Alcoholic beverage licenses: Counties of Mariposa and Napa.

Existing law, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, which is administered by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, regulates the application, issuance, and suspension of alcoholic beverage licenses. Existing law generally prescribes the number of on-sale general licenses that the department may issue based on the population of the county in which the licensed premises are located, as provided. Existing law supplements these licenses by authorizing the department to issue additional on-sale general licenses in specified counties to bona fide public eating places based on seating capacity. This bill would authorize the department to issue up to 10 additional new original on-sale general licenses for bona fide public eating places in the County of Mariposa that have a seating capacity for 50 or more diners, not to exceed 5 per year. The bill would authorize the Board of Supervisors of the County of Mariposa to determine the number of licenses to be issued under this section in a given year, as provided. The bill would specify that a person holding a valid on-sale general license for seasonal business is not prohibited from applying for licenses to be issued pursuant to this authorization. The bill would prohibit transferring the new licenses out of the county or to a premises that does not qualify under these provisions. The bill would also prohibit selling or transferring the new licenses for a price greater than the original fee paid by the seller or transferor. This bill would also authorize the department, commencing January 1, 2021, to issue up to 10 additional new original on-sale general licenses per year to bona fide public eating places in the County of Napa that have a seating capacity for 25 or more diners. The bill would limit this authorization to a 5-year period. For specified additional on-sale general licenses issued on and after January 1, 2021, in the County of Napa, the bill would prohibit their sale or transference for a price greater than the original fee paid by the seller or transferor. This bill provides that the department may designate specified existing licenses and the new licenses described above as on-sale general for special use. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Mariposa and Napa.