SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 6655

As Passed Senate, February 11, 2004

Title: An act relating to certificates of approval for authorized representatives of beer and wine manufacturers and distributors.

Brief Description: Regulating authorized representatives of beer and wine manufacturers and distributors.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Commerce & Trade (originally sponsored by Senators Hewitt, Keiser and Rasmussen).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Commerce & Trade: 2/6/04 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 2/11/04, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & TRADE

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6655 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Honeyford, Chair; Hewitt, Vice Chair; Franklin, Keiser and Mulliken.

Staff: Jennifer Strus (786-7316)

Background: Beer and wine produced in the United States can only be shipped to Washington by the manufacturer registered in Washington. For beer and wine produced outside the United States, no registration is required before the wine or beer is shipped into Washington.

Summary of Bill: The authorized representative of the manufacturer is also allowed to ship wine or beer produced in the United States into the state. Before foreign produced beer or wine is shipped into Washington, the U.S. authorized representative must first obtain a certificate of approval.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: None.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: No one.

House Amendment(s): The fee for the certificate of approval may be set by the Liquor Control Board at a level that is enough to defray the costs of administering the certificate of approval program.