HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1004

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by House Committee On:

Commerce & Gaming

Title: An act relating to alcohol tasting by students under twenty-one years of age.

Brief Description: Clarifying provisions that allow for the tasting of alcohol by students under twenty-one years of age.

Sponsors: Representatives Springer, Manweller, Moeller, Walsh, Blake, Buys, Reykdal, Wilcox, Condotta, Fey, Gregerson and Sawyer.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Commerce & Gaming: 1/12/15, 2/16/15 [DP].

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Adds regional and state universities to the list of educational institutions eligible to receive a special permit from the Liquor Control Board authorizing the tasting of alcoholic beverages by underage students enrolled in specified culinary or alcoholic beverage technology classes.

  • Adds sommelier, wine business, enology, and viticulture degree programs to the types of degree programs eligible for the special permit authorizing the tasting of alcoholic beverages by underage students.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & GAMING

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Hurst, Chair; Wylie, Vice Chair; Condotta, Ranking Minority Member; Holy, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Blake, Kirby, Moscoso, Scott and Vick.

Staff: Thamas Osborn (786-7129).

Background:

The Liquor Control Board (LCB) is authorized to issue a special permit to a community or technical college to allow certain students to lawfully taste alcohol provided they are at least 18 years old, yet still under age 21, and enrolled in a class that is part of a culinary, wine technology, beer technology, or spirituous technology-related degree program. The issuance of the permit requires that the following criteria be met:

The LCB is required to waive any permit fees that might otherwise be applicable.

Viticulture and enology are the two disciplines of wine production. Viticulture is the science, production, and study of grapes and their culture. Enology is the science and study of all aspects of wine and winemaking except vine-growing and grape-harvesting. Viticulture and enology degree programs generally offer students the opportunity to study and research wine-grape growing and winemaking. The term "sommelier" is generally used to describe a restaurant employee who has extensive knowledge regarding wines and who orders and maintains the wines sold in the restaurant.

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Summary of Bill:

The range of educational institutions that may receive the special permit from the LCB allowing the tasting of alcohol by underage students enrolled in specified culinary or alcoholic beverage technology classes is expanded to include regional and state universities. In addition, the types of degree programs eligible for the special alcohol tasting permit is expanded to include sommelier, wine business, enology, and viticulture degree programs.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Today, Washington has over 850 wineries and is second in the nation with respect to total acreage of wine grapes. The wine industry is growing exponentially, and well-trained professionals are much needed. Wine-related programs are proliferating in state schools, including universities, community colleges, and technical colleges. Currently, underage university students enrolled in such programs are prohibited from tasting wine, even when such tasting is essential to the curriculum. This bill would remedy this situation by authorizing university students in specified, food- and/or wine-related programs to taste wine. Students would be authorized to taste, but not swallow, wine. This would bring universities in line with community and technical colleges, whose students are already allowed to taste wine as part of an approved food/wine curriculum.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Springer, prime sponsor; Chris Mulick and Hayley Hohman, Washington State University; and Mike Schwisow, Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.