Title: An act relating to disbursement of liquor revolving fund moneys for the purpose of funding alcohol education programs.

Brief Description: Revising provisions relating to disbursement of liquor revolving fund moneys for the purpose of funding alcohol education programs.

Sponsors: Representatives Conway, Condotta and Wood; by request of Liquor Control Board.

Brief History:

Commerce & Labor: 2/2/05, 2/3/05 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives Conway, Chair; Wood, Vice Chair; Condotta, Ranking Minority Member; Sump, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Crouse, Hudgins and McCoy.

Staff: Rebekah Ward (786-7106).

Background:

Current alcohol education efforts are coordinated and developed by the Department of Social and Health Services Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the State Liquor Control Board (Board). The Board is charged with improving public awareness of the heath risks associated with alcohol consumption by youth and alcohol abuse by adults, and to improve liquor licensees' understanding of, and compliance with, alcohol laws and rules. The Board cooperates with federal and state agencies, interested organizations, and individuals to produce an active alcohol awareness program.
Another state agency, the OSPI, is required to administer juvenile alcohol and drug prevention programs for students in kindergarten through third grade. A portion of liquor license fees (up to $150,000 annually) is disbursed by the Board from the Liquor Revolving Fund to the General Fund to fund the K-3 program.

Summary of Bill:

A portion of liquor license fees will not be dispersed to fund the OSPI's juvenile alcohol and drug prevention programs for students in kindergarten through third grade. Instead, $150,000 annually from liquor license fees will be used by the Liquor Control Board to fund the Board's alcohol education initiatives.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The direction for the Liquor Control Board to participate in alcohol awareness and education has been in existence for years. The Board wants to be more involved in these efforts. The Board is not interested in duplicating programs that are already in existence. There is a proviso in Governor Locke's proposed budget directing the coordination of the efforts of the Board, the Department of Health and Human Services, prosecutors, sheriffs, and the OSPI. The money will be spent on middle and high school student alcohol awareness and education programs. Under state law, the Board is already authorized to receive federal grants and private funding for the purposes of improving alcohol awareness and education.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Rick Garza, Washington State Liquor Control Board.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.