BILL NUMBER: AB 517	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Hall

                        FEBRUARY 15, 2011

   An act to amend Section 23104.2 of the Business and Professions
Code, relating to alcoholic beverages.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 517, as introduced, Hall. Alcoholic beverage control:
licensees: returns.
   Under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, a wholesaler or
manufacturer may accept the return of beer from a retailer only if
the beer is returned in exchange for the identical quantity and brand
of beer. Existing law provides for exceptions, including permitting
a wholesaler or manufacturer to accept the return of beer from a
seasonal or temporary licensee or an annual licensee operating on a
temporary basis, as specified.
   This bill would allow for an additional exception to allow a
wholesaler or manufacturer to accept the return of unsold and
unopened beer from an organization that obtained a specified
temporary license, as provided.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 23104.2 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:
   23104.2.  (a) Subject to the exceptions specified in subdivision
(b), a retail licensee may return beer to the wholesaler or
manufacturer from whom the retail licensee purchased the beer, or any
successor thereto, and the wholesaler, manufacturer, or successor
thereto may accept that return if the beer is returned in exchange
for the identical quantity and brand of beer. No wholesaler or
manufacturer, or any successor thereto, shall accept the return of
any beer from a retail licensee except when the beer delivered was
not the brand or size container ordered by the retail licensee or the
amount delivered was other than the amount ordered, in which case
the order may be corrected by the wholesaler or manufacturer who sold
the beer, or any successor thereto. If a package had been broken or
otherwise damaged prior to or at the time of actual delivery, a
credit memorandum may be issued for the returned package by the
wholesaler or manufacturer who sold the beer, or any successor
thereto, in lieu of exchange for an identical package when the return
and corrections are completed within 15 days from the date the beer
was delivered to the retail licensee.
   (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a wholesaler or manufacturer,
or any successor thereto, may accept the return of beer purchased
from that wholesaler, manufacturer, or successor thereto, as follows:

   (1) (A) From a seasonal or temporary licensee if at the
termination of the period of the license the seasonal or temporary
licensee has beer remaining unsold, or from an annual licensee
operating on a temporary basis if at the termination of the temporary
period the annual licensee has beer remaining unsold.
   (B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), an annual licensee shall be
considered to be operating on a temporary basis if he or she operates
at seasonal resorts, including summer and winter resorts, or at
sporting or entertainment facilities, including racetracks, arenas,
concert halls, and convention centers. Temporary status shall be
deemed terminated when operations cease for 15 days or more. No
wholesaler or manufacturer, or successor thereto, shall accept the
return of beer from an annual licensee considered to be operating on
a temporary basis unless the licensee notifies that wholesaler or
manufacturer, or successor thereto, within 15 days of the date the
licensee's operations ceased.
   (2) (A) Subject to subparagraph (B), a wholesaler or manufacturer,
or any successor thereto, may, with department approval, accept the
return of a brand of beer discontinued in a California market area or
a seasonal brand of beer from a retail licensee, provided that the
beer is exchanged for a quantity of beer of a brand produced or sold
by the same manufacturer with a value no greater than the original
sales price to the retail licensee of the returned beer. For purposes
of this subparagraph, "seasonal brand of beer" means a brand of
beer, as defined in Section 23006, that is brewed by a manufacturer
to commemorate a specific holiday season and is so identified by
appropriate product packaging and labeling.
   (B) A discontinued brand of beer  may   shall
 not be reintroduced for a period of 12 months in the same
California market area in which a return and exchange of that beer as
described in subparagraph (A) has taken place. A seasonal brand of
beer  may   shall  not be reintroduced for
a period of six months in the same California market area in which a
return and exchange of that beer as described in subparagraph (A) has
taken place.
   (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a wholesaler or manufacturer,
or any successor thereto, may accept the return of beer purchased
from that wholesaler or manufacturer, or any successor thereto, by
the holder of a retail license following the revocation of,
suspension of, voluntary surrender of, or failure to renew the retail
license.
   (d) A wholesaler or manufacturer, or any successor thereto, may
credit the account of the retailer identified in subdivision (c) in
an amount not to exceed the original sales price to the retailer of
the returned beer, provided that the beer has been paid for in full.
   (e) Notwithstanding the 15-day time limit for the return of beer
described in subdivision (a), beer that is recalled for health or
safety issues may be accepted for return at anytime from a retailer
and be picked up by the seller of beer. The seller of beer may
exchange the returned beer for identical product, if safe inventory
is available, issue a deferred exchange memorandum showing the beer
was picked up and is to be replaced when inventory is available, or
issue a credit memorandum to the retailer for the returned beer. 

   (f) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a wholesaler or manufacturer
may accept the return of unsold and unopened beer purchased from that
wholesaler or manufacturer by a organization that obtained a
temporary license pursuant to Section 24045 or 24045.1. The licensee
may credit the account of the organization in an amount not to exceed
the original sales prices of the returned beer, provided that the
beer was paid for in full.