BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �






                                                       Bill No:  SB 
          937
          
                 SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
                       Senator Roderick D. Wright, Chair
                           2011-2012 Regular Session
                                 Staff Analysis

          
          SB 937  Author:  Committee on Governmental Organization
          As Introduced:  March 21, 2011
          Hearing Date:  May 10, 2011
          Consultant:  Art Terzakis


                                         
                                    SUBJECT  
                              Alcoholic Beverages

                                   DESCRIPTION
           
          SB 937 is the annual committee bill that makes 
          non-controversial and code maintenance changes to the 
          Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Act.  

                                   EXISTING LAW

           Existing law establishes the Department of ABC and grants 
          it exclusive authority to administer the provisions of the 
          ABC Act in accordance with laws enacted by the Legislature. 
           This involves licensing individuals and businesses 
          associated with the manufacture, importation and sale of 
          alcoholic beverages in this state and the collection of 
          license fees or occupation taxes for this purpose. 

                                    BACKGROUND
           
           Purpose of SB 937:   This measure is intended to be the 
          vehicle to make various technical corrections, deletions 
          and non-controversial changes to the ABC Act.  
          Specifically, this measure makes minor technical changes to 
          two existing provisions of the ABC Act as follows:

             1.   Existing law authorizes the Department of ABC to 
               place reasonable conditions upon retail licensees in 
               the exercise of retail privileges.  The proposed 




          SB 937 (Committee on Governmental Organization) 
          continuedPage 2
          


               change would correct an incorrect reference in Section 
               23800(e), as specified. 

             2.   Existing law authorizes the Department of ABC to 
               issue to the holder of any off-sale retail license an 
               instructional tasting license for the purpose of 
               furnishing tastings of alcoholic beverages to 
               consumers, subject to certain limitations.  The 
               proposed change would simply correct a misspelling of 
               the word "licenses" in Business & Professions Code 
               Section 25503.56(b)(1).

          These changes have been requested by the Department of ABC.
                                PRIOR LEGISLATION
           
           SB 1480 (Governmental Organization Committee) Chapter 296, 
          Statutes of 2010.  Made minor clarifying changes, as well as 
          code maintenance changes, to existing provisions of the ABC 
          Act in order to reduce paperwork requirements of the 
          Department of ABC. 
           
          SB 825 (Governmental Organization Committee) Chapter 68, 
          Statutes of 2009.  Made various technical, clarifying and 
          non-substantive changes to the ABC Act.

           SUPPORT:   None on file as of May 6, 2011.

           OPPOSE:   None on file as of May 6, 2011.

           FISCAL COMMITTEE:   No

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