SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6188

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As of February 17, 2020

Title: An act relating to the consumption of alcohol for certain special events held on agricultural fairgrounds.

Brief Description: Concerning the consumption of alcohol for certain special events held on agricultural fairgrounds.

Sponsors: Senator Zeiger.

Committee Activity: Labor & Commerce: 1/23/20 [DP-WM].

Ways & Means: 2/20/20.

Brief Summary of Bill

Allows certain special occasion licensees, who hold an event on the fairgrounds of an agricultural fair, to allow patrons to carry open, unfinished servings of alcohol between buildings, under specified conditions.
Sets the fairgrounds endorsement fee at $300 for each event.
Allows the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) to assist with event plans and limit the number of events at each venue.
Requires the LCB to adopt rules setting the criteria and conditions for the endorsement.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Conway, Vice Chair; King, Ranking Member; Braun, Saldaña, Schoesler, Stanford, Walsh and Wellman.

Staff: Richard Rodger (786-7461)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Staff: Alia Kennedy (786-7405)

Background: Special Occasion Licenses. A not-for-profit society or organization that obtains a special occasion liquor license may sell spirits, beer, and wine by the individual glass to be consumed on the premises. If an organization gets prior permission from the LCB, the licensee may also sell:

spirits, beer, or wine in original, unopened containers for off-premises consumption; and
wine in unopened bottles for on-premises consumption.

The special occasion license permits the licensee to serve liquor at a specified event, on a specified date and place. The sale, service, and consumption of spirits, beer, and wine must be confined to specified premises or designated areas only. All liquor sold under the special occasion license must be purchased from a licensee of the LCB.

The fee for the special occasion license is $60 per day and the organization is generally limited to sales on no more than 12 single-day events per year.

Agricultural Fairs. Agricultural fairs are fairs or exhibitions intended to promote agriculture by including, among other things, a balanced variety of exhibits of livestock and agricultural products. Agricultural fairs are divided into four categories:

area fairs are organized to serve an area larger than one county;
county and district fairs are organized to serve the interests of certain single counties;
community fairs are organized primarily to serve a smaller area than an area fair or county fair; and
youth shows and fairs serve three or more counties, educate and train rural youth, and are approved by Washington State University or the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Summary of Bill: A special occasion licensee who holds certain special events on the fairgrounds of an agricultural fair may apply, at least 45 days prior to an event, for a fairgrounds endorsement allowing patrons to carry open, unfinished servings of alcohol between buildings, if the following conditions are met:

the LCB has issued a fairgrounds endorsement;
the event is not a state or agricultural fair;
any youth-oriented or family oriented activities at the event are located in buildings where alcohol is not allowed;
the event plan includes for the control and management of individuals who are carrying alcohol, including demarcated or defined pathways between buildings with barriers approved by the LCB.

The fee for the fairgrounds endorsement is $300 per event.

The LCB may work with the applicants to develop an acceptable plan for each event. The LCB may limit the number of the fairground endorsements authorized to be held at each fairground to 50 percent of the special occasion licenses issued for that fairground in the previous calendar year. The LCB must adopt rules setting the criteria and conditions that must be met in order to issue a fairgrounds endorsement.

The new provisions do not limit any existing right or benefit currently authorized or provided to special events or special occasion license holders.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Labor & Commerce): PRO: This bill is similar to the bill passed by this committee last year. It has constraints and strict limits on where alcohol may be carried on the fairgrounds. It sets a fee of $300 for the new fairground endorsement.

Persons Testifying (Labor & Commerce): PRO: Senator Hans Zeiger, Prime Sponsor.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Labor & Commerce): CON: Seth Dawson, Washington Association for Substance Abuse Prevention.