BILL NUMBER: SB 118 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 157
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE AUGUST 31, 2005
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR AUGUST 31, 2005
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 18, 2005
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 18, 2005
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 16, 2005
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 5, 2005
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 27, 2005
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 16, 2005
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2005
AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 31, 2005
INTRODUCED BY Senator Chesbro
(Principal coauthors: Senators Florez and Perata)
(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Evans, Jerome Horton, and
Nunez)
(Coauthors: Senators Battin, Bowen, Campbell, Cox, Denham, Dunn,
Figueroa, Machado, Maldonado, Soto, and Torlakson)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Aghazarian, Benoit, Berg, Bermudez,
Chavez, Cohn, Garcia, Jones, Karnette, Laird, Leslie, Lieber,
McCarthy, Mountjoy, Nakanishi, Nation, Nava, Pavley, Salinas, and
Wolk)
JANUARY 27, 2005
An act to amend Section 23661.2 of, and to add Section 23661.3 to,
the Business and Professions Code, and to amend Section 32101 of the
Revenue and Taxation Code, relating to alcoholic beverages.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 118, Chesbro Alcoholic beverages: licenses and fees.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act imposes upon the Department of
Alcoholic Beverage Control the responsibility to administer and
enforce state laws with respect to alcoholic beverages, including the
implementation of alcoholic beverage licensing. Among other things,
the act authorizes any unlicensed adult resident of this state to
apply to the department and be issued a permit to receive a shipment
of wine from any state that allows adult residents of that state to
receive shipments of wine from this state, as provided. The act also
provides that an individual or licensee in a state that affords
California licensees or individuals an equal reciprocal shipping
privilege, may ship, for personal use, and not for resale, no more
than 2 cases of wine per month to any adult resident in this state.
This bill would eliminate the requirement that an unlicensed adult
apply and be issued a permit to receive a shipment of wine.
This bill would also provide that a licensed winegrower who
obtains a wine direct shipper permit, as described, may sell and ship
wine directly to a California resident, for personal use, under
specific conditions. Knowing violation of these provisions would be a
misdemeanor.
By creating a new crime, this bill imposes a state-mandated local
program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 23661.2 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:
23661.2. Notwithstanding any other law, an individual or retail
licensee in a state that affords California retail licensees or
individuals an equal reciprocal shipping privilege, may ship, for
personal use and not for resale, no more than two cases of wine (no
more than nine liters each case) per month to any adult resident in
this state. Delivery of a shipment pursuant to this subdivision
shall not be deemed to constitute a sale in this state.
The shipping container of any wine sent into or out of this state
under this section shall be clearly labeled to indicate that the
container cannot be delivered to a minor or an intoxicated person.
SEC. 2. Section 23661.3 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
23661.3. (a) Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the
contrary, any person currently licensed in this state or any other
state as a winegrower who obtains a wine direct shipper permit
pursuant to this section may sell and ship wine directly to a
resident of California, who is at least 21 years of age, for the
resident's personal use and not for resale.
Before sending any shipment to a resident of California, the wine
direct shipper permitholder must:
(1) File an application with the department.
(2) Pay a ten-dollar ($10) annual registration fee if the
winegrower is not currently licensed by the department.
(3) Provide the department its California alcoholic beverage
license number or a true copy of its current alcoholic beverage
license issued by another state.
(4) Obtain from the department a wine direct shipper permit.
(5) Obtain a seller's permit or register with the State Board of
Equalization pursuant to Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001) of
Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(b) A wine direct shipper permit authorizes the permitholder to do
all of the following:
(1) Sell and ship wine to any person 21 years of age or older for
his or her personal use and not for resale.
(2) Ship wine directly to a resident in this state only in
containers that are conspicuously labeled with the words: "CONTAINS
ALCOHOL: SIGNATURE OF PERSON AGE 21 YEARS OR OLDER REQUIRED FOR
DELIVERY."
(3) Ship wine only if the permitholder requires the carrier to
obtain the signature of any individual 21 years of age or older
before delivering any wine shipped to an individual in this state.
(4) If the permitholder is located outside of this state, report
to the department no later than January 31 of each year, the total
amount of wine shipped into the state during the preceding calendar
year under the wine direct shipper permit.
(5) If the permitholder is located outside of this state, pay to
the State Board of Equalization all sales and use taxes, and excise
taxes on sales to residents of California under the wine direct
shipper permit. For excise tax purposes, all wine sold pursuant to a
direct shipper permit shall be deemed to be wine sold in this state.
(6) If located within this state, provide the department any
necessary additional information not currently provided to ensure
compliance with this section.
(7) Permit the department or the State Board of Equalization to
perform an audit of the wine direct shipper permitholder's records
upon request.
(8) Be deemed to have consented to the jurisdiction of the
department or any other state agency and the California courts
concerning enforcement of this section any related laws, rules, or
regulations.
(d) A wine direct shipper permitholder located outside of the
state may annually renew its permit with the department by paying a
ten-dollar ($10) renewal registration fee and providing the
department with a true copy of its current alcoholic beverage license
issued by another state. A wine direct shipper permitholder located
in California shall renew its wine direct shipper permit in
conjunction with its master license. For purposes of this section,
"master license" means a winegrower's license issued by the
department.
(e) The department and the State Board of Equalization may
promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this
law.
(f) The department may enforce the requirements of this section by
administrative proceedings to suspend or revoke the wine direct
shipper permit, and the department may accept payment of an offer in
compromise in lieu of suspension as provided by this division. Any
hearing held pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of
Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code against a
permitholder outside of California shall be held in Sacramento.
(g) Sales and shipments of wine direct to consumers in California
from winegrowers who do not possess a current wine direct shipper
permit from the department are prohibited. Any person who knowingly
makes, participates in, transports, imports, or receives such a
shipment is guilty of a misdemeanor pursuant to Section 25617.
SEC. 3. Section 32101 of the Revenue and Taxation Code is amended
to read:
32101. The issuance of any manufacturer's, winegrower's, wine
blender's, distilled spirits manufacturer's agent's, rectifier's,
wholesaler's, importer's, customs broker's license, or wine direct
shipper permit under Division 9 (commencing with Section 23000) of
the Business and Professions Code shall constitute the registration
of the person to whom the license or permit is issued as a taxpayer
under this part. Upon the issuance of any of these licenses the
Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control shall furnish a copy thereof
to the board.
SEC. 4. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.