HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 6539

                 As Passed House - Amended:

                        March 5, 1998

Title:  An act relating to technical changes regarding designations for liquor licenses.

Brief Description:  Making technical changes regarding designations for liquor licenses.

Sponsors:  Senators Schow and Heavey; by request of Liquor Control Board.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

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

Floor Activity:

Passed House - Amended:  3/5/98, 97-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  Do pass.  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:  In 1997, legislation was enacted that changes the designation of liquor licenses from letters of the alphabet to a business description for each license.  The law becomes effective July 1, 1998. 

A class H liquor license is changed to a full service restaurant license.  Under this license, a restaurant may serve beer, wine and spirits by the drink for consumption on the restaurant's premises. 

Class A and C licenses allow beer and wine to be served by the glass on the restaurant premises. This combination of licenses has become a limited service restaurant license.  Under this license, a restaurant may serve beer and wine by the drink for consumption on the restaurant's premises.

The term wholesaler is changed to distributor.

Summary of Bill:  The license designation "full service" is changed to "spirits, beer and wine."  The license designation "limited service" is changed to "beer and/or wine."

Consistent with changes in license designations that will become effective July 1, 1998, additional references to a wholesaler are changed to distributor and brewer is changed to a brewery.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect July 1, 1998.

Testimony For:  Last year the board's licensing scheme was changed from an alphabet soup system to something more user friendly, both to the license applicant and the board's staff.  This bill is a housekeeping bill to further reduce confusion.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  (In favor)  Gary Gilbert, Washington State Liquor Control Board.