Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 10-03-030.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Chapter 314-07 WAC, How to apply for a liquor license.

     Hearing Location(s): Washington State Liquor Control Board, 3000 Pacific Avenue S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, on April 28, 2010, at 10:00 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: May 5, 2010.

     Submit Written Comments to: Karen McCall, 3000 Pacific Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA 98504, e-mail rules@liq.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-9689, by April 28, 2010.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Karen McCall by April 28, 2010, (360) 664-1631.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: As part of the liquor control board's ongoing rules review process, chapter 314-07 WAC was reviewed for relevance, clarity, and accuracy.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: The existing rules included language that is no longer relevant and needed to be revised.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 66.08.030 and 66.24.010.

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 66.24.010.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Name of Proponent: Washington state liquor control board, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Karen McCall, Rules Coordinator, 3000 Pacific Avenue S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 664-1631; Implementation: Alan Rathbun, Director, Licensing, 3000 Pacific Avenue S.E., Olympia, WA, (360) 664-1615; and Enforcement: Pat Parmer, Chief, Enforcement, 3000 Pacific Avenue S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 334-1726 [664-1726].

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. This proposal does not change the impact on liquor licensees or stakeholders.

     A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. A cost-benefit analysis is not required.

March 17, 2010

Sharon Foster

Chairman

OTS-3037.5

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 05-07-012, filed 3/4/05, effective 4/4/05)

WAC 314-07-010   Definitions.   Following are definitions for the purpose of this title. Other definitions are in WAC 314-01-005 and RCW 66.08.010.

     (1) "Applicant" or "liquor license applicant" means any person or business entity who is considered by the board as a true party of interest in a liquor license or permit application, as outlined in WAC 314-07-035.

     (2) "Business name" or "trade name" means the name of a licensed business as used by the licensee on signs, advertising, etc.

     (3) "Financier"(( -- A "financier")) means any person or entity who has made or will make an investment in the licensed business of more than ten thousand dollars ((or of more than ten percent of the initial cash outlay needed to open the business)) A "financier" can be someone who provides money as a gift, someone who loans money to the business and expects to be paid back the amount of the loan without interest, or someone who invests money into the business expecting a percentage of the profits, but accepts the risk that there may not be a full return on the investment. These persons or entities shall submit appropriate investigation level "financier" financial documents.

     (4) "Licensee" or "liquor licensee" means any person or entity that holds a liquor license or permit, or any person or entity who is a true party of interest in a liquor license or permit, as outlined in WAC 314-07-035.

     (5) "Public institution" means a public college or university. (See WAC 314-07-020 regarding the liquor control board notifying public institutions of liquor license applications.)

[Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030, 66.24.010, 66.24.015, and 66.24.025. 05-07-012, § 314-07-010, filed 3/4/05, effective 4/4/05.]

     (2) A liquor license applicant may not exercise any of the privileges of a liquor license until the board approves the license application (see WAC 314-07-055 regarding temporary licenses).

     (3) In approving a liquor license, the board reserves the right to impose special conditions as to the involvement in the operations of the licensed business of any former licensees, their former employees, or any person who does not qualify for a liquor license.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030, 66.24.010, 66.24.015, and 66.24.025. 05-07-012, § 314-07-015, filed 3/4/05, effective 4/4/05.]

     (1) Per RCW 66.24.010, the board shall send a notice to the local authority regarding the liquor license application. The local authority has twenty days to respond with a recommendation to approve or an objection to the applicant, location, or both.

     (a) The local authority may submit a written request to the board for an extension for good cause shown.

     (b) If the application is within a board-recognized alcohol impact area, the board will give the local authority sixty days to comment on the liquor license application or assumption (see WAC 314-12-215(7) for more information).

     (2) For an application for a new liquor license privilege, the board may require a public posting notice to be posted at the site for fourteen days.

     (3) For an application for a new liquor license privilege, the board shall notify any schools, churches, or public colleges or universities within five hundred feet of the business (see RCW 66.24.010(9) for more information).

     (4) The board will verify that the proposed business meets the minimum requirements for the type of license or privilege requested.

     (5) The board may conduct an investigation of the applicants' criminal history and administrative violation history, per WAC 314-07-040 and 314-07-045.

     (6) The board may conduct a financial investigation in order to verify the source of funds used for the acquisition and startup of the business, the applicants' right to the real and personal property, and to verify the true party(ies) of interest.

     (7) The board may provide a briefing on liquor laws and rules.

     (8) The board may conduct a final inspection of the proposed licensed business, in order to determine if the applicant has complied with all the requirements of the license or privilege requested.

     (9) Per RCW 66.24.010 (2)(a), all applicants must have resided in the state of Washington for at least one month prior to issuance of a liquor license. For ((true parties of interest in)) a corporation or a limited liability company, the entity meets this residency requirement if the entity was formed in Washington or has a certificate of authority to do business in Washington.

     (10) Upon failure to respond to the board licensing and regulation division's requests for information within the timeline provided, the application will be administratively closed.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030, 66.24.010, 66.24.015, and 66.24.025. 05-07-012, § 314-07-020, filed 3/4/05, effective 4/4/05.]

     (1) True parties of interest - For purposes of this title, "true party of interest" means:

((Type of Entity)) True party of interest	Persons ((considered "true party of interest")) to be qualified
Sole proprietorship	Sole proprietor and spouse.
General partnership	All partners and spouses.
Limited partnership ((or)), limited liability partnership, or limited liability limited partnership	• •	All general partners and spouses; All limited partners that have more than 10% interest in the partnership and their spouses.
Limited liability company	•	All members with more than 10% interest in the LLC and spouses. (Note: In order for the liquor control board to identify the ((true parties of interest)) persons to be qualified, we will need to know all parties that have an interest in the limited liability company or have a pending interest.)
	•	All managers and their spouses.
Privately held corporation	•	All corporate officers (or persons with equivalent title).
	•	All stockholders who hold more than 10% of the issued or outstanding stock. (Note: In order for the liquor control board to identify the ((true parties of interest)) persons to be qualified, we will need to know all parties who have been issued or will be issued corporate stock.)
Publicly held corporation	All corporate officers (or persons with equivalent title).
Multi-level ownership structures	The liquor control board will review each entity to determine which individuals are ((true parties of interest)) to qualify according to the guidelines in this rule.
Any entity	Any person who is in receipt of, or has the right to receive, more than ten percent of the gross or net sales from the licensed business during any full or partial calendar or fiscal year. For the purposes of this chapter:
	▪	"Gross sales" includes the entire gross receipts from all sales and services made in, upon, or from the licensed business.
	▪	"Net sales" means gross sales minus cost of goods sold.

     (2) For purposes of this section, "true party of interest" does not mean:

     (a) A person or entity receiving reasonable payment for rent on a fixed or percentage basis under a bona fide lease or rental obligation, unless the lessor or property manager exercises control over or participates in the management of the business.

     (b) A person who receives a bonus as an employee, if: The employee is on a fixed wage or salary and the bonus is not more than twenty-five percent of the employee's prebonus annual compensation; or the bonus is based on a written incentive/bonus program that is not out of the ordinary for the services rendered.

     (c) A person or entity contracting with the applicant(s) to sell the property, unless the contract holder exercises control over or participates in the management of the licensed business.

     (d) A person or entity receiving payment of franchise fees on a fixed or percentage basis under a bona fide franchise agreement, unless the person or entity receiving payment of franchise fees exercises control over or participates in the management of the licensed business.

     (3) Financiers -- The board may conduct a financial investigation of financiers.

     (4) Persons who exercise control of business--The board may conduct an investigation of any person or entity who exercises any control over the applicant's business operations.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030, 66.24.010, 66.24.015, and 66.24.025. 05-07-012, § 314-07-035, filed 3/4/05, effective 4/4/05.]

Type of Application		Qualification and process to receive a temporary retail license
(((1) Existing licensed business: Applicant is applying for a license for a business that has an existing license at the location, and all of the following apply:		In order to receive a temporary license, the applicant(s) must:
• • •	The applicant is applying for the same license privilege(s). The current license privilege is valid and has not expired. There are no liquor violations pending on the current license.	• • • • •	Fill out a form provided by the board signed by both the current licensee and the current landlord. Pay a $50 fee. Turn in all documents necessary to complete the initial licensing investigation. Clear a criminal history check, per WAC 314-07-040. Complete a briefing on liquor laws and regulations, per WAC 314-07-020(7).))
(((2)(a))) (1) New business, existing licensed business, or new license type:		In order to receive a temporary license, the applicant(s) must:
•	Applicant is applying for a license at a business location that does not hold a current, valid liquor license.	•	((Fill out a form provided by the board.)) Sign the acknowledgment form.
•	Applicant is applying for the same license privilege at a location that has a valid license that has not expired.
•	Applicant is applying for a license or a business that has an existing license at the location, but the applicant is applying for a different license privilege(s).	•	Clear a criminal history check, per WAC 314-07-040.
		•	Complete a briefing on liquor laws and regulations, per WAC 314-07-020(7).
		•	The local authority and any churches, schools, or public colleges or universities within 500 feet of the proposed licensed business must have responded to the liquor control board's notice of liquor license application, or the time period must have passed. See WAC 314-07-020, subsections (1), (2), and (3) for more information.
((or
(b) Existing licensed business as described in subsection (1)))		•	When the annual liquor license is issued, the fee will be pro-rated back to the date of issuance of the temporary license.

     (((3))) (2) For the purposes of this section, "retail liquor license" shall include all classes of liquor licenses that allow the holder to sell liquor directly to the public.

     (((4))) (3) The privilege of having a temporary license issued upon an application for license does not apply to breweries or wineries((, even though these licensees have limited distributor and retail privileges under their manufacturers' licenses)).

     (((5))) (4) A temporary license under subsection (1) above may be issued for a ((nonretail)) distributor license applicant.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030, 66.24.010, 66.24.015, and 66.24.025. 05-07-012, § 314-07-055, filed 3/4/05, effective 4/4/05.]

     (1) An applicant who has received a temporary license and their application is later administratively closed, and they reapply for a liquor license at the same location.

     (2) The local authority objects for any reason.

     (3) The applicant affirmatively refuses to submit documents requested by the board to conduct the application investigation.

     (4) The applicant accrues or is involved in a violation committed while operating under a temporary license.

     (5) The investigator is unable to determine the true party of interest.

     (6) The applicant fails to meet the basic requirements of the license.

     (7) Denial of the permanent license is recommended to the board.

[]

     (1) Failure to meet qualifications or requirements for the specific liquor license or privilege, as outlined in this TITLE 314 WAC and Title 66 RCW.

     (2) Failure to submit information or documentation requested by the board.

     (3) Misrepresentation of fact by any applicant or financier.

     (4) Failure to meet the criminal history standards outlined in WAC 314-07-040.

     (5) Failure to meet the liquor law or rule violation history standards outlined in WAC 314-07-045.

     (6) Source of funds used for the acquisition, startup and operation of the business is questionable or unverified.

     (7) Objection from the local authority or from the public (see WAC 314-09-010 and RCW 66.24.010(8)). ((The objection must state specific reasons and facts that show issuance of the liquor license at the proposed location or to the applicant business will detrimentally impact the safety, health, or welfare of the community.))

     (8) Objection from the following entities if they are within five hundred feet of the proposed business: A public school, a private school that meets the requirements of chapter 28A.195 RCW, a church, or a public college or university. See WAC 314-09-010 and RCW 66.24.010(9) for more information. Note: Per RCW 66.24.010(9), the board may not issue a new liquor license if the board receives objection from a public school within five hundred feet of the proposed licensed business.

     (9) The board determines that the issuance of the liquor license will not be in the best interest of the welfare, health, or safety of the people of the state.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030, 66.24.010, 66.24.015, and 66.24.025. 05-07-012, § 314-07-065, filed 3/4/05, effective 4/4/05.]

Type of change	Type of application	Fee
Change in ((any of the true party(ies) of interest)) the qualifying persons in a: Sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited partnership, or limited liability partnership.	New application	Annual fee for current license privilege.
Change in ((any of the true party(ies) of interest)) the qualifying persons for a publicly or privately held corporation. The board will waive the fee for a corporate change when the proposed change consists solely of dropping an approved officer.	Application for change in corporate officer and/or stockholder	$75
Change in ((any of the true party(ies) of interest)) the qualifying persons in a limited liability company.	Application for change of limited liability company member and/or manager	$75

     (((b))) (2) The board may inquire into all matters in connection with any such sale of stock/units or proposed change in officers/members.

     (((c))) (3) The "proposed sale of more than ten percent of the stock/units" will be calculated as a cumulative total and must be reported to the board when the accumulation of stock/units transfers or newly issued stock/units totals more than ten percent of the outstanding and/or issued stock/units of the licensed corporation or limited liability company.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030, 66.24.010, 66.24.015, and 66.24.025. 05-07-012, § 314-07-080, filed 3/4/05, effective 4/4/05.]

     (2) Type of change of location application:

Submit a change of location application and pay a $75 fee if:		Submit a new liquor license application and pay the appropriate fee for the type of liquor license you are applying for if:
▪	You are not changing the type of liquor license that you have at the current location;	▪	You are changing the type of liquor license from what you have at the current location;
▪	There is no change in any of the true parties of interest; and	▪	There is a change in any of the true parties of interest; or
▪	Your liquor license is current.	▪	Your liquor license is not current.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 66.08.030, 66.24.010, 66.24.015, and 66.24.025. 05-07-012, § 314-07-085, filed 3/4/05, effective 4/4/05.]

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