04/11/2001 01:07 PM House JUD

HB 214 - CIVIL ACTION AGAINST MINORS IN BARS                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Number 2021                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ROKEBERG announced  that the final order  of business would                                                               
be  HOUSE BILL  NO.  214,  "An Act  relating  to  a civil  action                                                               
against a person under 21 years  of age who enters premises where                                                               
alcohol is  sold or  consumed."  [Before  the committee  was CSHB
(L&C).]                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Number 2009                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MEYER,  as the sponsor  of HB 214,  explained that                                                               
there is  an Anchorage  ordinance that  allows bars  to prosecute                                                               
underage minors who  attempt to purchase alcohol with  a fake ID.                                                               
Many  of the  bars, including  Chilkoot Charlie's  and the  Brown                                                               
Jug, have used this effectively  to prohibit underage people from                                                               
attempting to  enter a bar.   He  emphasized that the  program is                                                               
optional.   The  only  requirement for  the  establishment is  to                                                               
place  a  sign  saying  that  an  underage  individual  would  be                                                               
prosecuted.  [The  bill packet] contains letters  of support from                                                               
the  Anchorage   Restaurant  and  Beverage   Association  (ARBA),                                                               
Chilkoot Charlie's,  and the Brown  Jug.  This  legislation would                                                               
make the program statewide in order to deter underage drinking.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  ROKEBERG asked  if anyone  wished  to testify  on HB  214.                                                               
There being  no one, the public  testimony portion of HB  214 was                                                               
closed.    Chair  Rokeberg  inquired  as to  the  wishes  of  the                                                               
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Number 1965                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  BERKOWITZ moved  to report  CSHB 214(L&C)  out of                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations and  the accompanying                                                               
fiscal  notes.   There  being  no  objection, CSHB  214(L&C)  was                                                               
reported from the House Judiciary Standing Committee.