Title: An act relating to liquor licensees holding a caterer's endorsement.

Brief Description: Modifying the liquor licensee's caterer's endorsement to include passenger vessels.

Sponsors: Representatives Condotta and Dunn.

Brief History: Passed House: 2/08/06, 98-0.

Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce, Research & Development: 2/16/06 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Parlette, Ranking Minority Member; Honeyford and Keiser.

Staff: Jennifer Strus (786-7316)

Background: Restaurants that are licensed to sell spirits, beer, and wine or beer and/or wine only may apply for a caterer's endorsement from the Liquor Control Board (LCB). A caterer's endorsement allows the licensee to extend the on-premises license privilege and allow the sale and service of liquor for an event at approved locations other than the licensed premises, subject to certain requirements. If the event is open to the public, it must be sponsored by a non-profit. If attendance at the event is limited to members or invited guests of the sponsoring individual, society, or organization, the requirement that the sponsor must be a non-profit is waived.

The locations where a licensee with a caterer's endorsement may sell liquor are limited to places not currently licensed by the LCB, except that a person with a caterer's endorsement is permitted to operate on the premises of a domestic winery. Agreements between the domestic winery and the caterer must be in writing, contain no exclusivity clauses regarding the alcohol beverages to be served, and be filed with the LCB. The domestic winery and the caterer must be separately contracted and compensated by the persons sponsoring the event for their respective services.

Summary of Bill: A person holding a caterer's endorsement from the LCB is authorized to also operate on the premises of any passenger vessel. Passenger vessel is defined to mean "any boat, ship, vessel, barge, or other floating craft of any kind carrying passengers for compensation."

The passenger vessel and the caterer must be separately contracted and compensated by the persons sponsoring the event for their respective services. Agreements between the passenger vessel and the caterer must be in writing, contain no exclusivity clauses regarding the alcohol beverages to be served, and be filed with the LCB.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: This bill will allow entities already possessing a liquor license to receive an endorsement to serve alcohol on a passenger vessel. Currently it is an issue for the Lady of the Lake vessel on Lake Chelan but would certainly apply to other vessels similarly situated.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Representative Condotta, prime sponsor.