HB 298-ALCOHOL WARNING SIGNS ON LIC. PREMISES  3:43:05 PM CHAIR PRAX announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 298 "An Act relating to the posting of warning signs for alcoholic beverages." 3:43:41 PM REPRESENTATIVE ANDREW GRAY, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor of HB 298, said that the purpose of this bill was for the public to be more informed of the risks of what they are consuming. 3:44:44 PM CHAIR PRAX opened public testimony on HB 298. 3:45:24 PM SHAWN VAIMO, MD, Self/Board Member, Alaska Academy of Family Physicians, Testified on behalf of himself and the academy board in support of HB 298. He reiterated Representative Gray's point that the majority of the public does not know that Alcohol is a carcinogen. He said that this bill is important to make the public aware. 3:46:23 PM DR. VAIMO, in response to a question from Representative Saddler as to which other substances beside tobacco could be considered for warning labels, listed per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), among other carcinogenic substances. 3:48:41 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER emphasized his question. 3:49:02 PM TIFFANY HALL, Executive Director, Recover Alaska, gave her full support for HB 298, explaining that alcohol is the deadliest drug in Alaska, and that it is a medical fact that alcohol causes cancer. She said knowledge is power, and public awareness is critical. She said that alcohol is addictive, and people know more about other risks of alcohol beside cancer. She emphasized the need for a long-term medical campaign from the state. She said any reduction in consumption will lower rates of harms of alcohol. 3:51:58 PM NOELLE LOCONTE, representing self, gave her endorsement of HB 298. She said that it is uncontested in the medical community that alcohol causes cancer. She said that only 30 percent of the public knows that alcohol causes cancer, compared to 60 percent for UV light and 80 percent for tobacco. She expressed hope that this bill would reduce consumption. She gave examples of what types of cancer alcohol could cause. 3:54:19 PM JOYCE SONG, representing self, testified in support of HB 298. She emphasized the connection between alcohol use and cancer. 3:55:40 PM CHAIR PRAX closed public testimony on HB 298. 3:55:50 PM REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER asked if Representative Gray could provide animal studies that find that ethanol alcohol causes cancer. 3:56:38 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRAY said that his staff would provide the committee with any studies needed. 3:56:57 PM The committee took an at-ease from 3:56 p.m. to 3:59. p.m. 3:59:47 PM REPRESENTATIVE MINA moved to adopt Amendment 1 to HB 298, labeled 33-LS1074\S.1, C. Radford, 3/19/24, which read as follows: Page 1, line 9, following "defects": Insert ", including fetal alcohol spectrum  disorder" CHAIR PRAX objected for the purpose of discussion REPRESENTATIVE MINA explained that the amendment would add five words to the bill, and how it would bring awareness of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). She said that this bill would add five words to the proposed sign change at alcohol sale stores. She said that FASD is an important issue for the state to address, and that the warning label proposed by the amendment would make a good change. 4:02:31 PM REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE said that he generally supports Amendment 1 but worries about cluttering up the new proposed sign. He mentioned that the current sign is "very easy to ignore." 4:03:43 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked if there would still be a net word reduction from the current sign if Amendment 1 were adopted. REPRESENTATIVE MINA said that she would do the math on the spot. 4:04:33 PM REPRESENTATIVE MCCORMICK asked for input from the bill sponsor. REPRESENTATIVE GRAY offered his understanding that with Amendment 1, the word count would remain the same. He said he feels neutral about the word increase, as the original goal of the bill was to make the new signs more noticeable with fewer words. 4:05:46 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER opined that brevity is more effective in communicating the dangers of FASD. 4:06:34 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS deferred his question to Ms. Wilson and asked if the sign displayed could include a picture. 4:06:59 PM JOAN WILSON, Director, Alcohol & Marijuana Control Office, Answered a question from Representative Fields. She said that she believes there is the flexibility to put a sign with pictures up. REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS said that he sees an opportunity to communicate more clearly and thinks a simpler sign is better. 4:07:47 PM REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER said that he opposes Amendment 1 in the name of keeping the sign as concise as possible. 4:08:20 PM REPRESENTATIVE MINA echoed that Amendment 1 would result in a sign with the same number of words. Nevertheless, after listening to discussion, she would be withdrawing Amendment 1. She added that a QR code idea is a good way to educate people on the effects of birth defects. 4:09:27 PM The committee took an at-ease from 4:09 p.m. to 4:09 p.m. 4:09:53 PM REPRESENTATIVE MINA withdrew Amendment 1. 4:10:07 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS moved to adopt Amendment 2 to HB 298, labeled 33-LS1074\S.2, C. Radford, 3/20/24, which read as follows: Page 1, following line 2: Insert a new bill section to read:  "* Section 1. AS 04.21.065(a) is amended to read: (a) A holder of one of the following types of licenses or permits shall post on the licensed or designated premises two [THREE] separate warning signs as described in (b) of this section: (1) brewery manufacturer license under AS 04.09.020 with a manufacturer sampling endorsement under AS 04.09.410; (2) winery manufacturer license under AS 04.09.030 with a manufacturer sampling endorsement under AS 04.09.410; (3) distillery manufacturer license under AS 04.09.040 with a manufacturer sampling endorsement under AS 04.09.410; (4) beverage dispensary license under AS 04.09.200; (5) restaurant or eating place license under AS 04.09.210; (6) club license under AS 04.09.220; (7) package store license under AS 04.09.230; (8) pub license under AS 04.09.240; (9) theater license under AS 04.09.250; (10) common carrier dispensary license under AS 04.09.260; (11) sporting activity or event license under AS 04.09.270; (12) outdoor recreation lodge license under AS 04.09.280; (13) fair license under AS 04.09.290; (14) golf course license under AS 04.09.300; (15) destination resort license under AS 04.09.310; (16) brewery retail license under AS 04.09.320; (17) winery retail license under AS 04.09.330; (18) distillery retail license under AS 04.09.340; (19) beverage dispensary tourism license under AS 04.09.350; (20) seasonal restaurant or eating place tourism license under AS 04.09.360; (21) beverage dispensary caterer's permit under AS 04.09.610; (22) restaurant caterer's dining permit under AS 04.09.620; (23) club caterer's permit under AS 04.09.630; (24) art exhibit event permit under AS 04.09.640; (25) music festival permit under AS 04.09.650; (26) nonprofit organization event permit under AS 04.09.660; (27) package store tasting event permit under AS 04.09.680; (28) conditional contractor's permit under AS 04.09.710; (29) another license or permit issued by the board authorizing consumption of alcoholic beverages." Page 1, line 3: Delete "Section 1" Insert "Sec. 2" Page 1, line 8: Delete "OR SMOKING CIGARETTES]" Insert "] or smoking cigarettes" Page 1, line 10, following "WARNING:": Insert "An unaccompanied person under 21 years of  age who enters these premises in violation of law may,  under AS 04.16.049(e), be civilly liable for damages  of $1,500." Page 1, lines 12 - 15: Delete "The third sign must read, "WARNING: An unaccompanied person under 21 years of age who enters these premises in violation of law may, under AS 04.16.049(e), be civilly liable for damages of $1,500." Insert "[THE THIRD SIGN MUST READ, "WARNING: AN UNACCOMPANIED PERSON UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE WHO ENTERS THESE PREMISES IN VIOLATION OF LAW MAY, UNDER AS 04.16.049(e), BE CIVILLY LIABLE FOR DAMAGES OF $1,500."]" Page 1, line 15: Delete "and second signs" Insert "sign [AND SECOND SIGNS]" Page 2, line 1: Delete "them" Insert "it [THEM]" Page 2, line 3: Delete "third" Insert "second [THIRD]" REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER objected for the purpose of discussion. REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS said that Amendment 2 presents an opportunity to communicate more clearly with small businesses and make the application of this bill easier. He explained that the amendment decreases the number of signs that must be displayed inside an establishment from three to two. He said if Amendment 2 is adopted, it would delegate the design of the new sign to the Department of Commerce. He said he believes that there could be a consolidation of information to one sign inside the establishment for brevity. 4:12:36 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked what the purpose of the individual citations in Amendment 2 was. REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS said he is questioning existing statutory language and is only proposing a change in the number of signs from three to two. 4:13:18 PM MS. WILSON said that is accurate, the only thing being changed are certain lines and displaying two signs instead of three. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER cited Alaska Statute, explaining a perceived conflict. MS. WILSON said to talk to someone who knows more and explained her thoughts on the Statute. She said that the section being referred to doesn't require that a sign display all statutory references for all related entities. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER said that Amendment 2 does not have specific language related to beverage dispensary licenses. REPRESENTAIVE FIELDS asked if leg legal was online, as he thought that the questions were to do with a rewrite of a current title under Alaska statute. He emphasized Amendment 2 would not change existing statute. 4:15:09 PM The committee took an at-ease from 4:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. 4:15:39 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER said that he would need to look at section laws instead. He asked if this is a lot of language to put on a sign. REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS said he is not changing the language around minors entering a serving establishment, rather the amendment is adding information about health risks surrounding alcohol consumption inside the establishment. 4:16:34 PM MS. WILSON said that Amendment 2 is meant to take two 11x17-inch signs and combine them into one sign. She said it would be a good way to reduce clutter inside the businesses. 4:17:19 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER clarified his earlier remarks and said he stands corrected. 4:17:37 PM REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE asked Representative Fields if the intention of Amendment 2 was to add back in language relating to the risks of cigarettes. REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS said he doesn't have a position on that, and that the goal of the amendment was consolidation. REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE asked for clarification on page 2, line 23 of Amendment 2, saying it aims to reintroduce the cigarette language to warning signs in establishments. REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked Representative Gray for clarification. 4:18:51 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRAY said that it was obsolete language because smoking is no longer allowed indoors. REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE asked if the committee could eliminate certain lines in a conceptual amendment to Amendment 2. 4:19:58 PM REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1 to Amendment 2 to strike lines 23-26 [as numbered in Amendment 2]. There being no objection, Conceptual Amendment 1 to Amendment 2 was adopted. 4:20:41 PM REPRESENTATIVE MINA asked if Representative Fields could walk through the differences between the current and proposed signs. 4:20:55 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS said that it is based on consultation with Ms. Wilson. 4:21:11 PM MS. WILSON explained the differences between the current sign and the proposed one, mainly the age warning and the restaurant warning sign. REPRESENTATIVE MINA asked if the language would include the information that says a minor cannot be in an establishment nor furnish alcohol to a minor. MS. WILSON said the sign outside should warn the minor, and the sign inside should warn of furnishing alcohol to a minor. 4:22:58 PM REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER explained his understanding of Amendment 2 that it is combining language warning minors of being on the establishment's premises with the language that no one may furnish alcohol to a minor. 4:23:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS said he believes that is correct. REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER clarified he said that because he saw certain language on a different line. 4:23:52 PM REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE said "The scary sign outside will be a lot scarier with a lot more words and a lot more dollars." REPRESENTATIVE MINA said she supports Amendment 2 [as amended]. She gave a comment that the removal of the cigarette language on the sign is appropriate in the context of the bill, but she worries because tobacco use is on the rise. 4:25:12 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked for clarification on a motion. 4:25:36 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER withdrew his objection to Amendment 2, as amended. There being no further objection, Amendment 2, as amended by conceptual amendment 1, was adopted. 4:26:35 PM The committee took an at-ease from 4:26 p.m. to 4:27. p.m. 4:28:03 PM REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report HB 298, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 298(HSS) was reported out of the House Health and Social Services Standing Committee. 4:28:42 PM The committee took an at-ease from 4:28 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.