Topeka ? A Senate committee considers a bill to allow people to walk around with an alcoholic beverage at festivals and other special events.

The Federal and State Government Committee took no action Tuesday on the bill to change the law that says nobody can carry an open container on a public street or roadway.

The bill would allow an exception for an event such as a festival or similar community gathering that was endorsed by a local government. It would have to be confined to a specified area and the alcohol would have to be purchased within the event area.

It would leave it up to local governments to decide the location and hours of operations for selling alcohol, the types of containers and which events would be included.