BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2121
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 18, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
2121 (Gonzalez) - As Amended May 11, 2016
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|Policy |Governmental Organization |Vote:|18 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: YesReimbursable:
No
SUMMARY:
This bill establishes the Responsible Beverage Service (RBS)
Training Program, beginning July 1, 2020. Specifically, this
bill:
1)Requires alcohol servers, as defined, to complete an approved
RBS training course within three months of employment and
every three years thereafter.
2)Requires RBS courses to cover certain information, including
AB 2121
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the impact of alcohol on the body and state laws and
regulations related to alcoholic beverage control.
3)Requires at least one RBS course to be offered for less than
$15 and at least one RBS course to be offered in Spanish.
4)Allows RBS courses to be offered through a trainer-led class
and assessment or self-training and assessment, and specifies
that participants must get a score of 70 percent to
successfully complete the course.
5)Requires the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to
publish a list of approved RBS training courses and to include
information on the RBS training course requirements and
documentation requirements on license applications and license
renewal notices.
6)Requires ABC to review an approved RBS training course at
least once every three years after the course is approved.
7)Allows ABC to establish additional training standards and
curricula to be included in an approved RBS training course.
ABC must establish minimum standards and promulgate
regulations for the training and scope of practice for a
person who sells or serves alcoholic beverages.
8)Requires all authorized licensees to maintain appropriate
records and to provide those records upon request of ABC.
FISCAL EFFECT:
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1)Moderate costs to ABC in the range of $250,000 annually in the
first three years of the program to develop, evaluate, and
implement this program. This includes two additional positions
to assist with the rulemaking process as well as the
additional overhead required to accommodate additional
certification processes. (Alcohol Beverage Control Fund)
2)ABC will continue to incur additional costs to maintain the
program and review courses, but those costs are expected to
decrease over time. Moreover, ABC may require a fee for
certification and recertification, helping offset costs.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, this bill will help ensure
those who serve alcohol to patrons learn the necessary skills
to protect customers, the public, the server, and businesses.
Under AB 2121, California would follow the lead of 18 other
states and the District of Columbia by making intervention
training a requirement for employees who serve alcohol. The
author notes that a beverage server should be trained to
intervene before patrons become over-served alcohol, which can
play an important role in ensuring that the public is
protected.
2)Background on current training programs. Responsible Beverage
Service Training (RBS) is not mandatory in California. Some
cities and counties do require RBS training to sell or serve
alcoholic beverages at establishments within those
jurisdictions. For instance, the City of Solana Beach
requires training within 30 days of being hired and
certification is valid for 3 years.
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ABC also offers a free and voluntary 4-hour class, called
Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs (LEAD for retail
licensees, their employees and applicants. In 1991, the
program began due to a grant from the California Office of
Traffic Safety. The LEAD Program provides the licensee and
applicant with practical information on serving alcoholic
beverages safely, responsibly, and legally, and preventing
illicit drug activity at the licensed establishment. At the
conclusion of the class, an exam is given on the material that
was covered. Each person that fulfills all of the training
requirements receives a certificate, via email, certifying
that they successfully completed a LEAD training course.
Analysis Prepared by:Luke Reidenbach / APPR. / (916)
319-2081