H-22                 _______________________________________________

 

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1045

                        _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Wang, Vekich and P. King

 

 

Read first time 1/11/89 and referred to Committees on Commerce & Labor/Revenue (1/25/89). Referred to Committee on Rules 1/25/89.

 

 


AN ACT Relating to improvements in the administration of the alcoholic beverage control title; amending RCW 66.04.010, 66.08.180, 66.16.040, 66.24.010, and 66.32.090; adding a new section to chapter 66.24 RCW; and repealing RCW 66.28.130 and 66.44.210.

 

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

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 66.24 RCW to read as follows:

          No license or permit is required for a collector or his or her estate to advertise and sell liquor collector items that are in original sealed containers, but these items shall not be sold on or through premises licensed under this title.  Before selling collector items, a person shall notify the board in writing and allow an inspection of the items if deemed necessary by the board.  The board shall respond to such notification within fifteen days.

          The board shall adopt rules to implement this section.

 

        Sec. 2.  Section 3, chapter 62, Laws of 1933 ex. sess. as last amended by section 3, chapter 386, Laws of 1987 and RCW 66.04.010 are each amended to read as follows:

          In this title, unless the context otherwise requires:

          (1) "Alcohol" is that substance known as ethyl alcohol, hydrated oxide of ethyl, or spirit of wine, which is commonly produced by the fermentation or distillation of grain, starch, molasses, or sugar, or other substances including all dilutions and mixtures of this substance.  The term "alcohol" does not include alcohol in the possession of a manufacturer or distiller of alcohol fuel, as described in RCW 66.12.130, which is intended to be denatured and used as a fuel for use in motor vehicles, farm implements, and machines or implements of husbandry.

          (2) "Beer" means any malt beverage or malt liquor as these terms are defined in this chapter.

          (3) "Brewer" means any person engaged in the business of manufacturing beer and malt liquor.

          (4) "Board" means the liquor control board, constituted under this title.

          (5) "Club" means an organization of persons, incorporated or unincorporated, operated solely for fraternal, benevolent, educational, athletic or social purposes, and not for pecuniary gain.

          (6) "Consume" includes the putting of liquor to any use, whether by drinking or otherwise.

          (7) "Dentist" means a practitioner of dentistry duly and regularly licensed and engaged in the practice of his profession within the state pursuant to chapter 18.32 RCW.

          (8) "Distiller" means a person engaged in the business of distilling spirits.

          (9) "Druggist" means any person who holds a valid certificate and is a registered pharmacist and is duly and regularly engaged in carrying on the business of pharmaceutical chemistry pursuant to chapter 18.64 RCW.

          (10) "Drug store" means a place whose principal business is, the sale of drugs, medicines and pharmaceutical preparations and maintains a regular prescription department and employs a registered pharmacist during all hours the drug store is open.

          (11) "Employee" means any person employed by the board, including a vendor, as hereinafter in this section defined.

          (12) "Fund" means 'liquor revolving fund.'

          (13) "Hotel" means every building or other structure kept, used, maintained, advertised or held out to the public to be a place where food is served and sleeping accommodations are offered for pay to transient guests, in which twenty or more rooms are used for the sleeping accommodation of such transient guests and having one or more dining rooms where meals are served to such transient guests, such sleeping accommodations and dining rooms being conducted in the same building and buildings, in connection therewith, and such structure or structures being provided, in the judgment of the board, with adequate and sanitary kitchen and dining room equipment and capacity, for preparing, cooking and serving suitable food for its guests:  PROVIDED FURTHER, That in cities and towns of less than five thousand population, the board shall have authority to waive the provisions requiring twenty or more rooms.

          (14) "Imprisonment" means confinement in the county jail.

          (15) "Liquor" includes the four varieties of liquor herein defined (alcohol, spirits, wine and beer), and all fermented, spirituous, vinous, or malt liquor, or combinations thereof, and mixed liquor, a part of which is fermented, spirituous, vinous or malt liquor, or otherwise intoxicating; and every liquid or solid or semisolid or other substance, patented or not, containing alcohol, spirits, wine or beer, and all drinks or drinkable liquids and all preparations or mixtures capable of human consumption, and any liquid, semisolid, solid, or other substance, which contains more than one percent of alcohol by weight shall be conclusively deemed to be intoxicating.  Liquor does not include confections or food products that contain one percent or less of alcohol by weight.

          (16) "Liquor collector items" means one or more containers of beer, wine, and spirituous liquor which are of different and unique types or brands and/or which contain antique or rare vintage liquor.

          (17) "Manufacturer" means a person engaged in the preparation of liquor for sale, in any form whatsoever.

          (((17))) (18) "Malt beverage" or "malt liquor" means any beverage such as beer, ale, lager beer, stout, and porter obtained by the alcoholic fermentation of an infusion or decoction of pure hops, or pure extract of hops and pure barley malt or other wholesome grain or cereal in pure water containing not more than eight percent of alcohol by weight, and not less than one-half of one percent of alcohol by volume.  For the purposes of this title, any such beverage containing more than eight percent of alcohol by weight shall be referred to as "strong beer."

          (((18))) (19) "Package" means any container or receptacle used for holding liquor.

          (((19))) (20) "Permit" means a permit for the purchase of liquor under this title.

          (((20))) (21) "Person" means an individual, copartnership, association, or corporation.

          (((21))) (22) "Physician" means a medical practitioner duly and regularly licensed and engaged in the practice of his profession within the state pursuant to chapter 18.71 RCW.

          (((22))) (23) "Prescription" means a memorandum signed by a physician and given by him to a patient for the obtaining of liquor pursuant to this title for medicinal purposes.

          (((23))) (24) "Public place" includes streets and alleys of incorporated cities and towns; state or county or township highways or roads; buildings and grounds used for school purposes; public dance halls and grounds adjacent thereto; those parts of establishments where beer may be sold under this title, soft drink establishments, public buildings, public meeting halls, lobbies, halls and dining rooms of hotels, restaurants, theatres, stores, garages and filling stations which are open to and are generally used by the public and to which the public is permitted to have unrestricted access; railroad trains, stages, and other public conveyances of all kinds and character, and the depots and waiting rooms used in conjunction therewith which are open to unrestricted use and access by the public; publicly owned bathing beaches, parks, and/or playgrounds; and all other places of like or similar nature to which the general public has unrestricted right of access, and which are generally used by the public.

          (((24))) (25) "Regulations" means regulations made by the board under the powers conferred by this title.

          (((25))) (26) "Restaurant" means any establishment provided with special space and accommodations where, in consideration of payment, food, without lodgings, is habitually furnished to the public, not including drug stores and soda fountains.

          (((26))) (27) "Sale" and "sell" include exchange, barter, and traffic; and also include the selling or supplying or distributing, by any means whatsoever, of liquor, or of any liquid known or described as beer or by any name whatever commonly used to describe malt or brewed liquor or of wine, by any person to any person; and also include a sale or selling within the state to a foreign consignee or his agent in the state.

          (((27))) (28) "Soda fountain" means a place especially equipped with apparatus for the purpose of dispensing soft drinks, whether mixed or otherwise.

          (((28))) (29) "Spirits" means any beverage which contains alcohol obtained by distillation, including wines exceeding twenty-four percent of alcohol by volume.

          (((29))) (30) "Store" means a state liquor store established under this title.

          (((30))) (31) "Tavern" means any establishment with special space and accommodation for sale by the glass and for consumption on the premises, of beer, as herein defined.

          (((31))) (32) "Vendor" means a person employed by the board as a store manager under this title.

          (((32))) (33) "Winery" means a business conducted by any person for the manufacture of wine for sale, other than a domestic winery.

          (((33))) (34) "Domestic winery" means a place where wines are manufactured or produced within the state of Washington.

          (((34))) (35) "Wine" means any alcoholic beverage obtained by fermentation of fruits (grapes, berries, apples, et cetera) or other agricultural product containing sugar, to which any saccharine substances may have been added before, during or after fermentation, and containing not more than twenty-four percent of alcohol by volume, including sweet wines fortified with wine spirits, such as port, sherry, muscatel and angelica, not exceeding twenty-four percent of alcohol by volume and not less than one-half of one percent of alcohol by volume.  For purposes of this title, any beverage containing less than fourteen percent of alcohol by volume when bottled or packaged by the manufacturer shall be referred to as "table wine," and any beverage containing alcohol in an amount equal to or more than fourteen percent by volume when bottled or packaged by the manufacturer shall be referred to as "fortified wine."  However, "fortified wine" shall not include:  (a) Wines that are both sealed or capped by cork closure and aged two years or more; and (b) wines that contain fourteen percent or more alcohol by volume solely as a result of the natural fermentation process and that have not been produced with the addition of wine spirits, brandy, or alcohol.

          This subsection shall not be interpreted to require that any wine be labeled with the designation "table wine" or "fortified wine."

          (((35))) (36) "Beer wholesaler" means a person who buys beer from a brewer or brewery located either within or beyond the boundaries of the state for the purpose of selling the same pursuant to this title, or who represents such brewer or brewery as agent.

          (((36))) (37) "Wine wholesaler" means a person who buys wine from a vintner or winery located either within or beyond the boundaries of the state for the purpose of selling the same not in violation of this title, or who represents such vintner or winery as agent.

 

        Sec. 3.  Section 77, chapter 62, Laws of 1933 ex. sess. as last amended by section 10, chapter 458, Laws of 1987 and RCW 66.08.180 are each amended to read as follows:

          Moneys in the liquor revolving fund shall be distributed by the board at least once every three months in accordance with RCW 66.08.190, 66.08.200 and 66.08.210:  PROVIDED, ((That the board shall reserve from distribution such amount not exceeding five hundred thousand dollars as may be necessary for the proper administration of this title:  AND PROVIDED FURTHER,)) That all license fees, penalties and forfeitures derived under this act from class H licenses or class H licensees shall every three months be disbursed by the board as follows:

          (1) 5.95 percent to the University of Washington and 3.97 percent to Washington State University for alcoholism and drug abuse research and for the dissemination of such research;

          (2) 1.75 percent, but in no event less than one hundred fifty thousand dollars per biennium, to the University of Washington to conduct the state toxicological laboratory pursuant to RCW ((68.08.107)) 68.50.107;

          (3) 88.33 percent to the general fund to be used by the department of social and health services solely to carry out the purposes of RCW 70.96.085, as now or hereafter amended;

          (4) The first fifty-five dollars per license fee provided in RCW 66.24.320 and 66.24.330 up to a maximum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars annually shall be disbursed every three months by the board to the general fund to be used for juvenile alcohol and  drug prevention programs for kindergarten through third grade to be administered by the superintendent of public instruction;

          (5) Twenty percent of the remaining total amount derived from license fees pursuant to RCW 66.24.320, 66.24.330, 66.24.340, 66.24.350, 66.24.360, and 66.24.370, shall be transferred to the general fund to be used by the department of social and health services solely to carry out the purposes of RCW 70.96.085; and

          (6) One-fourth cent per liter of the tax imposed by RCW 66.24.210 shall every three months be disbursed by the board to Washington State University solely for wine and wine grape research, extension programs related to wine and wine grape research, and resident instruction in both wine grape production and the processing aspects of the wine industry in accordance with RCW 28B.30.068.  The director of financial management shall prescribe suitable accounting procedures to ensure that the funds transferred to the general fund to be used by the department of social and health services and appropriated are separately accounted for.

 

        Sec. 4.  Section 7, chapter 62, Laws of 1933 ex. sess. as last amended by section 8, chapter 5, Laws of 1981 1st ex. sess. and RCW 66.16.040 are each amended to read as follows:

          Except as otherwise provided by law, an employee in a state liquor store or agency may sell liquor to any person of legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages and may also sell to holders of permits such liquor as may be purchased under such permits.

          Where there may be a question of a person's right to purchase liquor by reason of age, such person shall be required to present any one of the following officially issued cards of identification which shows his/her correct age and bears his/her signature and photograph:

          (1) Liquor control authority card of identification of any state or province of Canada.

          (2) Driver's license, instruction permit or identification card of any state or province of Canada, or "identicard" issued by the Washington state department of licensing pursuant to RCW 46.20.117.

          (3) United States active or reserve duty military identification.

          (4) Passport.

          (5) Merchant Marine identification card issued by the United States Coast Guard.

The board may adopt such regulations as it deems proper covering the acceptance of such cards of identification.

          No liquor sold under this section shall be delivered until the purchaser has paid for the liquor in cash.

 

        Sec. 5.  Section  27, chapter 62, Laws of 1933 ex. sess. as last amended by section 1, chapter 200, Laws of 1988 and RCW 66.24.010 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) Every license shall be issued in the name of the applicant, and the holder thereof shall not allow any other person to use the license.

          (2) For the purpose of considering any application for a license, the board may cause an inspection of the premises to be made, and may inquire into all matters in connection with the construction and operation of the premises.  For the purpose of reviewing any application for a license and for considering the denial, suspension or revocation of any license, the liquor control board may consider any prior criminal conduct of the applicant and the provisions of RCW 9.95.240 and of chapter 9.96A RCW shall not apply to such cases.  The board may, in its discretion, grant or refuse the license applied for.  No retail license of any kind may be issued to:

          (a) A person who has not resided in the state for at least one month prior to making application, except in cases of licenses issued to dining places on railroads, boats, or aircraft;

           (b) A copartnership, unless all of the members thereof are qualified to obtain a license, as provided in this section;

          (c) A person whose place of business is conducted by a manager or agent, unless such manager or agent possesses the same qualifications required of the licensee;

          (d) A corporation, unless it was created under the laws of the state of Washington or holds a certificate of authority to transact business in the state of Washington;

          (e) A person under the age of twenty-one years.

          (3) The board may, in its discretion, subject to the provisions of RCW 66.08.150, suspend or cancel any license; and all rights of the licensee to keep or sell liquor thereunder shall be suspended or terminated, as the case may be.  The board may request the appointment of administrative law judges under chapter 34.12 RCW who shall have power to administer oaths, issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers, books, accounts, documents, and testimony, examine witnesses, and to receive testimony in any inquiry, investigation, hearing, or proceeding in any part of the state, under such rules and regulations as the board may adopt.

          Witnesses shall be allowed fees and mileage each way to and from any such inquiry, investigation, hearing, or proceeding at the rate authorized by RCW ((34.04.105)) 34.05.446, as now or hereafter amended.  Fees need not be paid in advance of appearance of witnesses to testify or to produce books, records, or other legal evidence.

          In case of disobedience of any person to comply with the order of the board or a subpoena issued by the board, or any of its members, or administrative law judges, or on the refusal of a witness to testify to any matter regarding which he may be lawfully interrogated, the judge of the superior court of the county in which the person resides, on application of any member of the board or administrative law judge, shall compel obedience by contempt proceedings, as in the case of disobedience of the requirements of a subpoena issued from said court or a refusal to testify therein.

          (4) Upon receipt of notice of the suspension or cancellation of a license, the licensee shall forthwith deliver up the license to the board.  Where the license has been suspended only, the board shall return the license to the licensee at the expiration or termination of the period of suspension.  The board shall notify all vendors in the city or place where the licensee has its premises of the suspension or cancellation of the license; and no employee may allow or cause any liquor to be delivered to or for any person at the premises of that licensee.

          (5) (a)  At the time of the original issuance of a class H license, the board shall prorate the license fee charged to the new licensee according to the number of calendar quarters, or portion thereof, remaining until the first renewal of that license is required.

          (b)  Unless sooner canceled, every license issued by the board shall expire at midnight of the thirtieth day of June of the fiscal year for which it was issued.  However, if the board deems it feasible and desirable to do so, it may establish, by rule pursuant to chapter ((34.04)) 34.05 RCW, a system for staggering the annual renewal dates for any and all licenses authorized by this chapter.  If such a system of staggered annual renewal dates is established by the board, the license fees provided by this chapter shall be appropriately prorated during the first year that the system is in effect.

          (6) Every license issued under this section shall be subject to all conditions and restrictions imposed by this title or by the regulations in force from time to time.  All conditions and restrictions imposed by the board in the issuance of an individual license shall be listed on the face of the individual license along with the trade name, address, and expiration date.

          (7) Every licensee shall post and keep posted its license, or licenses, in a conspicuous place on the premises.

          (8) Before the board shall issue a license to an applicant it shall give notice of such application to the chief executive officer of the incorporated city or town, if the application be for a license within an incorporated city or town, or to the county legislative authority, if the application be for a license outside the boundaries of  incorporated cities or towns; and such incorporated city or town, through the official or employee selected by it, or the county legislative authority or the official or employee selected by it, shall have the right to file with the board within twenty days after date of transmittal of such notice, written objections against the applicant or against the premises for which the license is asked, and shall include with such objections a statement of all facts upon which such objections are based, and in case written objections are filed, may request and the liquor control board may in its discretion hold a formal hearing subject to the applicable provisions of Title 34 RCW, as now or hereafter amended.  Upon the granting of a license under this title the board shall send a duplicate of the license or written notification to the chief executive officer of the incorporated city or town in which the license is granted, or to the county legislative authority if the license is granted outside the boundaries of incorporated cities or towns.

          (9) Before the board issues any license to any applicant, it shall give (a) due consideration to the location of the business to be conducted under such license with respect to the proximity of churches, schools, and public institutions and (b) written notice by certified mail of the application to churches, schools, and public institutions within five hundred feet of the premises to be licensed.  The board shall issue no beer retailer license class A, B, D, or E or wine retailer license class C or F or class H license covering any premises not now licensed, if such premises are within five hundred feet of the premises of any tax-supported public elementary or secondary school measured along the most direct route over or across established public walks, streets, or other public passageway from the outer property line of the school grounds to the nearest public entrance of the premises proposed for license, and if, after receipt by the school or public institution of the notice as provided in this subsection, the board receives written notice, within twenty days after posting such notice, from an official representative or representatives of the school within five hundred feet of said proposed licensed premises, indicating to the board that there is an objection to the issuance of such license because of proximity to a school.  For the purpose of this section, church shall mean a building erected for and used exclusively for religious worship and schooling or other activity in connection therewith. No liquor license may be issued or reissued by the board to any motor sports facility or licensee operating within the motor sports facility unless the motor sports facility enforces a program reasonably calculated to prevent alcohol or alcoholic beverages not purchased within the facility from entering the facility and such program is approved by local law enforcement agencies.  It is the intent under this subsection that a retail license shall not be issued by the board where doing so would, in the judgment of the board, adversely affect a private school meeting the requirements for private schools under Title 28A RCW, which school is within five hundred feet of the proposed licensee.  The board shall fully consider and give substantial weight to objections filed by private schools.  If a license is issued despite the proximity of a private school, the board shall state in a letter addressed to the private school the board's reasons for issuing the license.

          (10) The restrictions set forth in the preceding subsection shall not prohibit the board from authorizing the transfer of existing licenses now located within the restricted area to other persons or locations within the restricted area:  PROVIDED, Such transfer shall in no case result in establishing the licensed premises closer to a church or school than it was before the transfer.

          (11) Nothing in this section prohibits the board, in its discretion, from issuing a temporary retail or wholesaler license to a transferee of a retail or wholesaler license to continue the operation of the retail or wholesaler premises during the period a transfer application for the license from person to person at the same premises is pending and when the following conditions exist:

          (a) The licensed premises has been operated under a retail or wholesaler license within ninety days of the date of filing the application for a temporary license;

          (b) The retail or wholesaler license for the premises has been surrendered pursuant to issuance of a temporary operating license;

          (c) The applicant for the temporary license has filed with the board an application for transfer of the retail or wholesaler license at such premises to himself or herself; and

          (d) The application for a temporary license is accompanied by a temporary license fee established by the board by rule.

          A temporary license issued by the board under this section shall be for a period not to exceed sixty days.  A temporary license may be extended at the discretion of the board for an additional sixty-day period upon payment of an additional fee and upon compliance with all conditions required in this section.

          Refusal by the board to issue or extend a temporary license shall not entitle the applicant to request a hearing.  A temporary license may be canceled or suspended summarily at any time if the board determines that good cause for cancellation or suspension exists.  RCW 66.08.130 and chapter ((34.04)) 34.05 RCW shall apply to temporary licenses.

          Application for a temporary license shall be on such form as the board shall prescribe.  If an application for a temporary license is withdrawn before issuance or is refused by the board, the fee which accompanied such application shall be refunded in full.

 

        Sec. 6.  Section 55, chapter 62, Laws of 1933 ex. sess. as last amended by section 223, chapter 202, Laws of 1987 and RCW 66.32.090 are each amended to read as follows:

          In every case in which liquor is seized by a sheriff or deputy of any county or by a police officer of any municipality or by a member of the Washington state patrol, or any other authorized peace officer or inspector, it shall be the duty of the sheriff or deputy of any county, or chief of police of the municipality, or the chief of the Washington state patrol, as the case may be, to ((forthwith)) report in writing to the board of particulars of such seizure((, and to immediately deliver over such liquor to the board, or its duly authorized representative, at such place as may be designated by it)) on a periodic basis as established by the board.

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7.     The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

          (1) Section 2, chapter 112, Laws of 1969 ex. sess. and RCW 66.28.130; and

          (2) Section 38, chapter 62, Laws of 1933 ex. sess. and RCW 66.44.210.