BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 893 Page 1 Date of Hearing: April 15, 2015 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Jimmy Gomez, Chair AB 893 (Mark Stone) - As Introduced February 26, 2015 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Governmental Organization |Vote:|21 - 0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No SUMMARY: This bill prohibits beer from being imported into or sold within the state unless the label for that beer is first filed with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). The bill permits ABC to accept the filing of labels by any means it determines are appropriate, including electronically, and specifies that a violation of this requirement does not subject the licensee to the civil or criminal provisions of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act. FISCAL EFFECT: AB 893 Page 2 Minor and absorbable costs to ABC. COMMENTS: 1)Purpose. According to the author, ABC has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of beer label applications as a result of rapid growth in the craft beer industry. AB 893 will help ABC streamline the label application process by allowing brewers to submit labels electronically as they can in several other states. The author contends this will enable California's craft brewers in particular to update their labels and bring new and seasonal products to market in a timely manner. 2)Beer Labels. Existing law requires every manufacturer or bottler whose beer is sold in California to file a label approval application with ABC and include an original label of each brand and size with the form. Currently, the forms must be sent via mail or fax, and the labels themselves must be originals. This bill permits ABC to accept electronic filings of the forms and labels as well as promulgate rules and regulations establishing the label information it deems necessary. Analysis Prepared by:Joel Tashjian / APPR. / (916) 319-2081 AB 893 Page 3