FINAL BILL REPORT

                  ESSB 5712

                          C 129 L 99

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Regulating motel liquor licenses.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Commerce, Trade, Housing & Financial Institutions (originally sponsored by Senators Prentice, Hale, Bauer, West and Winsley).

Senate Committee on Commerce, Trade, Housing & Financial Institutions

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

House Committee on Appropriations

Background:  The Liquor Control Board may issue a motel retail liquor license to a facility that offers three or more self contained units to travelers for overnight lodging.  The licensee may sell spirits, beer, and wine in small containers through a locked honor bar located in the guest=s room.  An honor bar is a cabinet or refrigerator secured by a lock to which the guest has access.  The honor bar must also contain snack foods.  No more than half of the guest rooms in a licensee=s facility may have honor bars.

A motel licensee may not hold any other liquor license.  Typically, a motel license is issued to a facility that does not have a restaurant on the premises.

The Liquor Control Board sets the fee for the motel retail liquor license.  The current fee is $300.  As of 1997, there was one licensee.

The Liquor Control Board may issue a special permit to allow a business not otherwise licensed by the Liquor Control Board to serve liquor that is consumed on the business premises.  All liquor purchased by the business for this purpose must be purchased at retail from a licensed retailer.  Liquor provided to guests under this permit must be provided at no charge and in a specified location.

The permit is issued for one year and the permit fee is $500.

Summary:  The restriction against a motel licensee holding any other liquor license is removed.

A motel license also allows the licensee to serve beer and wine by the individual serving to overnight guests without additional charge.  The service must be on a regular date, at a regular time and place as set by the Liquor Control Board.  The beer and wine must be served by an employee who has received alcohol server training.  No self service is authorized.

The annual license fee is established by the Legislature, rather than the Liquor Control Board, at $500.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 41 5

House     91 1

Effective:  July 25, 1999