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 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Governmental Organization |Vote:|18 - 0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Page 2 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: AB 2121 Page 3 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. AB 2121 Page 4 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