HB 50-ACCESS TO LICENSED PREMISES  2:45:32 PM CHAIR EGAN announced consideration of HB 50 [CSHB 50(JUD) was before the committee]. SENATOR PASKVAN moved to bring CSHB 50(JUD), labeled 27- LS0254\B, before the committee. CHAIR EGAN objected for discussion purposes. 2:46:22 PM REPRESENTATIVE DAN SADDLER, sponsor of HB 50, explained that this measure deals with patriotic clubs, like the American Legion or the VFW Halls, which may be licensed premises for liquor sales as club licenses. The bill does not allow minors to drink; it's merely an access bill with two basic elements. One deals with service members over age 21 and the other with those who are under 21. He explained that current law allows those active duty personnel with a military ID over 21 years of age to visit a licensed Legion or VFW Hall when invited, but only on "special occasions," which is not defined. This bill illuminates that vague special occasion restriction so that a soldier who is over 21 can legally visit a VFW or Legion Hall at the club's invitation on any occasion. Thanks to a previous amendment in the House, it will also allow that soldier to bring his or her spouse with. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER said the second part of the bill deals with service members who are under 21 years old, minors. He explained that patriotic clubs are often the site of off-base meetings and commander's calls for military units where important information - potential employments, verbal discipline and congratulations - is communicated. Excluding minor soldiers under age 21 could erode unit cohesion and unit morale. HB 50 would allow soldiers under the age of 21 and their spouse with appropriate IDs to visit a patriotic club's licensed premise if they are members or guests of a member. If their host leaves, they have to leave, too. SENATOR PASKVAN remembered when the drinking age in Alaska was 19 because of the Viet Nam War. Then the federal government said if you want to receive federal highway dollars, the age had to be raised to 21 years old. Part of that was establishing a 55 mph speed limit; that is long gone in America, but the 21 year drinking age remains. They should recognize that 19 and 20 year old soldiers are probably mature enough to drink, along with the other 19 and 20 year olds. SENATOR MENARD asked what type of IDs would be accepted. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER replied a current military ID. There is a whole range of different kinds of military IDs that include those issued by the Department of Defense and Homeland Security Card. SENATOR PASKVAN moved to report CSHB 50 (JUD), version \B, from committee to the next committee of referral with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal note. There were no objections, and it was so ordered.