Alcoholic beverages: certified farmers' market sales permit.

The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act permits the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to issue special temporary licenses and permits to various entities for limited purposes. The act permits the department to issue a certified farmers' market sales permit that authorizes a licensee under a winegrower's license, a member of the licensee's family, or an employee of the licensee to sell wine produced and bottled by the winegrower at certified farmers' market locations, under specified conditions. The act provides that a violation of its provisions is a misdemeanor, unless otherwise specified. This bill would specify that, pursuant to the certified farmers' market sales permit, the licensee may only sell wine that is produced entirely from grapes or other agricultural products grown by the winegrower and that is bottled by the winegrower. This bill would require the certified farmers' market sales permit to authorize the licensee, a member of the licensee's family, or an employee of the licensee to conduct an instructional tasting event on the subject of wine at a certified farmers' market, subject to certain conditions. By expanding the definition of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.