FINAL BILL REPORT

                 2SHB 2782

PARTIAL VETO

                         C 114 L 98

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Authorizing special event endorsements to full service private club licenses.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives McMorris and Wood).

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor

Background:  A full service private club license allows the licensee to serve liquor by the drink on the club's premises to club members, guests, and visitors.  A club must be a nonprofit organization with a social, educational, benevolent, or athletic purpose.

Under this license, a club may purchase liquor from the Liquor Control Board at a discount and then sell the liquor by the drink to club members, guests, or visitors.  Club rules must comply with certain limitations on guest privileges.  Visitors must be accompanied by a club member at all times. The club's premises may be used for events open to the general public, but no liquor may be served to the public at these events.

A full service private club license has an annual cost of $720.  A full service restaurant license ranges from $1,000 to $2,000 depending on the area of the facility dedicated to dining and the type of liquor service offered.

Summary:  A full service private club licensee may obtain an endorsement for up to 40 non-club events using club liquor.  Events must be sponsored by club members and may not be open to the general public.  The cost for the endorsement is an annual fee of $900.  The holder of the endorsement must give notice of the event to the Liquor Control Board only upon the request of the board.  The notice, if requested, must be given at least 72 hours before the event takes place, and the board may request additional information regarding the event and the event sponsor.

The Liquor Control Board must report to the legislature by January 1, 2001, on whether compliance by private clubs with restrictions on service to nonmembers has improved with the changes made by this act.

Votes on Final Passage:

House980

Senate403(Senate amended)

House960(House concurred)

Effective:July 1, 1998

Partial Veto Summary:  The Governor vetoed section 2 of the bill that requires the Liquor Control Board to report to the Legislature on whether compliance with restrictions on service to non-club members improves by authorizing a limited number of non-club events.