BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 461 Page 1 Date of Hearing: May 8, 2013 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Mike Gatto, Chair AB 461 (Achadjian) - As Amended: May 1, 2013 Policy Committee: Governmental Organization Vote: 17 - 0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: SUMMARY This bill authorizes the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to issue five new original on-sale general licenses to San Luis Obispo County between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2016, for restaurants with a seating capacity for 50 or more diners. FISCAL EFFECT Any additional licensing and oversight costs for ABC associated with this legislation will be minor and absorbable. COMMENTS 1)Rationale . In 2012, ABC issued additional liquor licenses to counties with satisfactory population growth verified by the Department of Finance (DOF). San Luis Obispo County was not eligible for additional liquor licenses based on the set criteria. According to the author, while the county could not show satisfactory proof of population growth, the number of businesses unable to obtain a license each year demonstrates the County's need for additional liquor licenses. The author's office states, San Luis Obispo County is comprised of communities scattered along the beaches and mountains of the Central Coast. With such a diverse geography, many tourists make their way to the county for its various attractions. In conjunction with the growing wine and tourism industry, San Luis Obispo County has a flourishing restaurant scene, which requires the additional liquor licenses. AB 461 Page 2 2)Related Legislation . AB 1320 (Allen), Chapter 467, Statutes of 2012, authorized ABC to issue a maximum of 15 new original on-sale general licenses, over a three-year period, for bona fide public eating places in the County of Marin. AB 2266 (Evans), Chapter 130, Statutes of 2008, authorized ABC to issue a maximum of 15 new original on-sale general licenses, over a three-year period, for bona fide public eating places in the County of Napa. SB 762 (Cox), Chapter 193, Statutes of 2007, allowed ABC to issue 10 new original on-sale general licenses for bona fide public eating places in the County of Mono. Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916) 319-2081