Bill > AB592

This bill makes several key changes related to COVID-19 pandemic adaptations in retail food and alcoholic beverage businesses. First, it extends the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control's ability to permit expanded license areas for alcoholic beverage sales (known as COVID-19 Temporary Catering Authorizations) until January 1, 2029, while prohibiting new authorizations after January 1, 2027. For local parking requirements, the bill makes permanent the existing provision that allows local jurisdictions to reduce required parking spaces to accommodate expanded outdoor dining areas that were created to mitigate pandemic restrictions. In the realm of food service, the bill permanently authorizes permitted food facilities to operate temporary satellite food services without additional permits, a provision originally created during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the bill introduces new flexibility for restaurants, allowing them to operate with open windows, folding doors, or non-fixed storefronts, provided they develop and submit a detailed integrated pest management and food safety risk mitigation plan to local enforcement agencies. This plan must include comprehensive risk assessments, control procedures, monitoring, employee training, and record-keeping, and the restaurant must self-close if any vermin activity is observed. The bill aims to provide continued operational flexibility for businesses that adapted during the pandemic while maintaining public health and safety standards.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs, Health and Social Services

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB592