BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 1014
                                                                  Page  1

          CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
          AB 1014 (Fletcher and Chesbro)
          As Amended June 15, 2011
          Majority vote
           
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          |ASSEMBLY:  |70-0 |(May 12, 2011)  |SENATE: |33-0 |(July 1, 2011) |
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           Original Committee Reference:    HEALTH  

           SUMMARY  :  Exempts premises set aside for the purposes of beer 
          tasting, regardless of whether there is a charge for the 
          tasting, from the definition of a food facility subject to the 
          California Retail Food Code (CRFC), if beer and prepackaged 
          nonpotentially hazardous beverages are the only beverages 
          offered for sale for onsite consumption and crackers or pretzels 
          are the only food served.

           The Senate amendments  make a minor technical change.

           EXISTING LAW  :

          1)Establishes the CRFC to govern all aspects of retail food 
            safety and sanitation in California and makes local 
            environmental health departments primarily responsible for 
            enforcing CRFC through local food safety inspection programs.

          2)Exempts premises set aside for wine tasting from regulation 
            under the CRFC if no other beverage, except for bottles of 
            wine and prepackaged nonpotentially hazardous beverages, is 
            sold for onsite consumption and no food, except for crackers, 
            is served.

           AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY  , this bill was substantially similar 
          to the version passed by the Senate.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  According to the Senate Appropriations 
          Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.

           COMMENTS  :  According to the author, this bill is intended to 
          provide regulatory relief to small craft beer brewers who must 
          currently make substantial financial commitments to install 
          serving facilities that are on par with the health and 
          sanitation standards for retail food facilities under the CRFC.  








                                                                  AB 1014
                                                                  Page  2

          The author asserts that craft brewers simply seek to provide 
          small tasting rooms where samples of their craft beers can be 
          tasted, enjoyed, and promoted; therefore, they should not be 
          subject to the more stringent standards in the CRFC that are 
          appropriately applicable to restaurants and other food 
          establishments that handle and prepare food on site.  The author 
          argues that this bill will extend the current exemption from 
          CRFC regulation afforded to wine tasting rooms to beer tasting 
          rooms and promote the growth of California's craft brewing 
          industry.


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Cassie Royce / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097
                                                               FN: 0001389