SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 2831

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Commerce & Trade, February 19, 2004

Title: An act relating to the special occasion liquor license.

Brief Description: Increasing the number of days certain fairs can use the special occasion liquor license.

Sponsors: Representatives Chandler, Grant, Holmquist, Newhouse, Delvin and Hunt.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Commerce & Trade: 2/19/04 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & TRADE

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Honeyford, Chair; Hewitt, Vice Chair; Franklin, Keiser and Mulliken.

Staff: Jennifer Strus (786-7316)

Background: A not-for-profit society or organization may obtain a special occasion liquor license to sell spirits, beer, and wine by the individual serving for on-premises consumption at a specified date and time. With prior permission from the Liquor Control Board, an organization with a special occasion license may also sell beer and wine in original unopened containers for off-premises consumption.

The fee for a special occasion license is $60 per day. Sales under this license are limited to 12 calendar days per year.

Summary of Bill: Special occasion licensees that are agricultural area fairs or agricultural county and district fairs may, once a calendar year, count fairs that last multiple days as one event. Fairs may do this only if alcohol sales are at set dates, times, and locations, and the board is notified in advance of these dates, times, and locations. Fairs still pay $60 per actual day.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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

Testimony For: None.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: No one.