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Business Taxes Law Guide—Revision 2024

Cigarette and Tobacco Products Licensing Act

Business and Professions Code

Division 8.6. Cigarette and Tobacco Products Licensing Act of 2003

Chapter 3. License for Wholesalers and Distributors of Cigarettes and Tobacco Products

Section 22977.2


22977.2. License issuance. (a) The board shall issue a license to a distributor or a wholesaler upon receipt of a completed application and payment of the fee prescribed in Section 22977.1, unless any of the following apply:

(1) The distributor or the wholesaler, or if the distributor or the wholesaler is not an individual, any person controlling the distributor or the wholesaler, has previously been issued a license that is suspended or revoked by the board for violation of any of the provisions of this division.

(2) The application is for a license or renewal of a license for a distributor or a wholesaler, whose license is revoked or revocation is pending, unless:

(A) It has been more than five years since a distributor's or a wholesaler's previous license was revoked.

(B) The person applying for the license provides the board with documentation demonstrating that the applicant has acquired or is acquiring the business in an arm's length transaction. For purposes of this section, an "arm's length transaction" is defined as a sale in good faith and for valuable consideration that reflects the fair market value in the open market between two informed and willing parties, neither under any compulsion to participate in the transaction. A sale of the business between relatives, related companies or partners, or a sale for the primary purpose of avoiding the effect of the violations of state tobacco control laws that were committed by the distributor or wholesaler is presumed not to be made at "arm's length."

(3) The distributor or the wholesaler, or if the distributor or the wholesaler is not an individual, any person controlling the distributor or the wholesaler has been convicted of a felony pursuant to Section 30473 or 30480 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(b) (1) Any distributor or any wholesaler who is denied a license may petition for a redetermination of the board's denial of the license within 30 days after service upon that distributor or that wholesaler of the notice of the denial of the license. If a petition for redetermination is not filed within the 30-day period, the determination of denial becomes final at the expiration of the 30-day period.

(2) Every petition for redetermination shall be in writing and shall state the specific grounds upon which the petition is founded. The petition may be amended to state additional grounds at anytime prior to the date on which the board issues its order or decision upon the petition for redetermination.

(3) If the petition for redetermination is filed within the 30-day period, the board shall reconsider the determination of the denial and, if the distributor or the wholesaler has so requested in the petition, shall grant the distributor or wholesaler an oral hearing and shall give the distributor or the wholesaler at least 10 days' notice of the time and place of the hearing. The board may continue the hearing from time to time as may be necessary.

(4) The order or decision of the board upon a petition for redetermination becomes final 30 days after mailing of notice thereof.

History—Stats. 2010, Ch. 607 (AB 2733), in effect January 1, 2011, deleted paragraph (5) of subdivision (b), which stated that "Any notice required by this subdivision shall be served personally or by mail. If by mail, the notice shall be placed in a sealed envelope, with postage paid, addressed to the distributor or the wholesaler at the address as it appears in the records of the board. The giving of notice shall be deemed complete at the time of deposit of the notice in the United States Post Office, or a mailbox, subpost office, substation or mail chute or other facility regularly maintained or provided by the United States Postal Service, without extension of time for any reason. In lieu of mailing, a notice may be served personally by delivering to the person to be served and service shall be deemed complete at the time of such delivery. Personal service to a corporation may be made by delivery of a notice to any person designated in the Code of Civil Procedure to be served for the corporation with summons and complaint in a civil action."