BILL REQ. #:  H-0751.1 

Read first time 01/22/13.   Referred to Committee on Government Accountability & Oversight.

     AN ACT Relating to allowing retail licensees to make group purchases under certain circumstances; and adding a new section to chapter 66.28 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 66.28 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to the provisions in this section, two or more retail licensees of the same type may agree to group purchase wine or spirits from a licensed distributor, distiller, rectifier, importer, or a certificate of approval holder. The purchasing group shall use a designated agent to conduct its group purchase using a master purchase order.
     (2)(a) The designated agent must have a retail license of the same type as the licensees of the purchasing group and must be operating a retail business under that license.
     (b) A designated agent may not act as an agent for more than one purchasing group and a purchasing group may not have more than one designated agent to conduct its group purchases.
     (c) The purchasing group shall submit the name of the designated agent to the board.
     (3)(a) The designated agent shall keep a master purchase order. Each retail licensee of the purchasing group shall provide the designated agent with a signed order setting forth the retail licensee's order. Each retail licensee's signed order must be attached to or made a part of the designated agent's master purchase order.
     (b) Each retail licensee of the purchasing group is responsible for full payment of its own order as set forth in the signed order. Each retail licensee is responsible for accounting for any of its own product loss that might occur.
     (4)(a) The wine and spirits purchased by the purchasing group may be delivered to and stored in a single warehouse facility or single licensed premises or may be delivered to multiple licensed facilities if the parties to the contract agree.
     (b) The product is deemed to have been received by each retail licensee of the purchasing group upon delivery of the order to the single warehouse facility or single licensed premises.
     (c) Delivery must be made within two consecutive business days from the date of the purchase. "Business days" may include Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays if the parties to the contract agree.