BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2609
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 30, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 2609 (Nestande) - As Amended: April 22, 2014
Policy Committee: Governmental
Organization Vote: 19-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill allows nonprofit organizations that promote home
brewing, or that are primarily composed of home brewers, to sell
beer at fundraising events subject to specified conditions,
including a limit of two events per year that sell wine or beer
for each organization.
FISCAL EFFECT
Minor and absorbable enforcement costs to the Department of
Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC).
COMMENTS
1) Purpose. According to the author, this bill corrects an
unintended consequence in AB 1425 (Governmental Organization
Committee), Chapter 463, Statutes of 2013. Following the
passage of that bill, ABC concluded the new law did not allow
for home-brewed wine or beer to be used at a fundraiser where
a ticket for the event must be purchased.
AB 2609 revises the description regarding the authorized
removal of home-brew beer from the home for use at a
competition, judging, exhibition, or tasting. It also
provides specific authorization for non-profit home-brew
associations to host annual or semi-annual events for their
members to participate in exhibitions, judging, tastings or
competitions.
2) Limitations and requirements. AB 2609 limits the number of
permits that can be issued for such events to two per
AB 2609
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nonprofit organization per calendar year. The bill requires
each event to contain an educational component, limits
attendance at the event to bona fide organization members only
and prohibits the organizations from soliciting new members on
the day of the event at the event site, requires the
organization to provide notice to attendees that the home
brewed beers at the event are not regulated products subject
to health and safety standards, and requires the organization
to provide ABC with a list of attendees 48 hours before the
event if more than 50 members are expected to attend the
event.
3) Event cancellations. Following the passage of AB 1425, the
California Homebrewers Association was forced to cancel its
2014 annual event. Similarly, the American Homebrewers
Association plans to hold its 2015 National Homebrewers
Conference in San Diego, but will likely be unable to do so
without amending the current law.
Analysis Prepared by : Joel Tashjian / APPR. / (916) 319-2081