BILL ANALYSIS
AB 59
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 6, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Kevin De Leon, Chair
AB 59 (Jeffries) - As Introduced: December 5, 2008
Policy Committee: Governmental
Organization Vote: 13 - 3
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill provides that, if a military identification card lacks
a physical description, further proof of majority shall not be
required to purchase or consume any alcoholic beverage.
FISCAL EFFECT
There are no significant costs associated with this legislation.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . Current law requires identification cards used to
establish proof of age for purchasing alcohol to include a
physical description along with a photo and birth date. As
noted below, AB 764 (Calderon; Chapter 68, Statutes of 2005)
clarified that military ID cards must conform to that law if
being used to purchase alcohol, unless the individual provides
a second form of identification, such as a driver's license,
that is issued by any government jurisdiction. This bill would
undo the provisions of that law by stating that a secondary
form of identification is not necessary.
According to the author, this legislation comes out of an
incident involving a group of marines from Camp Pendleton who
were denied the ability to purchase alcohol with their
military identification cards during a banquet hosted by the
city of Temecula.
The author asserts that many soldiers and sailors carry only
their military ID, especially when stationed away from their
AB 59
Page 2
home state. Other states, including New York, Florida, and
Illinois specifically allow military identifications to be
used as proof of age for the purchase of alcohol. The author
states, "I believe California should join those states in
honoring our military by honoring their ID cards."
2)Background . As of 2000, military identification cards only
display a photograph and birth date. The remaining
information, such as physical description, is electronically
encrypted on the card for security purposes.
3)Related Legislation . AB 764 (Calderon; Chapter 68, Statutes
of 2005) established a specified process where in the event an
ID card issued to a member of the Armed Forces is provided as
proof of age 21 when purchasing alcohol beverages, and the ID
lacks a physical description, then proof of being age 21 may
be further substantiated if a motor vehicle operator's license
or other valid bona fide identification issued by any
government jurisdiction is also provided as specified.
AB 1191 (Conway) of 2009, would authorize the acceptance of a
valid passport, issued by the United States government or a
foreign government, as bona fide evidence that a person is 21
years of age or older. That bill is currently pending in the
Assembly G.O. Committee.
Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)
319-2081