HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2841

                      As Passed House:

                      February 10, 1998

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:  Representatives McMorris and Conway; by request of Liquor Control Board.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Commerce & Labor:  2/4/98, 2/5/98 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/10/98, 96-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives McMorris, Chairman; Honeyford, Vice Chairman; Conway, Ranking Minority Member; Wood, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Boldt; Clements; Cole; 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. 

The board's alcohol awareness program must cooperate with federal and state agencies, interested organizations and individuals to implement an active alcohol awareness program.

Summary of Bill:  The board is authorized to receive federal grants, donations and other funds for improving public awareness of safety as well as health risks of alcohol and tobacco consumption by youth and the use and abuse of both alcohol and tobacco by adults.  The board's enforcement program must work with other agencies, organizations and individuals to implement an active alcohol and tobacco awareness program.

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 over 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.

Testimony Against: None

Testified:  Gary Gilbert, Liquor Control Board.