FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5173

                         PARTIAL VETO

                          C 321 L 97

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Improving the liquor license schematic of the state of Washington.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Senators Schow, Prentice and Horn; by request of Liquor Control Board).

Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

House Committee on Finance

Background:  Under current law, the Liquor Control Board issues licenses to those who manufacture, distribute, or sell to the public, beer, wine or liquor in this state.  Those licensees desiring the privilege to conduct a mixture of activities, such as selling beer and wine at retail, are currently required to obtain multiple liquor licenses.   

The current Aalphabet-based@ licensing structure has often been cumbersome to operate and confusing to the public, licensees or potential licensees.

The fees charged for liquor licenses are statutorily set.

Summary:  The current licensing structure is modified to eliminate the current Aalphabet-based@ license scheme.  It is replaced with a licensing structure that names the specific type of privilege or privileges granted to a licensee.  For example, a restaurant where beer, wine and spirits are sold at retail is issued a full service restaurant license.

In addition, a number of types of licenses that are traditionally obtained together by licensees are combined into one type of license.  As a result, many licensees are no longer required to obtain several different licenses to conduct business but are required to obtain only one license. For example, a restaurant where beer and wine are sold for on-premise consumption is required to obtain only a beer and wine restaurant license, instead of two separate licenses, a beer retailer=s license and a wine retailer=s license.

Fees for the new liquor licenses are statutorily established.  The fees for several licenses are increased, in part to reflect the combining of two or more licenses and/or to reflect increased costs of issuing/regulating such licenses or licensees.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 47 2

House     98 0 (House amended)

Senate    42 0 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  July 1, 1998

Partial Veto Summary:  Redundant provisions of the bill and a double amendment of existing statute are deleted.