Cal. BPC § 22973.3 — California Code / Code bpc / Division 8.6 / Chapter 2 / Section 22973.3
Section 22973.3
Status: in_force

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, an application for a retailer license, as defined in Section 22972, for the sale of a tobacco product, as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 22950.5, that is not subject to a tax imposed by the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Tax Law pursuant to Part 13 (commencing with Section 30001) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code shall be filed in a form and manner prescribed by the department and shall include the following:

(1) The name, address, and telephone number of the applicant.

(2) The business name, address, and telephone number of each retail location. For applicants who control more than one retail location, an address for receipt of correspondence or notices from the department, such as a headquarters or corporate office of the retailer, shall also be included on the application and listed on the license. Citations issued to licensees shall be forwarded to all addressees on the license.

(3) A statement by the applicant affirming that the applicant has not been convicted of a felony and has not violated and will not violate or cause or permit to be violated any of the provisions of this division or any rule of the department applicable to the applicant or pertaining to the manufacture, sale, or distribution of cigarettes or tobacco products. If the applicant is unable to affirm this statement, the application shall contain a statement by the applicant of the nature of any violation or the reasons that will prevent the applicant from complying with the requirements with respect to the statement.

(4) If any other licenses or permits have been issued by the department or the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to the applicant, the license or permit number of those licenses or permits then in effect.

(5) A statement by the applicant that the contents of the application are complete, true, and correct. Any person who signs a statement pursuant to this subdivision that asserts the truth of any material matter that they know to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of up to one year in a county jail, or a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both the imprisonment and the fine.

(6) The signature of the applicant.

(7) Any other information the department may require.

(b) The department may investigate to determine the truthfulness and completeness of the information provided in the application. The department may issue a retailer license without further investigation to an applicant for a retail location if the applicant holds a valid license from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for that same location.

(c) The department shall provide electronic means for applicants to download and submit applications.

(d) (1) Each application for a retailer license filed on or after January 1, 2017, and before July 1, 2026, shall be accompanied with a fee of two hundred sixty-five dollars ($265) per retail location. An applicant that owns or controls more than one retail location shall obtain a separate license and shall pay a separate fee for each retail location, but may submit a single application for those retailer licenses with an application license fee of two hundred sixty-five dollars ($265) per retail location. The fee per retail location shall be for the period provided in subdivision (d) of Section 22972 and shall not be prorated.

(2) Each application for a retailer license filed on or after July 1, 2026, shall be accompanied with a fee of four hundred fifty dollars ($450) per retail location and shall not be prorated.

(e) (1) Every retailer shall file an application for renewal of the retailer license in the form and manner prescribed by the department and shall be accompanied with the applicable fee, as follows:

(2) Each application for renewal of the retailer license filed on or after January 1, 2017, and before July 1, 2026, shall be accompanied with a fee of two hundred sixty-five dollars ($265) per retail location.

(3) Each application for renewal of the retailer license filed on or after July 1, 2026, shall be accompanied with a fee of four hundred fifty dollars ($450) per retail location.

(f) The department may, by regulation, adjust the application license fee amount set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) and the renewal license fee amount set forth in paragraph (3) of subdivision (e) to an amount not to exceed six hundred dollars ($600) per retail location to maintain the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Compliance Fund at a level that is no more than necessary to cover the reasonable costs of the department to administer this division.

(g) (1) The department shall report back to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2019, regarding the adequacy of funding for the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Licensing Act of 2003 with regard to tobacco products for which a license is required by this section. The report shall include data and recommendations about whether the annual licensing fee funding levels are set at an appropriate level to maintain an effective enforcement program.

(2) The report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(h) (1) This section applies to a retailer who sells a tobacco product, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 22950.5, that is not subject to a tax imposed by the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Tax Law pursuant to Part 13 (commencing with Section 30001) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, and who does not already possess a valid retailer license to sell cigarettes or tobacco products issued pursuant to Section 22972.

(2) A retailer that possesses a valid retailer license to sell cigarettes and tobacco products issued pursuant to Section 22972 may also sell under that license a tobacco product, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 22950.5, that is not subject to a tax imposed by the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Tax Law pursuant to Part 13 (commencing with Section 30001) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.