PHOENIX - A later last call moved one step closer to becoming a reality last night as the House Committee on Human Services passed the bill without amendments by a vote of 9 - 3.

The bill, which would push back the last call from 1 a.m. under current law to 2 a.m., and give drinkers until 2:30 a.m. to leave the bar or restaurant, drew heavy support from lobbyists from the liquor and tourism industry who say the early bar-time is hurting their industries.

There were only two people speaking in opposition to the bill, which wasn't heard until after 5 p.m. and barely missed being held after debate over other bills ran long.

Yolanda Herrera, president of the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association, asked legislators to consider the impact a later closing time would have on surrounding communities.

"You cannot draw a line and say this won't impact the community," Herrera said. "Expanding the closing time of bars will have a negative domino effect. You will have more drunks on the roads at the same times you will have constituents and students on their way to work and school."

Herrera said bar-goers would drink more and possibly buy alcohol later to take home with them, which could lead to more alcohol-related crime and traffic accidents.

"Bar time does not end at one o'clock," Herrera said.

Supporters of the bill continued to say they can't compete with the 37 other states with closing times that fall after 1 a.m., which attract international tourists and conventions that could otherwise be lured to Arizona.

"This bill is one of those things that, when taken in a package, assists us in competing with those communities with which we compete against," said Barry Aarons, a lobbyist for the Arizona Tourism Alliance.

Aarons said cities like San Antonio, San Diego and Denver, which have comparable facilities and tourist attractions, beat out Tucson for visitors looking for late-night libations.

"When you are competing with cities of a comparable size and comparable amenities and you are falling fairly significantly behind in terms of the hour of sale of alcoholic beverages, we see that as a severe problem," Aarons said.

Aarons said pushing back the last call could generate $55 million in commercial revenue, which would generate $3.3 million in state tax revenue and lead to corresponding increases in city tax revenues.

Republican Rep. Andy Biggs from Gilbert supports the bill, because he said it could actually make the roads safer with less people on the street when bars let out.

"There is a perverse logic that this bill actually may provide some safety on the road," Biggs said. "You have many movies getting out at around midnight and one. You do have many youthful drivers. You have many people, husbands, wives and others, out on dates that are going home between that midnight and one o'clock hour. And you send them all home at one o'clock as those bars close."

Tucson Representative Olivia Cajero Bedford was one of the dissenting voters. She said the bill sends the wrong message and that bars are open late enough.

The bill still has a long way to go before becoming a law. It has been assigned to three other committees to be heard in the house before it could possibly move on to the Senate and be voted on.