HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                     SB 5648

Brief Description:  Providing consistency in definitions regarding businesses furnishing lodging.

Sponsors:  Senator Haugen

Hearing:  March 24, 1999

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Hotels are defined as accommodations with three or more rooms for lien, property liability, and record keeping purposes.

BACKGROUND:

Hotels and other lodging establishments must meet a variety of statutory requirements such as limitations on the service of alcoholic beverages, health and safety practices, and record keeping and property protection duties.  Different requirements apply to different sizes of  hotels and lodging establishments.

The statutory health and safety requirements apply to hotels or lodging establishments having three or more rooms.  Those concerning the serving of  alcoholic beverages apply to establishments with 20 or more rooms.

The statutory requirements concerning record keeping and property protection apply to hotels and lodging establishments having 15 or more guest rooms.  These requirements require hotels and lodging establishments to maintain records for one year of the arrival and departure of guests, and to notify guests of the option of placing valuables in a hotel safe and the hotel=s limited liability for loss or destruction of valuables not placed in the safe.

The statute releases hotels and lodging establishments from liability for loss or destruction of valuable guest property not placed in the hotel safe, or property exceeding $1,000 in value.  Hotels and lodging establishments= liability for the loss or destruction of baggage or other guest articles is limited to $200, or for property left at a hotel or lodging establishment by a guest is limited to $100.  Obtaining services at a hotel or lodging establishment without payment is a gross misdemeanor, and becomes a felony if the value of the services is greater than $75.  Hotels and lodging establishments may retain and sell guest property to pay for outstanding charges.

SUMMARY OF BILL:

The statutes concerning hotel and lodging establishments= record keeping, property liability, and liens on guest property are expanded to apply to hotels and lodging establishments having three or more rooms, instead of 15 or more rooms.

RULES AUTHORITY:  The bill does not contain provisions addressing the rule making powers of an agency.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Ninety days after adjournment of a session in which bill is passed.