HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESB 6537

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Commerce & Labor

Title:  An act relating to the receipt of grant moneys, and other funds or donations, by the liquor control board to implement tobacco enforcement and prevention of youth access to tobacco.

Brief Description:  Allowing the liquor control board to receive grants and other funds or donations to implement programs about alcohol and tobacco.

Sponsors:  Senators Schow, Heavey, Winsley and T. Sheldon; by request of Liquor Control Board.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Commerce & Labor:  2/19/98, 2/26/98 [DPA].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives McMorris, Chairman; Honeyford, Vice Chairman; Conway, Ranking Minority Member; Wood, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Boldt; Clements; Hatfield and Lisk.

Staff:  Pam Madson (786-7166).

Background:  The Liquor Control Board may accept and disburse, subject to appropriation, federal grants, donations or other funds from any source to improve the public awareness of the health risks associated with alcohol consumption by youth and the abuse of alcohol by adults.

The Liquor Control Board is charged with enforcement of the laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to minors as well as the purchase of tobacco by minors.  The Liquor Control Board has no authority to accept federal funds or donations from other sources to improve the public awareness related to the use of tobacco.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The board is authorized to receive federal grants, donations and other funds for improving public awareness of health risks of alcohol and tobacco consumption by youth.  However, manufacturers, retailers or wholesalers of alcohol or tobacco products may not provide cash donations to the board.

Amended Bill Compared to Engrossed Bill:  Donations to the board from the tobacco and alcohol industry are limited to other than cash donations for the alcohol and tobacco awareness program for youth and the alcohol awareness program for adults.  Reference to tobacco is removed from the public awareness program for adults.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  In 1993, the Liquor Control Board was authorized to enforce state tobacco laws designed to reduce youth access to tobacco.  The noncompliance rate at the time the Liquor Control Board took on this enforcement responsibility was more than 60 percent.  The rate today is 5.5 percent noncompliance.  It is incumbent on the Liquor Control Board and its partners to further reduce youth access to tobacco.  This bill gives the board another tool to assist in this effort.  There is concern with the amendment passed by the Senate that would eliminate donations from the alcohol and tobacco industry.  This limitation would curb the use of outside resources by the board and would prohibit the use of materials for the alcohol awareness program that are donated by the industry and currently used by the board.  The board has a process for accepting materials from the alcohol industry that includes public review and board approval. 

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  (In favor) Gary Gilbert and Jennifer McDougal, Liquor Control Board.