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Click for printer friendly page California Agricultural Homestay Bill (AB 1258)
The California Agricultural Homestay Bill, (AB 1258), passed in July 1999, paved the way for more farmers and ranchers to offer tourists overnight visits. The bill exempts farms and ranching operations that offer overnight stays from the more stringent requirements of operating a commercial restaurant. To qualify for overnight stays, the farms and ranches must produce agricultural products as their primary source of income. Additionally, farmers are limited to six guest rooms and 15 visitors a night - less than the amount allowed for a bed and breakfast operation. The following information about AB 1258 is an excerpt from the Official California Legislative Information web site. For more details, view the complete AB 1258 bill documents.
BILL NUMBER: AB 1258 CHAPTERED BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Strom-Martin
FEBRUARY 26, 1999
An act to amend Section 113870 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to public health.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1258, Strom-Martin. Public health: agricultural homestay establishments. The California Uniform Retail Food Facilities Law regulates sanitary standards in retail food establishments. This bill would expand the definition of "restricted food service transient occupancy establishment" to include an agricultural homestay establishment. Because local health agencies are partially responsible for enforcement of the law's provisions, the expansion of the law constitutes a state-mandated local program. Because existing law makes a violation of any of its provisions a misdemeanor, by creating a new crime, this bill would constitute a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement, including the creation of a State Mandates Claims Fund to pay the costs of mandates that do not exceed $1,000,000 statewide and other procedures for claims whose statewide costs exceed $1,000,000. This bill would provide that, with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 113870 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read: 113870. (a) "Restricted food service transient occupancy establishment" means either of the following: (1) An establishment of 20 guest rooms or less, that provides overnight transient occupancy accommodations, that serves food only to its registered guests, that serves only a breakfast or similar early morning meal, and no other meals, and with respect to which the price of food is included in the price of the overnight transient occupancy accommodation. (2) An agricultural homestay establishment that meets all of the following requirements: (A) Has not more than six guest rooms or accommodates not more than 15 guests. (B) Provides overnight transient accommodations. (C) Serves food only to its registered guests and serves meals at any time, and with respect to which the price of food is included in the price of the overnight transient occupancy accommodation. (D) Lodging and meals are incidental and not the primary function of the agricultural homestay establishment. (E) The agricultural homestay establishment is located on, and is a part of, a farm, as defined in Section 52262 of the Food and Agricultural Code, that produces agricultural products as its primary source of income. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a restricted food service transient occupancy establishment may serve light foods or snacks presented to the guest for self-service. (c) For purposes of this section, "restricted food service transient occupancy establishment" refers to an establishment as to which the predominant relationship between the occupants thereof and the owner or operator of the establishment is that of innkeeper and guest. For purposes of this section, the existence of some other legal relationships as between some occupants and the owner or operator shall be immaterial. SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution for certain costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district because in that regard this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution. However, notwithstanding Section 17610 of the Government Code, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains other costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code. If the statewide cost of the claim for reimbursement does not exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000), reimbursement shall be made from the State Mandates Claims Fund.
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