House votes 57-11 for new ABC fund to enforce liquor license laws

The Idaho House debated for an hour today before passing HB 450, which would restore staffing for the state’s Alcohol Beverage Control bureau to its level of the 1960s of about 10; the bureau now has only one field officer to enforce alcohol beverage laws across the entire state. Backers of the bill said licensees are complaining about delays in issuing and transferring licenses because of the lack of staffing. The bill would shift $1.5 million from fees that license holders pay to a dedicated fund to support the bureau’s operations.

Rep. Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian, said, “Obviously one guy can’t do that.” Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, said, “I do want to emphasize that this is a user fee, and that the people that pay the fees have been on board and would like this to happen.” Rep. Stephen Hartgen, R-Twin Falls, questioned whether the change would support the Idaho Constitution’s requirement to promote temperance and sobriety. House Tax Chairman Dennis Lake, R-Blackfoot, said the Idaho State Police should compete in the appropriations process for the funds like any other agency. “We should not be in the position of just setting up dedicated funds because somebody wants one.”

But after some confusion over the amount of funds to be shifted - just the $1.5 million from license fees, not the entire $17 million a year in profits the state makes from its liquor dispensary, which the bill’s fiscal note noted have been increasing over the years - the bill passed the House on a 57-11 vote and now heads to the Senate side.