HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 3046

                      As Passed House:

                      February 13, 1998

Title:  An act relating to permitting individuals to bring food or food items into stadiums.

Brief Description:  Permitting individuals to bring food or food items into stadiums.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Trade/Ec Dev (originally sponsored by Representatives Van Luven, Veloria, Dunn, Mason, Zellinsky, Anderson and Wood).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Trade & Economic Development:  2/2/98 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/13/98, 98-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Van Luven, Chairman; Dunn, Vice Chairman; Veloria, Ranking Minority Member; Eickmeyer, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander; Ballasiotes; Mason; McDonald and Morris.

Staff:  Kenny Pittman (786-7392).

Background:  In 1988, the Legislature authorized the creation of public facility districts.  A public facility district may be created in any county by the county legislative authority and must be coextensive with the boundaries of the county.  A public facilities district is authorized to acquire, construct, own, remodel, maintain, equip, reequip, repair, and operate sports facilities, entertainment facilities, convention facilities, or any combination of such facilities, together with contiguous parking facilities.  A public facilities district is also authorized to enter into agreements for the joint operation of its facilities.

In 1995, the Legislature gave additional powers to public facilities districts that are located in a county with a population of one million or more, that construct a baseball stadium.  The additional powers included the ability to:  (1) determine the site of the stadium; (2) establish the overall scope of the project; (3) make the final determination on stadium design and specifications; (4) establish project budget and bidding specifications for the stadium project; and (5) structure the financing of the stadium.

In 1997, the Legislature authorized the creation of a public stadium authority.  A public stadium authority may be created in any county by the county legislative authority that has a letter of intent relating to the development of a stadium and exhibition center with a professional football team.  A public stadium authority is authorized to acquire, construct, own, remodel, maintain, equip, reequip, repair, and operate a stadium and exhibition center.  A public stadium authority is also authorized to enter into agreements for the joint operation of the stadium and exhibition center.

Summary of Bill:  Any agreement for the joint operation of facilities of a public facility district or a public stadium authority must allow individuals attending events at the stadium to bring food or food items for consumption inside the stadium.  Food or food items does not include alcoholic beverages of any type.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  We have developed a policy on food.  We just want the opportunity to implement it when the baseball stadium opens in 1999 and the football stadium in 2003 or 2004.  The current bill removes our flexibility.  We agree that food should be allowed into the stadiums, but leave us the flexibility to develop guidelines for specific events that will take place in the two stadiums.

Testified:  Paul Isaki and Rick Wickman, Seattle Mariners (con-original bill); Linda Hull, Washington State Major League Baseball Stadium Public Facilities District (con - original bill); and Jim Kelley, First and Goal (concerns).