of a licensed corporation or any proposed change in the officers of a licensed corporation must be reported to the board, and board approval must be obtained before such changes are made. A fee of seventy-five dollars will be charged for the processing of such change of stock ownership and/or corporate officers.

Sec. 3. RCW 66.24.210 and 1994 1st sp.s. c 7 s 901 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) There is hereby imposed upon all wines sold to wine wholesalers and the Washington state liquor control board, within the state a tax at the rate of twenty and one-fourth cents per liter: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That wine sold or shipped in bulk from one winery to another winery shall not be subject to such tax. The tax provided for in this section ((~~may, if so prescribed by the board,~~)) shall be collected ((~~by means of stamps to be furnished by the board, or~~)) by direct payments based on wine purchased by wine wholesalers. Every person purchasing wine under the provisions of this section shall on or before the twentieth day of each month report to the board all purchases during the preceding calendar month in such manner and upon such forms as may be prescribed by the board, and with such report shall pay the tax due from the purchases covered by such report unless the same has previously been paid. Any such purchaser of wine whose applicable tax payment is not postmarked by the twentieth day following the month of purchase will be assessed a penalty at the rate of two percent a month or fraction thereof. ((If this tax be collected by means of stamps, every such person shall procure from the board revenue stamps representing the tax in such form as the board shall prescribe and shall affix the same to the package or container in such manner and in such denomination as required by the board and shall cancel the same prior to the delivery of the package or container containing the wine to the purchaser. If the tax is not collected by means of stamps,)) The board may require that every such person shall execute to and file with the board a bond to be approved by the board, in such amount as the board may fix, securing the payment of the tax. If any such person fails to pay the tax when due, the board may forthwith suspend or cancel the license until all taxes are paid.

(2) An additional tax is imposed equal to the rate specified in RCW 82.02.030 multiplied by the tax payable under subsection (1) of this section. All revenues collected during any month from this additional tax shall be transferred to the state general fund by the twenty-fifth day of the following month.

(3) An additional tax is imposed on wines subject to tax under subsection (1) of this section, at the rate of one-fourth of one cent per liter for wine sold after June 30, 1987. Such additional tax shall cease to be imposed on July 1, 2001. All revenues collected under this subsection (3) shall be disbursed quarterly to the Washington wine commission for use in carrying out the purposes of chapter 15.88 RCW.

(4) An additional tax is imposed on all wine subject to tax under subsection (1) of this section. The additional tax is equal to twenty-three and forty-four one-hundredths cents per liter on fortified wine as defined in RCW 66.04.010(34) when bottled or packaged by the manufacturer and one cent per liter on all other wine. All revenues collected during any month from this additional tax shall be deposited in the violence reduction and drug enforcement account under RCW 69.50.520 by the twenty-fifth day of the following month.

Sec. 4. RCW 66.24.290 and 1994 1st sp.s. c 7 s 902 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Any brewer or beer wholesaler licensed under this title may sell and deliver beer to holders of authorized licenses direct, but to no other person, other than the board; and every such brewer or beer wholesaler shall report all sales to the board monthly, pursuant to the regulations, and shall pay to the board as an added tax for the privilege of manufacturing and selling the beer within the state a tax of two dollars and sixty cents per barrel of thirty-one gallons on sales to licensees within the state and on sales to licensees within the state of bottled and canned beer shall pay a tax computed in gallons at the rate of two dollars and sixty cents per barrel of thirty-one gallons. Any brewer or beer wholesaler whose applicable tax payment is not postmarked by the twentieth day following the month of sale will be assessed a penalty at the rate of two percent per month or fraction thereof. ((Each such brewer or wholesaler shall procure from the board revenue stamps representing such tax in form prescribed by the board and shall affix the same to the barrel or package in such manner and in such denominations as required by the board, and shall cancel the same prior to commencing delivery from his or her place of business or warehouse of such barrels or packages.)) Beer shall be sold by brewers and wholesalers in sealed barrels or packages. ((The revenue stamps provided under this section need not be affixed and canceled in the making of resales of barrels or packages already taxed by the affixation and cancellation of stamps as provided in this section.))

(2) An additional tax is imposed equal to seven percent multiplied by the tax payable under subsection (1) of this section. All revenues collected during any month from this additional tax shall be transferred to the state general fund by the twenty-fifth day of the following month.

(3) An additional tax is imposed on all beer subject to tax under subsection (1) of this section. The additional tax is equal to two dollars per barrel of thirty-one gallons. All revenues collected during any month from this additional tax shall be deposited in the violence reduction and drug enforcement account under RCW 69.50.520 by the twenty-fifth day of the following month.

(4)(a) An additional tax is imposed on all beer subject to tax under subsection (1) of this section. The additional tax is equal to ninety-six cents per barrel of thirty-one gallons through June 30, 1995, two dollars and thirty-nine cents per barrel of thirty-one gallons for the period July 1, 1995, through June 30, 1997, and four dollars and seventy-eight cents per barrel of thirty-one gallons thereafter.

(b) The additional tax imposed under this subsection does not apply to the sale of the first sixty thousand barrels of beer each year by breweries that are entitled to a reduced rate of tax under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 5051, as existing on July 1, 1993, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the board by rule consistent with the purposes of this exemption.

(c) All revenues collected from the additional tax imposed under this subsection (4) shall be deposited in the health services account under RCW 43.72.900.

(5) The tax imposed under this section shall not apply to "strong beer" as defined in this title.

Sec. 5. RCW 66.24.300 and 1951 c 93 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The board may make refunds for all ((~~stamp~~)) taxes paid on beer exported from the state for use outside the state((~~, and also for tax stamps destroyed prior to the consummation of any sale of beer within the state, or for unused stamps returned to the board~~)).

(2) The board ((~~may waive the use of revenue stamps in the collection of the tax on beer. If the tax is not collected by means of stamps, the board may~~)) shall require filing with the board of a bond to be approved by it, in such amount as the board may fix, securing the payment of the tax. If any licensee fails to pay the tax when due, the board may forthwith suspend or cancel his license until all taxes are paid.

Sec. 6. RCW 66.24.320 and 1991 c 42 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

There shall be a beer retailer's license to be designated as a class A license to sell beer at retail, for consumption on the premises and to sell beer for consumption off the premises((~~: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That~~)). Beer sold for consumption off the premises must be in original sealed packages of the manufacturer or bottler of not less than ((~~seven and three-fourths~~)) four gallons((~~: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That~~)). Beer may be sold to a purchaser in a sanitary container brought to the premises by the purchaser and filled at the tap by the retailer at the time of sale((;)). Such licenses ((to)) may be issued only to hotels, restaurants, drug stores or soda fountains, dining places on boats and airplanes, to clubs, and at sports arenas or race tracks during recognized professional athletic events. The annual fee for said license, if issued in cities and towns, shall be graduated according to the population thereof as follows:

Cities and towns Fee

Less than 20,000 $ 205

20,000 or over $ 355

The annual fee for such license, if issued outside of cities and towns, shall be two hundred five dollars((~~: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That~~)). The annual license fee for such license, if issued to dining places on vessels not exceeding one thousand gross tons, plying on inland waters of the state of Washington on regular schedules, shall be two hundred five dollars.

Sec. 7. RCW 66.24.330 and 1991 c 42 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

There shall be a beer retailer's license to be designated as a class B license to sell beer at retail, for consumption on the premises and to sell beer for consumption off the premises((~~: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That~~)). Beer sold for consumption off the premises must be in original sealed packages of the manufacturer or bottler of not less than ((~~seven and three-fourths~~)) four gallons((~~: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That~~)). Beer may be sold to a purchaser in a sanitary container brought to the premises by the purchaser and filled at the tap by the retailer at the time of sale((;)). Such licenses ((to)) may be issued only to a person operating a tavern. The annual fee for said license, if issued in cities and towns, shall be graduated according to the population thereof as follows:

Cities and towns Fee

Less than 20,000 $ 205

20,000 or over $ 355

The annual fee for such license, if issued outside of cities and towns, shall be two hundred five dollars.

Sec. 8. RCW 66.24.490 and 1994 c 201 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) There shall be a retailer's license to be designated as a class I caterer's license; this shall be a special occasion license to be issued to the holder of a class A, C, D, or public H license to extend the privilege of selling and serving liquor as authorized under such a license at retail, for consumption on the premises, to members and guests of a society or organization on special occasions at a specified date and place when such special occasions of such groups are held on premises other than the licensed premises and for consumption on the premises of such outside location. The holder of such special occasion license shall be allowed to remove from the liquor stocks at the licensed premises, and allow liquor for sale and service at such special occasion locations. ((~~Upon payment of a fee of twenty-five dollars per day or, upon proper application to the liquor control board,~~)) An annual class I license may be issued to the holder of a class A, C, D, or public H license upon proper application to the board and payment of a fee of three hundred fifty dollars.

(2) The holder of a class I license shall, if requested by the board, notify the board or its designee of the date, time, place, and location of any catered event. Upon request the class I licensee shall provide to the board all necessary or requested information concerning the society or organization which will be holding the function at which the class I license will be utilized.

(3) If attendance at the function will be open to the general public, the society or organization sponsoring the function shall be within the definition of "society or organization" in RCW 66.24.375. If attendance at the function will be limited to members and invited guests of the sponsoring society or organization, then the requirement that the society or organization be within the definition of RCW 66.24.375 is waived.