BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 770

By: King, Susan

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties contend that the Alcoholic Beverage Code has inconsistencies regarding the age of a minor, noting that in portions of the code a minor is defined as a person under the age of 21, whereas certain provisions of that same code making an individual civilly liable for certain damages stemming from the individual's provision of alcohol to a minor specify such minority as being under the age of 18. H.B. 770 seeks to address such inconsistencies by amending the applicable law.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

H.B. 770 amends the Alcoholic Beverage Code to remove the specification that a minor be under the age of 18 for purposes of a statutory provision making an adult 21 years of age or older liable for damages proximately caused by the intoxication of a minor if the adult is not the parent, guardian, spouse, or legal custodian of the minor and knowingly served or provided to the minor any of the alcoholic beverages that contributed to the minor's intoxication or allowed the minor to be served or provided any of the alcoholic beverages that contributed to the minor's intoxication on the premises owned or leased by the adult.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.