BILL REQ. #:  S-2378.2 

Read first time 04/05/11.   Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

     AN ACT Relating to allowing the liquor control board to implement a pilot project appointing up to ten colocated contract liquor stores in urban areas; and amending RCW 66.08.050.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 66.08.050 and 2005 c 151 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     The board, subject to the provisions of this title and the rules, shall:
     (1) Determine the localities within which state liquor stores shall be established throughout the state, and the number and situation of the stores within each locality;
     (2) Appoint in cities and towns and other communities, in which no state liquor store is located, except as provided in subsection (12) of this section, contract liquor stores. In addition, the board may appoint, in its discretion, a manufacturer that also manufactures liquor products other than wine under a license under this title, as a contract liquor store for the purpose of sale of liquor products of its own manufacture on the licensed premises only. Such contract liquor stores shall be authorized to sell liquor under the guidelines provided by law, rule, or contract, and such contract liquor stores shall be subject to such additional rules and regulations consistent with this title as the board may require;
     (3) Establish all necessary warehouses for the storing and bottling, diluting and rectifying of stocks of liquors for the purposes of this title;
     (4) Provide for the leasing for periods not to exceed ten years of all premises required for the conduct of the business; and for remodeling the same, and the procuring of their furnishings, fixtures, and supplies; and for obtaining options of renewal of such leases by the lessee. The terms of such leases in all other respects ((shall be)) are subject to the direction of the board;
     (5) Determine the nature, form and capacity of all packages to be used for containing liquor kept for sale under this title;
     (6) Execute or cause to be executed, all contracts, papers, and documents in the name of the board, under such regulations as the board may fix;
     (7) Pay all customs, duties, excises, charges and obligations whatsoever relating to the business of the board;
     (8) Require bonds from all employees in the discretion of the board, and to determine the amount of fidelity bond of each such employee;
     (9) Perform services for the state lottery commission to such extent, and for such compensation, as may be mutually agreed upon between the board and the commission;
     (10) Accept and deposit into the general fund-local account and disburse, subject to appropriation, federal grants or other funds or donations from any source for the purpose of improving public awareness of the health risks associated with alcohol consumption by youth and the abuse of alcohol by adults in Washington state. The board's alcohol awareness program shall cooperate with federal and state agencies, interested organizations, and individuals to effect an active public beverage alcohol awareness program;
     (11) Perform all other matters and things, whether similar to the foregoing or not, to carry out the provisions of this title, and shall have full power to do each and every act necessary to the conduct of its business, including all buying, selling, preparation and approval of forms, and every other function of the business whatsoever, subject only to audit by the state auditor((: PROVIDED, That)). However, the board shall have no authority to regulate the content of spoken language on licensed premises where wine and other liquors are served and where there is not a clear and present danger of disorderly conduct being provoked by such language;
     (12) Conduct a pilot project, beginning in fiscal year 2012, appointing up to ten colocated contract stores within existing grocery stores, licensed under RCW 66.24.360, in high population areas. A grocery store containing a colocated contract store must have a fully enclosed retail area encompassing at least nine thousand square feet. The board must report to the applicable committees of the legislature the results of the pilot project no later than January 1, 2013.