04/29/2004 02:46 PM Senate L&C

         HB 430-EMPLOYEES UNDER 21 AT LICENSED PREMISES                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR CON BUNDE announced HB 430 to be up for consideration.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  AURORA   HAUKE,  staff  to  Representative   Beth  Kerttula,                                                               
sponsor, said this  bill deals with the employment  of people who                                                               
are  under  21  who  work  in hotels  and  restaurants  that  are                                                               
licensed  to serve  alcoholic beverages.  Currently, 16,  17, and                                                               
18-year olds  are allowed  to work  in these  establishments with                                                               
the permission of their parents.  Nineteen and 21-year olds don't                                                               
need parental permission.  No one under the age of  21 is allowed                                                               
to work with  the alcohol. This bill would allow  18-year olds to                                                               
work without parental permission since  they have reached the age                                                               
of majority and are adults. They  would still not be able to work                                                               
with the  alcohol. This legislation  would clear  up difficulties                                                               
and  deterrents   for  18-year   olds  trying  to   find  gainful                                                               
employment  in a  restaurant and  would increase  the prospective                                                               
labor   pool   for   employers.   This  bill   was   brought   to                                                               
Representative  Kerttula's attention  by  a  constituent who  was                                                               
trying to  hire an 18-year  old young man  who had been  a foster                                                               
child and  didn't have any legal  parents. Since he had  not been                                                               
adopted by  his foster parents, they  could not sign for  him and                                                               
eventually he was not able to work in the restaurant.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  BUNDE noted  that Doug  Griffin, Alcohol  Beverage Control                                                               
Board (ABC)  was not able  to testify at  this time and  he would                                                               
hold the bill.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS. HAUKE pointed  out a letter of support from  the ABC Board in                                                               
the committee packets.                                                                                                          
         HB 430-EMPLOYEES UNDER 21 AT LICENSED PREMISES                                                                     
                                                                                                                              
CHAIR CON BUNDE brought HB 430 back before the committee.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  BETTYE  DAVIS  moved  to pass  HB  430  from  committee.                                                               
Senators Bettye  Davis, Gary  Stevens and  Chair Con  Bunde voted                                                               
yea; and HB 430 moved from committee.