Bill Text: CT SB00290 | 2016 | General Assembly | Introduced

Connecticut Senate Bill 290 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: An Act Concerning The Sale And Purchase Of Tobacco Products, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems And Vapor Products And Signage Concerning The Use Of Such Products And Systems.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-26 - Public Hearing 03/02 [SB00290 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2016-SB00290-Introduced.html


General Assembly		*Raised Bill No. 290*
*February Session, 2016*		LCO No. 1938
		01938_______PH_
Referred to Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH
Introduced by:
(PH)

AN ACT CONCERNING THE SALE AND PURCHASE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS, ELECTRONIC NICOTINE DELIVERY SYSTEMS AND VAPOR PRODUCTS AND SIGNAGE CONCERNING THE USE OF SUCH PRODUCTS AND SYSTEMS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 12-286a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):

(a) Each distributor and each dealer, as defined in section 12-285, shall place and maintain in legible condition at each point of sale of cigarettes to consumers, including the front of each vending machine, and each restricted cigarette vending machine a notice which states (1) that the sale, giving or delivering of tobacco products, including cigarettes, to any person under [eighteen] twenty-one years of age is prohibited by section 53-344, as amended by this act, (2) the purchase or misrepresentation of age by a person under [eighteen] twenty-one years of age to purchase cigarettes or tobacco products is prohibited by said section 53-344, and (3) the penalties and fines for violating said section 53-344 and section 12-295a, as amended by this act.

Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 12-295 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):

(a) The commissioner may suspend or revoke the license of any dealer or distributor for failure to comply with any provision of this chapter or regulations related thereto or for the sale or delivery of tobacco in any form to a [minor] person under [eighteen] twenty-one years of age, following a hearing with respect to which notice in writing, specifying the time and place of such hearing and requiring such dealer or distributor to show cause why such license should not be revoked, is mailed or delivered to such dealer or distributor not less than ten days preceding the date of such hearing. Such notice may be served personally or by registered or certified mail.

Sec. 3. Section 12-295a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):

(a) If the Commissioner of Revenue Services finds, after a hearing, that a [minor] person under twenty-one years of age has purchased cigarettes or tobacco products, said commissioner shall assess such [minor] person a civil penalty of not more than one hundred dollars for the first violation and not more than one hundred fifty dollars for any second or subsequent offense within twenty-four months after the first violation.

(b) If said commissioner finds, after a hearing, that any person employed by a dealer or distributor, as defined in section 12-285, has sold, given or delivered cigarettes or tobacco products to a [minor] person under twenty-one years of age other than a [minor] person under twenty-one years of age who is delivering or accepting delivery in his capacity as an employee, said commissioner shall, for the first violation, require such person to successfully complete an online tobacco prevention education program administered by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services not later than thirty days after said commissioner's finding. Said commissioner shall assess any person who fails to complete such program a civil penalty of two hundred dollars. Said commissioner shall assess any person employed by a dealer or distributor a civil penalty of two hundred fifty dollars for a second or subsequent violation within twenty-four months after the first violation.

(c) If said commissioner finds, after a hearing, that any dealer or distributor has sold, given or delivered cigarettes or tobacco products to a [minor] person under twenty-one years of age other than a [minor] person under twenty-one years of age who is delivering or accepting delivery in his capacity as an employee, or such dealer or distributor's employee has sold, given or delivered cigarettes or tobacco products to such [minor] person, said commissioner shall require such dealer or distributor, for the first violation, to successfully complete an online tobacco prevention education program administered by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services not later than thirty days after said commissioner's finding. Said commissioner shall assess any dealer or distributor who fails to complete such program a civil penalty of three hundred dollars. Said commissioner shall assess any dealer or distributor a civil penalty of seven hundred fifty dollars for a second violation within twenty-four months of the first violation. For a third violation within twenty-four months of the first violation, such dealer or distributor shall be assessed a civil penalty of seven hundred fifty dollars and any license held by such dealer or distributor under this chapter shall be suspended for not less than thirty days.

(d) If said commissioner finds, after a hearing, that any owner of an establishment in which a cigarette vending machine or restricted cigarette vending machine is located has sold, given or delivered cigarettes or tobacco products from any such machine to a [minor] person under twenty-one years of age other than a [minor] person under twenty-one years of age who is delivering or accepting delivery in his capacity as an employee, or has allowed cigarettes or tobacco products to be sold, given or delivered to such [minor] person from any such machine, said commissioner shall require such owner, for the first violation, to successfully complete an online tobacco prevention education program administered by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services not later than thirty days after said commissioner's finding. Said commissioner shall assess any owner who fails to complete such program a civil penalty of five hundred dollars. Said commissioner shall assess any owner a civil penalty of seven hundred fifty dollars for a second violation within twenty-four months of the first violation. For a third violation within twenty-four months of the first violation, such owner shall be assessed a civil penalty of seven hundred fifty dollars and any such machine shall be immediately removed from such establishment and no such machine may be placed in such establishment for a period of one year following such removal.

(e) Any person aggrieved by any action of the commissioner pursuant to this section may take any appeal of such action as provided in sections 12-311 and 12-312.

Sec. 4. Section 12-289a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):

(a) No cigarette vending machine or restricted cigarette vending machine may be placed in an area, facility or business which is frequented primarily by [minors] persons under twenty-one years of age. No cigarettes may be dispensed from any machine other than a cigarette vending machine or a restricted cigarette vending machine.

(b) A cigarette vending machine may be placed only in (1) an area, facility or business which is accessible only to [adults] persons over twenty-one years of age, or (2) an area, facility or business permitted under chapter 545 if the area, facility or business has a separate area accessible only to [adults] persons over twenty-one years of age and the machine is placed in such area.

(c) A cigarette vending machine, until July 1, 1998, may be placed in an area, facility or business permitted under chapter 545 which does not have a separate area accessible only to adults provided the machine is not placed in a vestibule, lobby, entryway, exit or restroom and the machine is under the direct supervision, and in the direct line of sight of, an adult employee of the permittee.

(d) A cigarette vending machine, until May 1, 1997, may be placed in an area, facility or business not provided for under subsections (b) and (c) of this section provided the machine is not placed in a vestibule, lobby, entryway, exit or restroom and the machine is under the direct supervision, and in the direct line of sight of, an adult employee.

(e) After May 1, 1997, no cigarette vending machine may be placed in any area, facility or business other than as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section.

(f) After July 1, 1998, no cigarette vending machine may be placed in any area, facility or business other than as provided in subsection (b) of this section.

(g) The Commissioner of Revenue Services shall assess any person, dealer or distributor who violates the provisions of this section a civil penalty of two hundred fifty dollars for a first violation and five hundred dollars for a second violation within eighteen months. For a third violation within eighteen months, such penalty shall be five hundred dollars and any such machine shall be immediately removed from such area, facility or business and no such machine may be placed in such area, facility or business for a period of one year following such removal.

(h) Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting a town or municipality from imposing more restrictive conditions on the use of vending machines for the sale of cigarettes. A municipality shall be responsible for the enforcement of such conditions.

Sec. 5. Section 12-314a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):

The Commissioner of Revenue Services may authorize a dealer or distributor to give or deliver any cigarette, as defined in section 12-285, or tobacco product, as defined in section 12-330a, in connection with the promotion or advertisement of such cigarette or tobacco product without receiving monetary consideration from the person receiving the cigarette or tobacco product provided (1) such distribution is on the premises of a licensed dealer as defined in said section 12-285 or at any event or establishment with an area the access to which is limited to adult patrons provided such distribution is restricted to such area, (2) the sample of cigarettes, if applicable, contains no less than two cigarettes, and (3) the taxes on such cigarettes have been previously paid. The licensed dealer or distributor shall be liable for any gift or delivery of cigarettes or tobacco products to [minors] persons under twenty-one years of age on his premises by any person conducting a promotion or advertisement of such cigarette or tobacco product in accordance with this section. This section shall not apply to the gift or delivery of a cigarette package in connection with a sale of similar package of cigarettes.

Sec. 6. Section 53-344 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):

(a) As used in this section:

(1) "Cardholder" means any person who presents a driver's license or an identity card to a seller or seller's agent or employee, to purchase or receive tobacco from such seller or seller's agent or employee;

(2) "Identity card" means an identification card issued in accordance with the provisions of section 1-1h;

(3) "Transaction scan" means the process by which a seller or seller's agent or employee checks, by means of a transaction scan device, the validity of a driver's license or an identity card; and

(4) "Transaction scan device" means any commercial device or combination of devices used at a point of sale that is capable of deciphering in an electronically readable format the information encoded on the magnetic strip or bar code of a driver's license or an identity card.

(b) Any person who sells, gives or delivers to any [minor] person under [eighteen] twenty-one years of age tobacco, unless the [minor] person is delivering or accepting delivery in such person's capacity as an employee, in any form shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars for the first offense, not more than three hundred fifty dollars for a second offense within an eighteen-month period and not more than five hundred dollars for each subsequent offense within an eighteen-month period.

(c) Any person under [eighteen] twenty-one years of age who purchases or misrepresents such person's age to purchase tobacco in any form or possesses tobacco in any form in any public place shall be fined not more than fifty dollars for the first offense and not less than fifty dollars or more than one hundred dollars for each subsequent offense. For purposes of this subsection, "public place" means any area that is used or held out for use by the public whether owned or operated by public or private interests.

(d) (1) A seller or seller's agent or employee may perform a transaction scan to check the validity of a driver's license or identity card presented by a cardholder as a condition for selling, giving away or otherwise distributing tobacco to the cardholder.

(2) If the information deciphered by the transaction scan performed under subdivision (1) of this subsection fails to match the information printed on the driver's license or identity card presented by the cardholder, or if the transaction scan indicates that the information so printed is false or fraudulent, neither the seller nor any seller's agent or employee shall sell, give away or otherwise distribute any tobacco to the cardholder.

(3) Subdivision (1) of this subsection does not preclude a seller or seller's agent or employee from using a transaction scan device to check the validity of a document other than a driver's license or an identity card, if the document includes a bar code or magnetic strip that may be scanned by the device, as a condition for selling, giving away or otherwise distributing tobacco to the person presenting the document.

(e) (1) No seller or seller's agent or employee shall electronically or mechanically record or maintain any information derived from a transaction scan, except the following: (A) The name and date of birth of the person listed on the driver's license or identity card presented by a cardholder; (B) the expiration date and identification number of the driver's license or identity card presented by a cardholder.

(2) No seller or seller's agent or employee shall use a transaction scan device for a purpose other than the purposes specified in subsection (e) of section 53-344b, as amended by this act, subsection (d) of this section or subsection (c) of section 30-86.

(3) No seller or seller's agent or employee shall sell or otherwise disseminate the information derived from a transaction scan to any third party, including, but not limited to, selling or otherwise disseminating that information for any marketing, advertising or promotional activities, but a seller or seller's agent or employee may release that information pursuant to a court order.

(4) Nothing in subsection (d) of this section or this subsection relieves a seller or seller's agent or employee of any responsibility to comply with any other applicable state or federal laws or rules governing the sale, giving away or other distribution of tobacco.

(5) Any person who violates this subsection shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars.

(f) (1) In any prosecution of a seller or seller's agent or employee for a violation of subsection (b) of this section, it shall be an affirmative defense that all of the following occurred: (A) A cardholder attempting to purchase or receive tobacco presented a driver's license or an identity card; (B) a transaction scan of the driver's license or identity card that the cardholder presented indicated that the license or card was valid; and (C) the tobacco was sold, given away or otherwise distributed to the cardholder in reasonable reliance upon the identification presented and the completed transaction scan.

(2) In determining whether a seller or seller's agent or employee has proven the affirmative defense provided by subdivision (1) of this section, the trier of fact in such prosecution shall consider that reasonable reliance upon the identification presented and the completed transaction scan may require a seller or seller's agent or employee to exercise reasonable diligence and that the use of a transaction scan device does not excuse a seller or seller's agent or employee from exercising such reasonable diligence to determine the following: (A) Whether a person to whom the seller or seller's agent or employee sells, gives away or otherwise distributes tobacco is [eighteen] twenty-one years of age or older; and (B) whether the description and picture appearing on the driver's license or identity card presented by a cardholder is that of the cardholder.

Sec. 7. Section 53-344b of the 2016 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):

(a) As used in this section and sections 21a-415 and 21a-415a:

(1) "Electronic nicotine delivery system" means an electronic device that may be used to simulate smoking in the delivery of nicotine or other substance to a person inhaling from the device, and includes, but is not limited to, an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe or electronic hookah and any related device and any cartridge, electronic cigarette liquid or other component of such device;

(2) "Cardholder" means any person who presents a driver's license or an identity card to a seller or seller's agent or employee, to purchase or receive an electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product from such seller or seller's agent or employee;

(3) "Identity card" means an identification card issued in accordance with the provisions of section 1-1h;

(4) "Transaction scan" means the process by which a seller or seller's agent or employee checks, by means of a transaction scan device, the validity of a driver's license or an identity card;

(5) "Transaction scan device" means any commercial device or combination of devices used at a point of sale that is capable of deciphering in an electronically readable format the information encoded on the magnetic strip or bar code of a driver's license or an identity card;

(6) "Sale" or "sell" means an act done intentionally by any person, whether done as principal, proprietor, agent, servant or employee, of transferring, or offering or attempting to transfer, for consideration, an electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product, including bartering or exchanging, or offering to barter or exchange, an electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product;

(7) "Give" or "giving" means an act done intentionally by any person, whether done as principal, proprietor, agent, servant or employee, of transferring, or offering or attempting to transfer, without consideration, an electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product;

(8) "Deliver" or "delivering" means an act done intentionally by any person, whether as principal, proprietor, agent, servant or employee, of transferring, or offering or attempting to transfer, physical possession or control of an electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product;

(9) "Vapor product" means any product, except a medicinal product used by a licensed health care provider to treat a patient in a health care setting, that employs a heating element, power source, electronic circuit or other electronic, chemical or mechanical means, regardless of shape or size, to produce a vapor that may or may not include nicotine, that is inhaled by the user of such product; and

(10) "Electronic cigarette liquid" means a liquid that, when used in an electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product, produces a vapor that may or may not include nicotine and is inhaled by the user of such electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product.

(b) Any person who sells, gives or delivers to any [minor] person under [eighteen] twenty-one years of age an electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product, unless the [minor] person is delivering or accepting delivery in such person's capacity as an employee, in any form shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars for the first offense, not more than three hundred fifty dollars for a second offense within an eighteen-month period and not more than five hundred dollars for each subsequent offense within an eighteen-month period.

(c) Any person under [eighteen] twenty-one years of age who purchases or misrepresents such person's age to purchase an electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product in any form or possesses an electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product in any form in any public place shall be fined not more than fifty dollars for the first offense and not less than fifty dollars or more than one hundred dollars for each subsequent offense. For purposes of this subsection "public place" means any area that is used or held out for use by the public whether owned or operated by public or private interests.

(d) (1) A seller or seller's agent or employee may perform a transaction scan to check the validity of a driver's license or identity card presented by a cardholder as a condition for selling, giving or otherwise delivering an electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product to the cardholder.

(2) If the information deciphered by the transaction scan performed under subdivision (1) of this subsection fails to match the information printed on the driver's license or identity card presented by the cardholder, or if the transaction scan indicates that the information so printed is false or fraudulent, neither the seller nor any seller's agent or employee shall sell, give or otherwise deliver any electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product to the cardholder.

(3) Subdivision (1) of this subsection does not preclude a seller or seller's agent or employee from using a transaction scan device to check the validity of a document other than a driver's license or an identity card, if the document includes a bar code or magnetic strip that may be scanned by the device, as a condition for selling, giving or otherwise delivering an electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product to the person presenting the document.

(e) (1) No seller or seller's agent or employee shall electronically or mechanically record or maintain any information derived from a transaction scan, except the following: (A) The name and date of birth of the person listed on the driver's license or identity card presented by a cardholder; and (B) the expiration date and identification number of the driver's license or identity card presented by a cardholder.

(2) No seller or seller's agent or employee shall use a transaction scan device for a purpose other than the purposes specified in subsection (d) of this section, subsection (d) of section 53-344, as amended by this act, or subsection (c) of section 30-86.

(4) Nothing in subsection (d) of this section or this subsection relieves a seller or seller's agent or employee of any responsibility to comply with any other applicable state or federal laws or rules governing selling, giving or otherwise delivering electronic nicotine delivery systems or vapor products.

(5) Any person who violates this subsection shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars.

(f) (1) In any prosecution of a seller or seller's agent or employee for a violation of subsection (b) of this section, it shall be an affirmative defense that all of the following occurred: (A) A cardholder attempting to purchase or receive an electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product presented a driver's license or an identity card; (B) a transaction scan of the driver's license or identity card that the cardholder presented indicated that the license or card was valid; and (C) the electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product was sold, given or otherwise delivered to the cardholder in reasonable reliance upon the identification presented and the completed transaction scan.

(2) In determining whether a seller or seller's agent or employee has proven the affirmative defense provided by subdivision (1) of this section, the trier of fact in such prosecution shall consider that reasonable reliance upon the identification presented and the completed transaction scan may require a seller or seller's agent or employee to exercise reasonable diligence and that the use of a transaction scan device does not excuse a seller or seller's agent or employee from exercising such reasonable diligence to determine the following: (A) Whether a person to whom the seller or seller's agent or employee sells, gives or otherwise delivers an electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product is [eighteen] twenty-one years of age or older; and (B) whether the description and picture appearing on the driver's license or identity card presented by a cardholder is that of the cardholder.

(g) Each seller of electronic nicotine delivery systems or vapor products or such seller's agent or employee shall require a person who is purchasing or attempting to purchase an electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product, whose age is in question, to exhibit proper proof of age. If a person fails to provide such proof of age, such seller or seller's agent or employee shall not sell an electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product to the person. As used in this subsection, "proper proof" means a motor vehicle operator's license, a valid passport or an identity card issued in accordance with the provisions of section 1-1h.

Sec. 8. Subsection (d) of section 19a-342 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):

(d) In each room, elevator, area or building in which smoking is prohibited by this section, the person in control of the premises shall post or cause to be posted in a conspicuous place signs stating that smoking is prohibited by state law. Such signs, except in elevators, restaurants, establishments with permits to sell alcoholic liquor to consumers issued pursuant to chapter 545, hotels, motels or similar lodgings, and health care institutions, shall have letters at least four inches high with the principal strokes of letters not less than one-half inch wide. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require the person in control of a building to post such signs in every room of a building, provided such signs are posted in a conspicuous place in such building.

Sec. 9. Subsection (d) of section 19a-342a of the 2016 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):

(d) In each room, elevator, area or building in which the use of an electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product is prohibited by this section, the person in control of the premises shall post or cause to be posted in a conspicuous place signs stating that such use is prohibited by state law. Such signs, except in elevators, restaurants, establishments with permits to sell alcoholic liquor to consumers issued pursuant to chapter 545, hotels, motels or similar lodgings, and health care institutions, shall have letters at least four inches high with the principal strokes of letters not less than one-half inch wide. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require the person in control of a building to post such signs in every room of a building, provided such signs are posted in a conspicuous place in such building.


This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	October 1, 2016	12-286a(a)
Sec. 2	October 1, 2016	12-295(a)
Sec. 3	October 1, 2016	12-295a
Sec. 4	October 1, 2016	12-289a
Sec. 5	October 1, 2016	12-314a
Sec. 6	October 1, 2016	53-344
Sec. 7	October 1, 2016	53-344b
Sec. 8	October 1, 2016	19a-342(d)
Sec. 9	October 1, 2016	19a-342a(d)

Statement of Purpose:

To (1) raise the minimum age to twenty-one for the purchase of tobacco products, electronic nicotine delivery systems and vapor products, (2) clarify that "vapor product" does not include a medicinal product used by licensed health care providers to treat patients in a health care setting, and (3) clarify that signs stating that the use of a product or system is prohibited does not need to be placed in every room of a building as long as such signs are posted in a conspicuous place in such building.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]