BILL NUMBER: SB 148 CHAPTERED 09/29/06 CHAPTER 625 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 29, 2006 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 29, 2006 PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 31, 2006 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 29, 2006 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 21, 2006 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 7, 2006 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 26, 2006 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 14, 2006 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 15, 2005 AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 27, 2005 AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 2, 2005 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 11, 2005 INTRODUCED BY Senator Scott (Principal coauthor: Senator Florez) (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Liu) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Bass, Frommer, Hancock, Jerome Horton, Jones, Oropeza, and Umberg) FEBRUARY 7, 2005 An act to amend Sections 23800 and 24200 of, and to add Section 24200.1 to, the Business and Professions Code, relating to alcoholic beverages. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 148, Scott Alcoholic beverages: licenses. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act authorizes the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to impose reasonable conditions on the exercise of retail privileges under the act. The department may impose conditions on certain license transfers at the request of a local governing body in whose jurisdiction a license is located. Existing law requires the local governing body to make the request for imposition of conditions, which shall be supported by substantial evidence, as provided, if the license to be transferred is located in an area of undue concentration, as defined. This bill would authorize the department to also impose conditions that it determines are reasonable pursuant to its investigation. Existing law specifies the grounds that constitute a basis for the suspension or revocation of an alcoholic beverage license, including a licensee's failure, within a reasonable time, after specified notice from a district attorney, city attorney, county counsel, or the department to take reasonable steps to correct objectionable conditions on the licensed premises, as provided. This bill would provide additional bases for the suspension or revocation of an alcoholic beverage license, when a licensee fails to take reasonable steps to correct objectionable conditions on the licensed premises or on any public sidewalk abutting a licensed premises, as provided, after specified notice from the district attorney, city attorney, or a county counsel. This bill would also impose a continuing obligation on the licensee, after correcting the objectionable conditions that constitute a nuisance, as provided. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 23800 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 23800. The department may place reasonable conditions upon retail licensees or upon any licensee in the exercise of retail privileges in the following situations: (a) If grounds exist for the denial of an application for a license or where a protest against the issuance of a license is filed and if the department finds that those grounds may be removed by the imposition of those conditions. (b) Where findings are made by the department which would justify a suspension or revocation of a license, and where the imposition of a condition is reasonably related to those findings. In the case of a suspension, the conditions may be in lieu of or in addition to the suspension. (c) Where the department issues an order suspending or revoking only a portion of the privileges to be exercised under the license. (d) Where findings are made by the department that the licensee has failed to correct objectionable conditions within a reasonable time after receipt of notice to make corrections given pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 24200, or subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 24200.1. (e) (1) At the time of transfer of a license pursuant to Section 24071.1, 24071.2, or 24072 and upon written notice to the licensee, the department may adopt conditions that the department determines are reasonable pursuant to its investigation or that are requested by the local governing body, or its designated subordinate officer or agency, in whose jurisdiction the license is located. The request for conditions shall be supported by substantial evidence that the problems either on the premises or in the immediate vicinity identified by the local governing body or its designated subordinate officer or agency will be mitigated by the conditions. Upon receipt of the request for conditions, the department shall either adopt the conditions requested or notify the local governing body, or its designated subordinate officer or agency, in writing of its determination that there is not substantial evidence that the problem exists or that the conditions would not mitigate the problems identified. The department may adopt conditions only when the request is filed. Any request for conditions from the local governing body or its designated subordinate officer or agency pursuant to this provision shall be filed with the department within the time authorized for a local law enforcement agency to file a protest or proposed conditions pursuant to Section 23987. (2) If the license to be transferred subject to paragraph (1) is located in an area of undue concentration as defined in Section 23958.4, the period within which the local governing body or its designated subordinate officer or agency may submit a written request for conditions shall be 40 days after the mailing of the notices required by Section 23987. For purposes of this provision only, undue concentration shall be established when the requirements of both paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) and either paragraph (2) or paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 23958.4 exist. Pursuant to Section 23987, the department may extend the 40-day period for a period not to exceed an additional 20 days upon the written request of any local law enforcement agency or local government entity with jurisdiction. Nothing in this paragraph is intended to reduce the burden of the local governing body or its designated subordinate officer or agency to support any request for conditions as required by paragraph (1). Notwithstanding Section 23987, the department may not transfer any license subject to this paragraph until after the time period permitted to request conditions as specified in this paragraph. SEC. 2. Section 24200 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 24200. The following are the grounds that constitute a basis for the suspension or revocation of licenses: (a) When the continuance of a license would be contrary to public welfare or morals. However, proceedings under this subdivision are not a limitation upon the department's authority to proceed under Section 22 of Article XX of the California Constitution. (b) Except as limited by Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 25000), the violation or the causing or permitting of a violation by a licensee of this division, any rules of the board adopted pursuant to Part 14 (commencing with Section 32001) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, any rules of the department adopted pursuant to the provisions of this division, or any other penal provisions of law of this state prohibiting or regulating the sale, exposing for sale, use, possession, giving away, adulteration, dilution, misbranding, or mislabeling of alcoholic beverages or intoxicating liquors. (c) The misrepresentation of a material fact by an applicant in obtaining a license. (d) The plea, verdict, or judgment of guilty, or the plea of nolo contendere to any public offense involving moral turpitude or under any federal law prohibiting or regulating the sale, exposing for sale, use, possession, or giving away of alcoholic beverages or intoxicating liquors or prohibiting the refilling or reuse of distilled spirits containers charged against the licensee. (e) Failure to take reasonable steps to correct objectionable conditions on the licensed premises, including the immediately adjacent area that is owned, leased, or rented by the licensee, that constitute a nuisance, within a reasonable time after receipt of notice to make those corrections from the department, under Section 373a of the Penal Code. For the purpose of this subdivision only, "property or premises" as used in Section 373a of the Penal Code includes the area immediately adjacent to the licensed premises that is owned, leased, or rented by the licensee. (f) Failure to take reasonable steps to correct objectionable conditions that occur during business hours on any public sidewalk abutting a licensed premises and constitute a nuisance, within a reasonable time after receipt of notice to correct those conditions from the department. This subdivision shall apply to a licensee only upon written notice to the licensee from the department. The department shall issue this written notice upon its own determination, or upon a request from the local law enforcement agency in whose jurisdiction the premises are located, that is supported by substantial evidence that persistent objectionable conditions are occurring on the public sidewalk abutting the licensed premises. For purposes of this subdivision: (1) "Any public sidewalk abutting a licensed premises" means the publicly owned, pedestrian-traveled way, not more than 20 feet from the premises, that is located between a licensed premises, including any immediately adjacent area that is owned, leased, or rented by the licensee, and a public street. (2) "Objectionable conditions that constitute a nuisance" means disturbance of the peace, public drunkenness, drinking in public, harassment of passersby, gambling, prostitution, loitering, public urination, lewd conduct, drug trafficking, or excessive loud noise. (3) "Reasonable steps" means all of the following: (A) Calling the local law enforcement agency. Timely calls to the local law enforcement agency that are placed by the licensee, or his or her agents or employees, shall not be construed by the department as evidence of objectionable conditions that constitute a nuisance. (B) Requesting those persons engaging in activities causing objectionable conditions to cease those activities, unless the licensee, or his or her agents or employees, feel that their personal safety would be threatened in making that request. (C) Making good faith efforts to remove items that facilitate loitering, such as furniture, except those structures approved or permitted by the local jurisdiction. The licensee shall not be liable for the removal of those items that facilitate loitering. (4) When determining what constitutes "reasonable steps," the department shall consider site configuration constraints related to the unique circumstances of the nature of the business. (g) Subdivision (f) does not apply to a bona fide public eating place, as defined in Section 23038, 23038.1, or 23038.2, that is so operated by a retail on-sale licensee or on-sale beer and wine licensee; a hotel, motel, or similar lodging establishment, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 25503.16; a winegrowers license; a licensed beer manufacturer, as defined in Section 23357; those same or contiguous premises for which a retail licensee concurrently holds an off-sale retail beer and wine license and a beer manufacturer's license; or those same or contiguous premises at which a retail on-sale licensee or on-sale beer and wine licensee who is licensed as a bona fide public eating place as defined in Section 23038, 23038.1, or 23038.2, a hotel, motel, or similar lodging establishment as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 25503.16, a licensed beer manufacturer, as defined in Section 23357, or a winegrowers license, sells off-sale beer and wine under the licensee' s on-sale license. SEC. 3. Section 24200.1 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read: 24200.1. The following are additional bases upon which the department may suspend or revoke a license: (a) Failure to take reasonable steps to correct objectionable conditions on the licensed premises, including the immediately adjacent area that is owned, leased, or rented by the licensee, that constitute a nuisance within a reasonable time after receipt of notice to make those corrections from a district attorney, city attorney, or a county counsel, under Section 373a of the Penal Code. For the purpose of this subdivision only, "property or premises" as used in Section 373a of the Penal Code includes the area immediately adjacent to the licensed premises that is owned, leased, or rented by the licensee. (b) Failure to take reasonable steps to correct objectionable conditions that occur during business hours on any public sidewalk abutting a licensed premises and constitute a nuisance within a reasonable time after receipt of notice to correct those conditions from a district attorney, city attorney, or a county counsel. This subdivision shall apply to a licensee only upon written notice to the licensee from a district attorney, city attorney, or a county counsel. (c) Notwithstanding that the licensee corrects the objectionable conditions that constitute a nuisance, the licensee has a continuing obligation to meet the requirements of subdivisions (a) and (b), and failure to do so shall constitute grounds for disciplinary action pursuant to this section. (d) For purposes of this section: (1) "Any public sidewalk abutting a licensed premises" means the publicly owned, pedestrian-traveled way, not more than 20 feet from the premises, that is located between a licensed premises, including any immediately adjacent area that is owned, leased, or rented by the licensee, and a public street. (2) "Objectionable conditions that constitute a nuisance" means disturbance of the peace, public drunkenness, drinking in public, harassment of passersby, gambling, prostitution, loitering, public urination, lewd conduct, drug trafficking, excessive loud noise, or failure to comply with the minimum operating standards required by Section 25612.5. (3) "Reasonable steps" means all of the following: (A) Calling the local law enforcement agency. Timely calls to the local law enforcement agency that are placed by the licensee, or his or her agents or employees, shall not be construed by the department as evidence of objectionable conditions that constitute a nuisance. (B) Requesting those persons engaging in activities causing objectionable conditions to cease those activities, unless the licensee, or his or her agents or employees, feel that their personal safety would be threatened in making that request. (C) Making good faith efforts to remove items that facilitate loitering, such as furniture, except those structures approved or permitted by the local jurisdiction. The licensee shall not be liable for the removal of those items that facilitate loitering. (4) When determining what constitutes "reasonable steps," the department shall consider site configuration constraints related to the unique circumstances of the nature of the business. (5) "Reasonable time" shall mean 30 days following service of notice pursuant to either subdivision (a) or subdivision (b) upon a licensee that objectionable conditions exist. (e) Subdivision (b) does not apply to a bona fide public eating place, as defined in Section 23038, 23038.1, or 23038.2, that is so operated by a retail on-sale licensee or on-sale beer and wine licensee; a hotel, motel, or similar lodging establishment, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 25503.16; a winegrowers license; a licensed beer manufacturer, as defined in Section 23357; those same or contiguous premises for which a retail licensee concurrently holds an off-sale retail beer and wine license and a beer manufacturer's license; or those same or contiguous premises at which a retail on-sale licensee or on-sale beer and wine licensee who is licensed as a bona fide public eating place as defined in Section 23038, 23038.1, or 23038.2, a hotel, motel, or similar lodging establishment as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 25503.16, a licensed beer manufacturer, as defined in Section 23357, or a winegrowers license, sells off-sale beer and wine under the licensee' s on-sale license. (f) A hearing for a violation of this section shall be held within 60 days of an accusation being filed.