Req. No. 2718 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 2nd Session of the 58th Legislature (2022) SENATE BILL 1708 By: Paxton AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to alcoholic beverages; amend ing 37A O.S. 2021, Section 2 -121, which relates to employee license; authorizing license to be allowed to underage employee if working at a specified workplace; and declaring an emergency. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 37A O.S. 2021, Section 2 -121, is amended to read as follows: Section 2-121. A. An employee license shall authorize the holder thereof to work in a licensed package store, retail s pirits, retail wine or retail beer establishment, brewpub, mixed bev erage establishment, beer and wine establishment, bottle club, public event or any establishment where alcohol or alcoholic beverages are sold, mixed or served. Persons employed by a mixe d beverage, on- premises beer and wine, retail wine, retail beer, pub lic event or a bottle club licensee who do not par ticipate in the service, mixing or sale of mixed beverages shall not be required to have an employee license. Provided, however, that a m anager employed by a mixed Req. No. 2718 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 beverage licensee, public event licensee or a bottle club shall be required to have an empl oyee license whether or not the manager participates in the service, mixing or sale of mixed beverages. Applicants for an employee licens e must shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age, except for applicants employed by a grocery store or convenience store who shall be at least sixteen (16) years of age, and have a health card issued by the county in which they are employed, if the county issues such a card; provided, the provisions of this section shal l not be construed to permit any person under twenty-one (21) years of age to be employed to sell spirits. Employees of a special event, caterer, unless catering a mixed beverage-licensed premises, or airline/railroad beverage licensee s shall not be required to obtain an employee license; further, employees of beer distributors and other licensees holding licenses issued by the ABLE Commission shall not be required to obtain an employee license if such employee only sells alcohol or alc oholic beverages to establishments holding licenses issued by the ABLE Commission and not to the public. Persons employed by a hotel licensee who participate in the stocking of hotel room mini -bars or in the handling of alcoholic beverages to be placed in such devices shall be required to have an employee license. As a pre requisite to the issuance of an employee license, not later than fourteen (14) days after initial licensure, the first -time applicant shall be required to have successfully completed a t raining program cond ucted Req. No. 2718 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 by the ABLE Commission, or by another entity approved by the ABLE Commission, including an in-house training program conducted by the employer. Proof of training completion shall be made available for inspection by the ABLE Commi ssion at the busines s location employing the licensee. The failure of an employee licensee to comply with this section may constitute a revocable offense. B. In the event the ABLE Commission denies an application for an employee license, the Commission s hall provide written notice to the applicant’s employer, if any. The notice shall be given at the time notice is provided to the applicant. SECTION 2. It being immediately necessary for the pr eservation of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this a ct shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval. 58-2-2718 MR 1/20/2022 5:49:53 PM