HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 2685

                       As Passed House

                      February 11, 1994

Title:  An act relating to cigarette vending machines.

Brief Description:  Concerning the placement of cigarette vending machines.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Heavey, Lisk, Springer, Basich and Kessler).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Health Care, February 4, 1994, DPS;

Passed House, February 11, 1994, 96-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 16 members:  Representatives Dellwo, Chair; L. Johnson, Vice Chair; Dyer, Ranking Minority Member; Ballasiotes, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Backlund; Conway; Cooke; Flemming; R. Johnson; Lemmon; Lisk; Mastin; Morris; Thibaudeau and Veloria.

Staff:  Bill Hagens (786-7131).

Background:  Present law [RCW 70.55.030--HB 2071 (1993)] makes it illegal to sell or permit to be sold any tobacco product through vending machines unless the device is located within premises from which minors are prohibited or in industrial worksites where minors are not employed and not less than 10 feet from all entrance or exit ways.

Proponents of this measure say that this requirement is not working in certain small establishments.

Summary of Bill:  The state liquor board is required to adopt rules that allow an exception to the requirement that a device be located not less than 10 feet from all entrance or exit ways to and from a premise if it is architecturally impractical for the device to be located not less than 10 feet from all entrance and exit ways.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Greater flexibility is needed in small establishments.

Testimony Against:  Exemptions should not be made because it would be the thin edge in relaxing laws that are aimed at limiting minors' access to tobacco.

Witnesses:  Dennis Biggs, Tobacco Free Washington Coalition (con); Bill Fritz, Washington Civic and Charitable Gaming Association (pro); Carter Mitchell, Liquor Control Board (pro); Jo Wadsworth, Department of Health (con); Bill Van Horn, Washington Tobacco Free Coalition (pro); Vito Chiechi, Washington State Licensed Beverage Association (pro); John Woodring; and Paul Zemann, Seattle/King County Department of Health.