FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 6480

C 133 L 04

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Modifying special occasion liquor license provisions.

Sponsors: Senators Hewitt, Deccio, Hale, Doumit, Rasmussen, Honeyford and Mulliken.

Senate Committee on Commerce & Trade

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

Background: Currently, 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. The special occasion licensee may sell beer and/or wine in original unopened containers for off-premises consumption, if prior permission from the Liquor Control Board (LCB) is obtained. The fee for such a license is $60 per day. Sales under this license are limited to 12 calendar days per year.

Before the LCB issues a liquor license, it must notify (a) the chief executive officer of the incorporated city or town if the application is for a license within an incorporated city or town or (b) the county legislative authority if the application is for a license outside the boundaries of incorporated cities or towns. The cities, towns or county legislative authorities, as the case may be, who are notified of a liquor license application may file written objections with the LCB within a certain time period.

Summary: Special occasion licensees that are "agricultural area fairs" or "agricultural county and district fairs" may, once a calendar year, count as one event, fairs that last multiple days. These licensees may do this only if alcohol sales are at set dates, times and locations and the licensee notifies the Liquor Control Board of those dates, times and locations. The fee is $60 per day.

If the special occasion liquor license is for an event held during a county, district, or area fair and the fair is located on property owned by the county but located within an incorporated city or town, the county legislative authority shall be the entity notified by the Liquor Control Board.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate       49  0

House       96  0    (House amended)

Senate       49  0    (Senate concurred)

Effective: June 10, 2004