(a) Licenses issued pursuant to this division shall be subject to suspension or revocation for violations of this division or the Revenue and Taxation Code as provided in this section.
(1) In addition to any applicable fines or penalties for a violation, upon first conviction of a violation, a licensee shall receive a written notice from the board detailing the suspension and revocation provisions of this division. At its discretion, the board may also suspend a license for up to 30 days.
(2) In addition to any applicable fines or penalties for a violation, upon a second conviction of a violation within four years of a previous violation, the license shall be revoked.
(b) The date of the occurrence of a violation shall be used to calculate the duration between subsequent violations. A violation shall be noted in the license record at the board only after judicial conviction or final adjudication of a violation.
(c) Upon updating a record for a violation triggering a suspension, the board shall serve the licensee with a notice of suspension and shall order the licensee to cease the sale, gifting, or displaying for sale of cigarettes or tobacco products for the period of the suspension. The notice of suspension shall inform the licensee of the effective dates of the suspension.
(d) Continued sales or gifting of cigarettes or tobacco products after the effective date of the suspension shall constitute a violation of this division and result in the revocation of a license.
(e) Upon completion of a suspension period, a license shall be reinstated by the board upon certification that all outstanding debts of that retailer or wholesaler that are owed to a wholesaler or distributor for the purchase of cigarettes and tobacco products are paid.
(f) Upon updating a record for a violation triggering a revocation, the board shall serve the licensee with a notice of revocation and shall order the licensee to cease the sale, gifting, or displaying for sale of cigarettes or tobacco products on and after the effective date of the revocation. The notice of revocation shall inform the licensee of the effective date of the revocation.
(g) After a revocation, a previously licensed applicant may apply for a new license after six months. The board may, at its discretion, issue a new license.
(h) Upon updating a license record for a violation, suspension, or revocation to a license of a person or entity that owns or controls more than one location, the board shall send notice in writing of the violations, suspensions, or revocations within 15 days of the board’s action to the address included in the application and listed on the license for receipt of correspondence or notices from the board.
(i) Upon suspension or revocation of a license pursuant to this section, the board shall notify all licensed distributors and wholesalers by electronic mail within 48 hours of the suspension or revocation of that license. All licensed distributors and wholesalers shall provide the board and shall update, as necessary, an electronic mail address that the board can use for purposes of making the notifications required by this subdivision.
(j) Violations by a licensee at one location may not be accumulated against other locations of that same licensee. Violations accumulated against a prior owner at a licensed location may not be accumulated against a new owner at the same licensed location.
(k) For purposes of this section, a violation includes violations of the Revenue and Taxation Code relating to cigarettes and tobacco products, and violations of this division. Only one violation per discrete action shall be counted toward a suspension or revocation of a license.
(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 607, Sec. 7. (AB 2733) Effective January 1, 2011.)