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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07101990 - 2.1 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 'S. L.° ea 1 Contra FROM: COSta Phil Batchelor, County Administrator x, 4o County DATE: July 5, 1990 SUBJECT: LEGISLATION: THE ALCOHOL TAX ACT OF 1990 - Initiative Statute & Constitutional Amendment SPECIFIC REQUESTS)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: Support the Alcohol Tax Act of 1990 , as opposed to ACA 38, since both measures have now qualified for the ballot in November, 1990. BACKGROUND: The Board of Supervisors has consistently opposed each version of ACA 38 as it was working its way through the Legislature. When , the initial vote was taken on the Assembly Floor to concur in the amendments made in the Senate, the Board wrote to each member of the Assembly who either voted "no" or did not vote, and urged them not to change their vote. Many of them did, however, and ACA 38 is now on the ballot in November. Since it appears that the Initiative has qualified for the ballot as well, the Board has asked that we place a recommendation on the agenda to support the Initiative in preference to ACA 38. The Alcohol Tax Act of 1990 would do all of the following: 1. Defines a unit of beer to be 12 ounces, a unit of wine to be 5 ounces, a unit of fortified wine to be 3 ounces and a unit of distilled spirits to be 1 ounce. 2. Imposes a surtax on the excise tax on alcoholic beverages at a rate of five cents per unit as defined above. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT:YeS YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): (Z,&Z '41 ACTION OF BOARD ON July 1 0., 1990 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED _Y OTHER SupervisorsFanden abstained because of a Conflict of Interest VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES. Z �� ZZ Y NOES: �j AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: s+ OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. CC: ATTESTED 1T/ ?V Please see Page 4. PHIL TCHEL CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR �• M382 (10/88) BY DEPUTY -2- 3 . Exempts the proceeds of the alcoholic beverage surtax from the "Gann Limit" . 4. Allocates the proceeds of the surtax as follows: * 24% to the Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Account, which is then further allocated as follows: 4% to counties for prevention of alcohol and other drug problems (70% alcohol/30% drug ratio) . 13% to counties for treatment and recovery services for alcohol and other drug problems ( 70% alcohol/30% drug ratio) . - 20 to the State Department of Health Services for a coordinated statewide and local training, public policy and public awareness program to prevent alcohol and other drug problems. 5% to counties for capital expenditures for housing, treatment and recovery facilities, domestic violence shelters, and homeless and low-income facilities for persons recovering from alcohol and other drug-related problems. * 25 to the Emergency and Trauma Care Account, which is then further to be allocated as follows: 17% to counties for emergency medical and trauma care treatment and all related services. 8% to counties for emergency medical and trauma care services provided by physicians in general acute care hospitals that provide basic or comprehensive emergency services up to the time the patient is stabilized. * 15% to the Mental Health Account, to be used for locally-implemented community mental health programs. The use of these funds is subject to the provisions of the Short-Doyle Act and are to be expended for the following purposes: 50% for seriously mentally-ill adults. 30% for emotionally-disturbed children and adolescents. - 20% for mentally-ill older adults. * 15% to the Infants, Children and Innocent Victims Account, which is then further to be allocated as follows: 6% to- counties for prevention, treatment and care of the health needs of infants, children and women due to perinatal alcohol and other drug use. - 4% to counties for prevention, treatment and care of children who are the victims of child abuse. 3% to counties for shelter, support services and prevention programs whose primary purpose is to serve battered women and their children. 2% to the State Department of Rehabilitation for training, education, public policy, research and -3- related support services for persons with disabilities. * 21% to the Law Enforcement Account, which is then further to be allocated as follows: 2% to counties and cities for enforcement of laws prohibiting driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or any other drug, or the combined influence of an alcoholic beverage and any other drug, and related criminal justice and penal system costs and services. 14% to counties and cities for enforcement of alcohol and other drug-related laws, and related criminal justice and penal system costs and services. 2% to cities, counties and special districts for recreation and park programs and projects that address alcohol and other drug impacts on public parks and facilities, including public safety, litter, vandalism, youth-at-risk, and other prevention and diversion activities. - 2 to the CHP for operation and administration of a statewide emergency medical air transportation network. to to the CHP for enforcement, education and training relative to laws prohibiting driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or any other drug, or the combined influence of an alcoholic beverage and any other drug. 5. Requires a maintenance of effort whereby state funding must remain at the 1989-90 level and per-capita level. This is probably the most controversial element of the measure and is, no doubt, the one generating the controversial radio advertising. This section reads in full as follows: "Funds expended pursuant to this chapter shall be used only for the purposes specified in this chapter and shall supplement 1989-90 state funding and per capita levels of service and not replace existing state funding nor fund future state increases in the cost of providing existing per-capita levels of service. Existing state funding and per capita levels of service for purposes specified in this chapter shall not be reduced." 6. Provides additional specific restrictions on the use of the funds and definitions which are to govern the use of the funds. 7. The entire chapter becomes effective January 1, 1991, presumably meaning that that is when the surtax on alcoholic beverages becomes effective. 8. Provides that the chapter can be amended by the Legislature only by a 4/5 vote and then only for purposes which are consistent with the intent of the chapter. 9. Includes a separability clause in case one provision of the measure is determined to be invalid or unconstitutional that all other provisions will remain in effect. -4- It has been estimated that the surtax would generate between $700 and $800 million annually in additional revenue to be allocated at outlined above. cc: Members, Board of Supervisors Members, Legislative Delegation All County Department Heads Alcohol Program Administrator Drug Program Administrator Kathy Fairbanks, Alcohol Tax Initiative 2500 Wilshire Blvd. , Suite 515 Los Angeles, CA 90057 FILED LEG COUN THE ALCOHOL TAX ACT OF 1990 SECTION 1. This measure shall be known and may be cited as the Alcohol Tax Act of 1990 . SECTION 2 . The people find and declare as follows : (a) Alcohol problems cost Californians about $13 . 6 billion annually in increased health care costs , higher crime rates , lost worker productivity, environmental damage, and injuries from alcohol-related accidents and abuse . (b) The staggering cost of alcohol abuse is borne by all Californians , but 67 percent of the alcohol is consumed by only 11 percent of the population. (c) An increase in the excise tax levied on alcoholic beverages that is equivalent to a nickel-a-drink is a fair way to reduce the alcohol burden on all California taxpayers . (d) Alcohol-related accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers and the cause of many injuries resulting in permanent disabilities . (e) There is a strong correlation between alcohol and other drug use. ( f) Meeting the demand for alcohol and other drug treatment and recovery programs is an increasingly expensive burden to all California taxpayers . (g) Alcohol and other drug use is a major cause of hospital emergency room and trauma care treatment, and contributes to the need for emergency medical air-transportation services . (h) Alcohol and other drug use is closely associated with mental illness and contributes enormously to the cost of treating the mentally ill. I (i) Alcohol and other drug use contributes significantly to vandalism, litter, and unruly and criminal behavior in California' s parks and recreation facilities . (j ) Alcohol and other drug use is a major factor in the majority of child abuse and battered woman cases , and is also frequently associated with abuse of elderly, mentally-ill and mentally-retarded residents of long-term care facilities . (k) Alcohol use during pregnancy causes approximately 5 , 000 children to be born in California each year with - 1 - y alcohol-related birth defects ; and other drug use during pregnancy, especially cocaine, causes thousands of drug-affected babies to be born each year. (1) Drinking and driving, and driving under the influence of other drugs, is the major cause of traffic accidents and fatalities in California each year. (m) Alcohol and other drug-related crimes are an increasing burden to law enforcement and the criminal justice system in California. SECTION 3. Section 7 is added to Article XIII A of the Constitution, to read: SECTION 7 . The Alcohol Tax Act of 1990 is exempted from the provisions of Section 3 . SECTION 4 . Section 13 is added to Article XIII B of the Constitution, to read: SECTION 13 . "Appropriations subject to limitation" of each entity of government shall not include appropriations of revenue from the Alcohol Surtax Fund created by the Alcohol Tax Act of 1990 . No adjustment in the appropriations limit of any entity of government shall be required pursuant to Section 3 as a result of revenue being deposited in or appropriated from the Alcohol Surtax Fund created by the Alcohol Tax Act of 1990. SECTION 5. Chapter 5 .5 (commencing with Section 32220 ) is added to Part 14 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, to read: Chapter 5.5 . Surtax on Beer, Wine and Distilled Spirits . Article 1. Definitions . Section 32220. For purposes of this chapter: (a) "Fund" means the Alcohol Surtax Fund created by Section 32221. (b) "Unit, " for purposes of Article 3 , means the appropriate measure of any of the following: ( 1) Twelve ounces of beer. ( 2 ) Five ounces of all wine, except those in subdivision ( 3 ) . ( 3 ) Three ounces of fortified wine. - 2 - ( 4 ) One ounce of distilled spirits . (c) "Fortified Wine" means any wine which ( i) contains alcohol in an amount equal to or more than fourteen percent by volume when bottled or packaged by the manufacturer, ( ii) is not both sealed and capped by cork closure, and aged two or more years , (iii) does not contain fourteen or more percent of alcohol by volume solely as a result of the natural fermentation process , and (iv) has been produced with the addition of wine spirits, brandy or alcohol . Article 2 . Creation of Fund. Section 32221. The Alcohol Surtax Fund is hereby created in the State Treasury-. The fund shall consist of all revenues raised pursuant to the taxes imposed by Article Article 3 , and all interest and penalties imposed thereon pursuant to this part. Earnings derived from investment of monies in the fund shall accrue to the fund. Monies in the fund shall be continuously appropriated without regard to fiscal year. Section 32222 . The fund consists of five separate accounts , as follows : (a) The Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Account, funds from which shall only be expended for the following: ( 1) Prevention of alcohol and other drug problems . (2) Treatment and recovery services for alcohol and other drug problems . (3) A coordinated statewide and local training, public policy and public awareness program to prevent alcohol and other drug problems , and to inform the public, particularly children and teenagers, of the potential health risks of alcohol and other drug use. (4) Capital expenditures (including accessibility improvements for the disabled) for housing, treatment and recovery facilities, domestic violence shelters ,, and homeless and low-income facilities for persons recovering from alcohol- and other drug-related problems . (b) The Emergency and Trauma Care Account, funds from which shall only be expended for the following: ( 1) Emergency medical and trauma care treatment and all related services . (2) Emergency medical and trauma care services provided by physicians in general acute care hospitals that provide 3 - basic or comprehensive emergency services up to the time the patient is stabilized. (c) The Mental Health Account, funds from which shall only be expended for locally-implemented community mental health programs . (d) The Infants , Children and Innocent Victims Account, funds from which shall only be expended for the following: ( 1) Prevention, treatment and care of the health needs of infants , children and women due to perinatal alcohol and other drug use . (2) Prevention, treatment and care of children who are the victims of child abuse. (3 ) Shelter, support services and prevention programs whose primary purpose is to serve battered women and their children. (4) Training, education, public policy, research and related support services for persons with disabilities . (e) The Law Enforcement Account, funds from which shall only be expended for the following: ( 1) Enforcement of laws prohibiting driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or any other drug, or the combined influence of an alcoholic beverage and any other drug, and related criminal justice and penal system costs and services . (2) Enforcement of alcohol- and other drug-related laws , and related criminal justice and penal system costs and services . ( 3) Recreation and park programs and projects that address alcohol and other drug impacts on public parks and facilities , including public safety, litter, vandalism, youth-at-risk, and other prevention and diversion activities . (4) Operation and administration of a 'statewide emergency medical air-transportation network. (5) Enforcement, education and training relative to laws prohibiting driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or any other drug, or the combined influence of an alcoholic beverage and any other drug. Article 3 . Imposition of the Surtax on Beer, wine and Distilled Spirits . Section 32225. A surtax at the rate of five cents 4 - ( .0 . 05 ) per unit, as defined in Section 32220 ( b) , and at a proportionate rate for any other quantity, is iriposed upon every unit of beer and wine sold in this state or sold pursuant to Section 23384 of the Business and Professions Code, by a manufacturer, wine grower, or importer, or sellers of beer or wine selling beer or wine with respect to which no tax has been paid within areas over which the United States Goveriunent exercises jurisdiction. Section 32226 . A surtax at the rate of five cents ( $0 . 05 ) per unit, as defined in Section 32220 (b) , and at a proportionate rate for any other quantity, is imposed upon every unit of distilled spirits sold in this state or sold pursuant to Section 23384 of the Business and Professions Code, by manufacturers , distilled spirits manufacturer ' s agents , brandy manufacturers , rectifiers , and wholesalers , or sellers of distilled spirits selling distilled spirits with respect to which no tax has been paid within areas over which the United States Government exercises jurisdiction. Section 32227 . Except with respect to beer and wine in the internal revenue bonded premises of a beer manufacturer or wine grower, and except with respect to those distilled spirits in possession or control of distilled spirits taxpayers as defined by Section 23010 of the Business and Professions Code, upon which the taxes imposed by Section 32226 have not been paid, a floor stock tax of five cents ( $0 . 05 ) shall be imposed on every unit of beer, wine and distilled spirits in the possession or under the control of every person licensed under Division 9 (commencing with Section 23000 ) of the Business and Professions Code on or after 2 : 01 a .m. on January 1 , 1991 , pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Equalization. This floor stock tax shall be due and payable on February 15, 1991 . Section 32228 . The taxes imposed by this article are imposed in addition to any other tax imposed upon beer, wine and distilled spirits by this part, and in addition to any other tax imposed upon beer, wine or distilled spirits by the voters at the November 6 , 1990 election. Section 32229 . All the provisions of this part, with the exception of those contained in Chapter 10 , relating to excise taxes , are applicable also to the taxes imposed by this Article, to the extent that they are riot inconsistent with this Article. Article 4 . Disposition of the Surtax Proceeds Section 32230 . . (a) With the exception of payments of refunds made pursuant to Chapter 8 of this part, and, as determined by the Department of Finance, reimbursement of the State Board of Equalization for expenses incurred in the - 5 - administration, enforcement and collection of the taxes imposed by Article 3 , pursuant to its powers vested by this part, and reimbursement of the State Controller for expenses incurred in the administration of the fund, all monies in the fund shall be allocated as provided in subdivision (b) . (b) Monies in the fund shall be allocated according to the following formula: (1) Twenty-four percent shall be deposited in the Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Account, which is to be further allocated for the purposes specified in Section 32222(a) as follows : four percent for subdivision ( 1 ) , thirteen percent for subdivision ( 2 ) , two percent for subdivision ( 3 ) and five percent for subdivision (4) . (2) Twenty-five percent shall be deposited in the Emergency and Trauma Care Account, which is to be further allocated for the purposes specified in Section 32222 (b) as follows: seventeen percent for subdivision ( 1) and eight percent for subdivision ( 2) . (3) Fifteen percent shall be deposited in the Mental Health Account, which is to be allocated for purposes specified in Section 32222 (c) . (4) Fifteen percent shall be deposited in the Infants , Children and Innocent Victims Account, which is to be further allocated for the purposes specified in Section 32222 (d) as follows: six percent for subdivision ( 1) , four percent for subdivision (2 ) , three percent for subdivision ( 3) and two percent for subdivision (4) . (5) Twenty-one percent shall be deposited in the Law Enforcement Account, which is to be further allocated for the purposes specified in Section 32222 (e) as follows : two percent for subdivision ( 1) , fourteen percent for subdivision ( 2) , two percent for subdivision ( 3 ) , two percent for subdivision (4 ) and one percent subdivision (5) . (c) Any amount allocated from any account specified in subdivision (b) which is not expended within one year shall revert to the account from which it .was appropriated. (d) The percentages stated in subdivision (b) are stated as a percentage of the monies deposited in the fund and not as a percentage of the monies. deposited in each account. Section 32231. (a) Monies deposited in the fund shall be allocated by the State Controller for expenditure on purposes specified in Section 32222 as follows: ( 1) For all the purposes specified in subdivisions 6 - ( a) ( 1 ) , ( 2 ) and ( 4 ) ; (b) ; and (d) ( 1 ) , ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) ; collectively, to counties pursuant to the following formula: ( 1) one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ( $150 , 000 ) to each county annually and ( 2 ) the remaining funds apportioned based on each county ' s proportionate share of population. (2 ) For purposes specified in subdivision (a) ( 3 ) , to the Department of Health Services . (3) For purposes specified in subdivision (d) ( 4 ) , to the Department of Rehabilitation. (4 ) For purposes specified in subdivisions ( e) ( 1) and (2) , fifty percent to counties based on each county ' s proportionate share of population and fifty percent to cities based on each city' s proportionate share of the population. (5) For purposes specified in subdivision (e) ( 3 ) , to cities , counties and special districts pursuant- to the distribution formula specified in Section 5720 of the Public Resources Code, except there shall not be the minimum allocations referred to in subdivisions (b) and (c ) ( 1) . ( 6) For purposes specified in subdivisions (e) ( 4 ) and (5) , to the California Highway Patrol. (b) Monies allocated pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be disbursed as follows : subsection ( 1) , monthly;, subsections (2) , ( 3) , ( 4 ) and (6 ) , quarterly; and subsection ( 5 ) , annuall on the first day of each fiscal year. (c) Monies allocated in subdivision (a) based on population shall be allocated based on the most recent Department of Finance population estimates . Section 32232. Funds expended pursuant to this chapter shall be used only for the purposes specified in this chapter and shall supplement 1989-90 state funding and per capita levels of service and not replace existing state funding nor fund future state increases in the cost of providing existing per-capita levels of service. Existing state funding and per capita levels of service for purposes specified in this chapter shall not be reduced. Section 32233. (a) Funds allocated for the purposes specified in Sections 32222 (a) ( 1) , (2) and (4) shall be expended pursuant to each county' s final approval of separate alcohol and other drug program plans prepared in accordance with the provisions of Sections 11810.5 and 11810 . 6 (a) ( 1) through ( 4 ) , Article 4 , Chapter 4, Part 2 and Section 11983 .2 (a) ( 1) through ( 4 ) , Chapter 3 , Part 3 of Division 10 . 5 of the Health and Safety Code, and such other provisions as determined by each county. Each county ' s final approved 7 - plans shall be submitted to the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs for information purposes only. (b) Funds allocated for the purposes specified in Sections 32222 ( a) ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) shall be expended for alcohol and other drug purposes on a 70 percent alcohol/30 percent drug ratio . (c) Funds allocated for the purposes specified in Sections 32222 (a) ( 2 ) , (b) , (c) and (d) shall only be available for payment of services to persons who cannot afford to pay for the services , and for whom payment for the services will not be made through private coverage or by any program funded in whole or in part by the federal government . (d) Of the funds allocated for the purposes specified in Section 32222 (a ) ( 3 ) , at least fifty percent shall be expended for a mass media program that ( 1) informs the public of the potential health risks of alcohol and other drug use and/or ( 2 ) counteracts alcoholic beverage marketing messages . (e) Funds allocated for the purposes specified in Section 32222 (b) ( 1 ) shall be expended by counties for the provision of emergency ( as defined by Section 1797 . 70 of the Health and Safety Code) and trauma (as defined by Section 100240 , Article 1, Chapter 7, Title 22 of the California Administrative Code) care and all related services pursuant to Sections 17000 , 17001 and 17003 of the Welfare and Institutions Code . ( f) Funds allocated for the purposes specified in Section 32222 (b) ( 2 ) shall be disbursed by counties to physicans , as defined in Section 1797 . 98a of the Health and Safety Code, for emergency and trauma care services rendered, and shall be in addition to those provided by Articles 3 and 3 . 5 , Chapter 5 , Part 4 . 7 , Division 9 of the Welfare and . Institutions Code and the Emergency Medical Services Fund (Chapter 2 . 5 , Division 2 .5 of the Health and Saftey Code) . Funds shall be disbursed at least quarterly on an equitable basis . (g) Funds allocated for the purposes specified in Section 32222 (c ) shall be expended pursuant to the Short-Doyle Act (Part 2 , Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code) and mental health programs contained in Chapters 5 , 6 and 6 . 8 of Part 1 and Part 3 of Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as- follows: 50% for seriously mentally-ill adults, 30% for emotionally-disturbed children and adolescents, and 20% for mentally-ill older adults . The Department of Mental Health shall annually prepare recommendations to the Legislature on the expenditure of these funds upon review of local Short-Doyle plans or negotiated net amount contracts , as defined in Section 5705 . 2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. These funds shall be 8 - used exclusively to reform and improve the support and treatment systems for the seriously mentally ill in all counties . (h) Funds allocated for the purposes specified in Section 32222 (d) ( 1) shall be expended by counties pursuant to the authority specified in subdivisions (d) and ( i) of Section 1276 , Article 2 , Subchapter 1, Chapter 3 , Title 17 of the California Administrative Code . (i) Funds allocated for the purposes specified in Section 32222 (d) ( 2 ) shall be expended by counties for programs described in Article 5 (Children ' s Trust Fund) , Chapter 11, Part 6, Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. ( j ) Funds allocated for the purposes specified in Section 32222 (d) ( 3 ) shall be expended by counties for programs described in The Domestic Violence Centers Act (Chapter 5 , Part 6 , Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code) . (k) Funds allocated for the purposes specified in Section 32222 (d) ( 4) shall be expended by independent living centers as defined in Section 19801 of the Welfare and Institutions Code . (1) Funds allocated for the purposes specified in Section 32222 (e) ( 2 ) may be expended by counties and cities for Long Term Care Ombudsman services , as defined in Article 3 , Chapter 9 , Division 8 .5 , Part 1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, in long term care facilities , as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 9701 Welfare and Institutions Code. (m) Funds allocated for the purposes specified in Section 32222 (e) ( 4 ) shall be expended for an emergency medical air-transportation system crewed by personnel of the California Highway Patrol as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 830 .2 of the Penal Code. Article S. General Provisions Section 32240 . This chapter shall take effect on January 1, 1991 . Section 32241. This chapter may be amended only by the four-fifths vote of the membership of- both houses of the Legislature. All amendments to this chapter must be consistent with its purposes . SECTION 6 . If any section of this measure, or part thereof, is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining sections shall not be affected, but shall remain in full force and effect . 9 -