SB 603

Bill Subjects

Abstract

(1) The California Cigarette and Tobacco Products Licensing Act of 2003 requires a retailer to obtain a license from the State Board of Equalization to engage in the sale of cigarette and tobacco products in this state, requires a retailer to obtain a separate license for each retail location, requires retailer licensees to pay a one-time license fee of $100, no renewal fee, and a reinstatement fee of $100 if the license is renewed after lapse, and authorizes the board to suspend or revoke the license of any retailer of tobacco products that is in violation of the act. Existing law requires all moneys collected pursuant to the act to be deposited in the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Compliance Fund, which is available for appropriation by the Legislature solely for the purpose of implementing, enforcing, and administering the California Cigarette and Tobacco Products Licensing Act of 2003. This bill would specify that a new license may not be issued to a retailer for a retail location that is located within 600 feet of a school, except as specified. This bill would prohibit the board from issuing a new license to a retailer for a retail location in an area of overconcentration, as defined. The bill would authorize the board to issue a new license if the local governing body of the area in which the applicant's premises are located, or its designated subordinate officer or body, determines that public convenience or necessity would be served by the issuance. The bill would require that determination to be made within 90 days of notification of a completed application, as specified, except that if the local governing body, or its designated subordinate officer or body, did not make a determination within 90 days the license would be deemed denied. The board would be authorized to issue a license if the determination is made within the 90-day period and the applicant shows that public convenience or necessity would be served by the issuance. The bill would set the renewal fee at $100. This bill would allow, under specified circumstances, a retailer to transfer an existing license to another person for continued use at the same location upon the sale or transfer of the business holding the license, if the business is in an area of overconcentration. This bill would require the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and the State Department of Public Health to provide specified information to the board upon request. (2) Existing law, the Stop Tobacco Access to Kids Enforcement Act or STAKE Act, establishes various requirements for retailers relating to tobacco sales to minors. Existing law also makes it a misdemeanor for a retailer to knowingly or under circumstances in which it has knowledge, or should otherwise have grounds for knowledge, sell, give, or in any way furnish a minor with tobacco products or paraphernalia. Under existing law, violation of the STAKE Act or the misdemeanor provision result in State Board of Equalization action, on a set schedule, relating to the licensure of the retailer when the youth purchase survey finds that 13% or more of youth are able to purchase cigarettes, and makes the board's authority inoperative when a youth purchase survey shows less than 13% of youth were able to purchase cigarettes. This bill would allow the board to take action relating to the licensure of retailers who have violated the STAKE Act and misdemeanor provisions at any time, would require the enforcing agency to notify the board of a conviction of a violation in a timely manner, and would require the board to take appropriate action upon that notification. This bill would delete the provision conditioning the board's authority to take action against retailers on the results of a youth purchase survey. This bill would also modify the schedule of actions taken by the board for violations. This bill would require the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and the State Department of Public Health to provide specified information to the board upon request.