CA AB1221

Establishes the Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) Training Program requiring the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to develop and implement an RBS curriculum by January 1, 2020, with courses offered in English and Spanish, both in-person and online.

Requires alcohol servers to complete and pass an RBS training course and exam to obtain a valid alcohol server certification, effective July 1, 2021; existing employees must obtain certification by August 31, 2021, and new employees within 60 days of hire.

Alcohol server certifications are valid for three years and apply to anyone serving or managing the sale of alcoholic beverages on licensed premises, including nonprofit organizations with temporary licenses.

Authorizes the department to charge a maximum $15 fee per person for RBS training courses, with fees deposited in the Alcohol Beverage Control Fund, and to authorize accreditation agencies and approve non-accredited training providers to offer courses meeting department standards.

Establishes that violations are grounds for licensee disciplinary action but prohibits criminal prosecution against licensees or their employees for non-compliance with this article.