BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 319
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 18, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 319 (Norby) - As Amended: April 4, 2011
Policy Committee: Governmental
Organization Vote: 17 - 0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill permits the sale and consumption of alcohol on all
community college campuses during special events that are held
with the permission of the governing board of the community
college district. The principle attendees at these events must
be the general public or invited guests and not students of the
community college.
FISCAL EFFECT
Any costs associated with this legislation would be minor and
absorbable within the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control's
existing resources.
COMMENTS
1)Existing Law . Existing law generally prohibits, with specified
exceptions, the possession, consumption and sale of alcoholic
beverages on the grounds of any public school (K-14). Over the
years, numerous legislative exceptions have been granted to
school districts to allow the possession and use of alcoholic
beverages on school grounds. These include instances where a
qualified community college district conducts viticulture
instructional programs or, in the case of one exception,
permitting the consumption of alcohol in conjunction with a
professional minor league baseball program at a community
college stadium or culinary arts programs at California
Community Colleges.
The above-mentioned exceptions were narrowly drafted and done
to address specific instances of alcohol consumption at an
AB 319
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event held on the grounds of specific community colleges.
2)Purpose . The author points out that the Legislature has
generally approved exceptions to the above mentioned
prohibition on a site by site basis and under very narrow
circumstances. Most recently, two bills AB 1860 (T.
Berryhill; Chapter 239, Statutes of 2010) and AB 1643 (Smyth;
Chapter 79, Statutes of 2010) allowed for exceptions for the
Marin and Stanislaus County Offices of Education's overnight
retreat center and at the College of the Canyons in the Santa
Clarita Valley.
This bill seeks to avoid the need for future legislation in
this area by providing a blanket exception for all community
college campuses statewide during special events.
Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)
319-2081