SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1915

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions, March 27, 2001

Title:  An act relating to modifying wine and cider provisions by removing a termination date.

Brief Description:  Modifying wine and cider provisions.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Finance (originally sponsored by Representatives Cairnes, Morris, H. Sommers, Skinner, Hankins, Kessler, Lisk, Clements, Benson, Delvin, B. Chandler, Veloria, G. Chandler, Conway, Ruderman, Santos, Grant, Barlean and Alexander).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions:  3/27/01 [DP, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Honeyford, Patterson, Rasmussen, Regala, West and Winsley.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

Signed by Senator Gardner, Vice Chair.

Staff:  Joanne Conrad (786‑7472)

Background:  Currently, there is a tax on wine products (.0025 cents per liter on wine and .0005 cents per liter on cider).  The revenue from the tax goes to the Washington Wine Commission.  The tax is due to be eliminated on July 1, 2001.

Summary of Bill:  The additional tax on wine products is continued indefinitely.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  This bill is needed to enable the work of the Wine Commission.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Jean Leonard, Washington Wine Institute; Heather Hanson, Washington Wine Grape Growers Association.