Alcoholic beverages.

(1) Existing law, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, administered by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, regulates the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages and the granting of licenses for the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages within the state. Existing law establishes limitations on the number of on-sale general licenses that may be issued by the department based on the population of the county in which the licensed premises are located, as provided. Existing law provides an exception to the license limitation for a county of the 6th class, as specified, for 5 new original neighborhood-restricted special on-sale general licenses for premises located within specified census tracts in that county, subject to specified requirements. This bill would specify that the above-described census tracts correspond to those identified within the 2010 Census. (2) Existing law prohibits any licensee from giving any premium, gift, or free goods in connection with the sale or distribution of any alcoholic beverage, but permits alcoholic beverages to be provided in consumer contests and sweepstakes subject to specified conditions. Existing law permits the department to issue a special temporary on-sale or off-sale beer or wine license to certain nonprofit corporations that entitles the licensee to sell beer or wine, as specified. Existing law limits the period of a special license to 15 days and provides that a special license shall be issued only 3 times in a calendar year. This bill would authorize up to 4 special licenses per nonprofit corporation per calendar year. (3) Existing law requires a special license that is issued for a period exceeding 2 days to be used solely for retail sales in conjunction with an identifiable fundraising event, as specified. This bill would expand that provision, instead requiring a special license that is issued for a period exceeding 2 days to be used solely in conjunction with an identifiable fundraising event, as specified. (4) Under existing law, an alcoholic beverage license is generally renewable unless the license has been revoked, except if it is a temporary license or a specified on-sale general license. Existing law prescribes procedures for the renewal of licenses that presume the use of mail for certain purposes. Existing law authorizes the reinstatement of a license that has been canceled pursuant to specified provisions during the 30 days immediately following cancellation upon payment by cashier's check or money order of the annual renewal fee plus a prescribed penalty fee. This bill would authorize the use of electronic mail for purposes of certain provisions of the above-described renewal process and would replace references to mailing with references to sending. With regard to payments made for the reinstatement of licenses, the bill would require that payment be made by cashier's check, money order, or electronically using payment methods authorized through the online payment portal of Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. (5) Existing law generally requires that a hearing held on a protest, accusation, or petition for an alcoholic beverage license be held in the county in which the premises or licensee is located. Existing law authorizes specified hearings before the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to be held at any place in the state where the department is meeting. This bill would authorize any hearing held on a protest, accusation, or petition for an alcoholic beverage license to be conducted in whole or in part by electronic means. The bill would require that any hearing conducted in person be held in the county in which the licensed premises or the licensee is located. For any part of a hearing conducted by electronic means, the bill would authorize the location of the hearing to be any place from which the department or any of the parties participates in the hearing. The bill would delete provisions that may compel holding a hearing in a city if a protest is filed against a license application and the proposed premises are in the city. This bill would authorize a party to a hearing that is noticed to be conducted electronically, as specified, to file a written motion to object to the electronic hearing and to request that the hearing, or portion of the hearing, to be conducted by electronic means be held in person and without the use of electronic communication. The bill would require that motion to include a proposed county for the location of the hearing and establish good cause regarding why an electronic hearing would be inappropriate. The bill would require this motion to be made to the presiding officer of the hearing and would specify the manner in which it is to be made.