(A) Any person who is an employee or who otherwise works within a commercial cannabis business must be legally authorized to do so under applicable State law.
(B) Any person who is an employee or who otherwise works, manages or is an owner of a commercial cannabis business must obtain a commercial cannabis employee work permit from the city.
(C) Applications for a commercial cannabis employee work permit shall be developed, made available, and processed by the city manager or his or her designee(s), and shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:
(1) Name, address, and phone number of the applicant;
(2) Age and verification of applicant. A copy of a birth certificate, driver's license, government issued identification card, passport or other proof that the applicant is at least 21 years of age must be submitted with the application;
(3) Name, address of the commercial cannabis business and the name of the primary manager of that business;
(4) A list of any crimes enumerated in Cal. Bus. and Prof. Code, Section 26057(b)(4) for which the applicant or employee has been convicted;
(5) The application shall be accompanied by fingerprints and a recent photograph of the applicant in a form and manner as required by the city manager or his or her designee(s);
(6) A signed statement under penalty of perjury that the information provided is true and correct;
(7) If applicable, verification that the applicant is a qualified patient or primary caregiver;
(8) A fee paid in an amount set by resolution of the city council in an amount necessary to cover the costs of administering the employee work permit programs. The fee is non-refundable and shall not be returned in the event the work permit is denied or revoked.
(D) (1) The applicable city department head or his or her designee(s) shall review the application for completeness, shall conduct a background check to determine whether the applicant was convicted of a crime or left a previous employer for reasons that show the applicant:
(a) Has been convicted of a crime involving dishonesty, fraud or deceit, including but not limited to fraud, forgery, theft, or embezzlement as those offenses are defined in Cal. Penal Code, Sections 186.11, 470, 484, and 504a; or
(b) Has committed a felony or misdemeanor involving fraud, deceit, embezzlement; or
(c) Was convicted of a violent felony, a crime of moral turpitude; or
(d) The illegal use, possession, transportation, distribution or similar activities related to controlled substances, as defined in the Federal Controlled Substances Act, except for cannabis related offenses for which the conviction occurred after the passage of the Compassionate Use Act of 1996.
(2) Discovery of these facts showing that the applicant is dishonest or has been convicted of the requisite crimes are grounds for denial of the permit. Where the applicant's sentence (including any term of probation, incarceration, or supervised release) for possession of, possession for sale, sale, manufacture, transportation, or cultivation of a controlled substance is completed, such underlying conviction shall not be the sole ground for denial of a commercial cannabis work permit. Furthermore, an applicant shall not be denied a permit if the denial is based solely on any of the following: (i) a conviction for any crime listed in subsection (D)(1)(d) above for which the applicant has obtained a certificate of rehabilitation pursuant to Cal. Penal Code, Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 4852.01) of Title 6 of Part 3, or (ii) a conviction that was subsequently dismissed pursuant to Cal. Penal Code, Sections 1203.4, 1203.4a, or 1203.41 or any other provision of State law allowing for dismissal of a conviction.
(E) The applicable department head or his or her designee(s) shall issue the commercial cannabis employee permit or a written denial to the applicant within 30 days of the date the application was deemed complete. In the event the cannabis employee work permit cannot be issued within this time period, then the city manager or his or her designee(s) may issue a temporary work permit for an employee upon completing a preliminary background check and if the business can demonstrate to the city manager or his or her designee(s) that the employee is necessary for the operation of the business. The temporary permit may be immediately revoked by the city manager or his or her designee(s) upon determination that the applicant has failed the background check or upon the issuance of the permanent work permit.
(F) An employee work permit shall be valid for a 36-month period and must be renewed every three years. Renewal applications shall contain all the information required in subsection (C) above including the payment of a renewal application fee in an amount to be set by resolution of the city council.
(G) In the event a person changes employment from one commercial cannabis business in the city to another, the work permit holder shall notify the applicable department head or his or her designee(s) in writing of the change within ten days, or the work permit shall be suspended or revoked, and such person shall not be permitted to work at any commercial cannabis business in the city.
(H) The city may immediately revoke the commercial cannabis employee permit should the permit holder be convicted of a crime listed in subsection (D) above or if facts become known to the city that the permit holder has engaged in activities showing that he/she has been convicted of a crime involving dishonesty.
(I) The city manager or his or her designee(s) is hereby authorized to promulgate all regulations necessary to implement the work permit process and requirements.
(J) The applicant may appeal the denial or revocation of a commercial cannabis employee permit by filing a notice of appeal with the city clerk within ten days of the date the applicant received the notice of denial. The city manager or his or her designee shall hear such appeal and his or her decision shall be final and not subject to further appeals.
(K) The applicable city department head or his or her designee(s) shall issue a permit in the form of a personal identification card that can be worn in a prominent and visible location. The identification card shall be maintained in good and readable condition at all times.
(Ord. No. 2960, 2965, 2994, 3032)