AB 385

This bill allows a municipality that has reached its liquor license quota to issue

one additional license if certain conditions exist.

Current law prohibits a person from selling alcohol beverages at retail unless

the seller possesses a license or permit authorizing the sale. A “Class B" license

authorizes the retail sale of intoxicating liquor for consumption on the retail

premises and, subject to restrictions, the retail sale of intoxicating liquor in original

packages for consumption off the retail premises. Current law imposes a quota on

the number of “Class B" licenses that a municipality may issue. This quota is

generally determined by a formula based on the number of licenses previously issued

by the municipality and the municipality's population.

This bill modifies the quota formula to provide a municipality with one

additional “Class B" license if the municipality has already reached its quota and if

no “Class B" licensed establishment in the municipality satisfies current

accessibility standards for public accommodations under the federal Americans with

Disabilities Act (ADA). The additional “Class B" license may be issued only for an

establishment that satisfies ADA public accommodation accessibility standards for

new construction.