Bill Text: WV HB2186 | 2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to tobacco usage restrictions
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-02-10 - To House Health and Human Resources [HB2186 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2021-HB2186-Introduced.html
WEST virginia legislature
2021 regular session
Introduced
House Bill 2186
By Delegate Rohrbach
[Introduced February 10, 2021; Referred to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary
A BILL to amend and reenact §16-9A-1, §16-9A-2, §16-9A-3, §16-9A-7, and §16-9A-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to tobacco usage restrictions; Legislative findings and intent; raising the legal age for the purchase of tobacco, tobacco products, tobacco derived products, alternative nicotine products and vapor products to 21.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 9A. TOBACCO USAGE RESTRICTIONS.
§16-9A-1. Legislative findings and intent.
(a) Findings --Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in America: It causes over 480,000 deaths annually and has been responsible for 20.8 million premature deaths in the U.S, over the past 50 years since the first Surgeon General's report on smoking in 1964. The Legislature recognizes that young people are particularly susceptible to the addictive properties of tobacco products, and are particularly likely to become lifelong users. An estimated 5.6 million youth are projected to die prematurely from a tobacco-related disease if smoking prevalence rates do not change. National data shows that about 95 percent of adult smokers begin smoking before they turn 21. The ages of 18 to 21 are a critical period when many smokers move from experimenting with smoking to regular, daily use. Young minds are particularly susceptible to the addictive properties of nicotine. Tobacco industry documents show that an 18-year-old that has never smoked has a three-to-one chance that he or she never will. However, a 21-year-old who has never smoked has a 20-to-one chance that she or he never will. Electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) use among teens has surged in recent years, and now stands at 16 percent among high school students, ENDS are the most commonly used tobacco product among high school students. In 2015, eight and six tenths percent of high school students were current cigar smokers. Eleven and one half percent of boys and five and six tenths percent of girls, high school boys smoke cigars at a higher rate than cigarettes. In 2015, the National Academy of Medicine concluded that raising the minimum legal sales age for tobacco products nationwide will reduce tobacco initiation, particularly among adolescents aged 15 to 17, improve health across the lifespan, and save lives. The National Academy of Medicine also predicts that raising the minimum legal sales age for tobacco products nationwide to 21 would result in 223,000 fewer premature deaths, 50,000 fewer deaths from lung cancer, and 4.3 million fewer years of life lost for those born between 2000 and 2019. Three-quarters of adults favor raising the minimum legal sales age for tobacco products to 21, including seven in 10 adult smokers. Raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco products is consistent with raising the legal drinking age to 21, which led to reduced alcohol use and dependence among youth, and contributed to a decline in drunk driving fatalities. A growing number of communities, including the state of Hawaii and California, have enacted minimum legal sales age of 21 laws to further restrict access to tobacco.
(b) Intent -- The Legislature hereby declares it to be the policy
and intent of this state to discourage and ban the use of tobacco products by
minors. As basis for this policy, the Legislature hereby finds and accepts the
medical evidence that smoking tobacco may cause lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema,
and other serious health problems while the use of smokeless tobacco may cause
gum disease and oral cancer. It is the further intent of the Legislature to
reduce tobacco use by keeping tobacco products out of the hands of youth and
young adults in banning the use of tobacco products by minors the
sale of tobacco products to persons under the age of 21 to ease the
personal tragedy and eradicate the severe economic loss associated with the use
of tobacco and to provide the state with a citizenry free from the use of
tobacco.
§16-9A-2. Definitions; gift
of cigarette paper, pipe, snuff, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, roll-your-own
tobacco, tobacco products, tobacco derived and alternative nicotine products or
vapor products to persons under 18; sale or gift of cigarette, cigarette
paper, pipe, cigar, snuff, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, roll-your-own
tobacco, tobacco products, tobacco-derived and alternative nicotine product or
vapor products to persons under 18; sale or gift of cigarette,
cigarette paper, pipe, cigar, snuff, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco,
roll-your-own tobacco, tobacco products, tobacco derived and alternative
nicotine product or vapor products to persons under eighteen 21; penalties
for first and subsequent offense; consideration of prohibited act as grounds
for dismissal; impact on eligibility for unemployment benefits.
(a) For purposes of this article, the term:
(1) “Tobacco product” and “tobacco-derived product” means any product, containing, made or derived from tobacco, or containing nicotine derived from tobacco, that is intended for human consumption, whether smoked, breathed, chewed, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, vaporized, snorted, sniffed, or ingested by any other means, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, little cigars, pipe tobacco, snuff, snus, chewing tobacco or other common tobacco-containing products. A “tobacco-derived product” includes electronic cigarettes or similar devices, alternative nicotine products and vapor products. “Tobacco product” or “tobacco-derived product” does not include any product that is regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration under Chapter V of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
(2) “Alternative nicotine product” means any non-combustible product containing nicotine that is intended for human consumption, whether chewed, absorbed, dissolved, or ingested by any other means. “Alternative nicotine product” does not include any tobacco product, vapor product or product regulated as a drug or device by the United States Food and Drug Administration under Chapter V of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
(3) “Vapor product” means any noncombustible product containing nicotine that employs a heating element, power source, electronic circuit or other electronic, chemical or mechanical means, regardless of shape and size, that can be used to produce vapor from nicotine in a solution or other form. “Vapor product” includes any electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe or similar product or device, and any vapor cartridge or other container of nicotine in a solution or other form that is intended to be used with or in an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe or similar product or device. “Vapor product” does not include any product that is regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration under Chapter V of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
(b) No person, firm, corporation, or business entity may sell, give or furnish, or cause to be sold, given or furnished, to any person under the age of 18 years:
(1) Any pipe, cigarette paper or any other paper prepared, manufactured, or made for the purpose of smoking any tobacco or tobacco product;
(2) Any cigar, cigarette, snuff, chewing tobacco or tobacco product, in any form; or
(3) Any tobacco-derived product, alternative nicotine product or vapor product.
(c) No person, firm, corporation or business entity may sell or cause to be sold to any person under the age of 21 years:
(1) Any pipe, cigarette paper or any other paper prepared, manufactured or made for the purpose of smoking any tobacco or tobacco product;
(2) Any cigar, cigarette, snuff, chewing tobacco or tobacco product, in any form; or
(3) Any tobacco derived product, alternative nicotine product or vapor product.
(c) (d) Any individual,
firm or corporation that violates any of the provisions of subsection
(b) or (c) of this section and any individual who violates any of the
provisions of subsection (b) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor
and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined $50 for the first offense. Upon
any subsequent violation at the same location or operating unit, the firm,
corporation or individual shall be fined as follows: At least $250 but not more
than $500 for the second offense, if it occurs within two years of the first
conviction; at least $500 but not more than $750 for the third offense, if it
occurs within two years of the first conviction; and at least $1,000 but not
more than $5,000 for any subsequent offenses, if the subsequent offense occurs
within five years of the first conviction.
(d) Any individual who
knowingly and intentionally sells, gives or furnishes or causes to be sold,
given or furnished to any person under the age of eighteen years any cigar,
cigarette, snuff, chewing tobacco, tobacco product or tobacco-derived product,
in any form, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, for the
first offense shall be fined not more than $100; upon conviction thereof for a
second or subsequent offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not
less than $100 nor more than $500
(e) Any employer who
discovers that his or her employee has sold or furnished tobacco
products or tobacco-derived products to minors or sold tobacco products or
tobacco derived products to persons under the age of 21 may dismiss such
that employee for cause. Any such discharge shall be considered as “gross
misconduct” for the purposes of determining the discharged employee's
eligibility for unemployment benefits in accordance with the provisions of §21A-6-3
of this code, if the employer has provided the employee with prior written
notice in the workplace that such act or acts may result in their termination
from employment.
§16-9A-3. Use or possession of tobacco or tobacco products, alternative nicotine products or vapor products by persons under the age of 18 years; penalties.
A person under the age of 18 years shall may
not have on or about his or her person or premises or use any cigarette, or
cigarette paper, or any other paper prepared, manufactured or made for the
purpose of smoking any tobacco products, in any form; any pipe, snuff, chewing
tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco-derived product: Provided, That minors
persons under the age of 21 participating in the inspection of locations
where tobacco products or tobacco-derived products are sold or distributed
pursuant to §16-9A-7 of this code is not considered to violate the provisions
of this section. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall for
the first violation be fined $50 and be required to serve eight hours of
community service; for a second violation, the person shall be fined $100 and
be required to serve 16 hours of community service; and for a third and each
subsequent violation, the person shall be fined $200 and be required to serve
24 hours of community service. Notwithstanding the provisions of §49-4-701 of
this code, the magistrate court has concurrent jurisdiction.
§16-9A-7. Enforcement of youth smoking laws and youth nicotine restrictions; inspection of retail outlets where tobacco, tobacco products, vapor products or alternative nicotine products are sold; use of minors in inspections; annual reports; penalties; defenses.
(a) The Commissioner of the
West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration, the Superintendent of
the West Virginia State Police, the sheriffs of the counties of this state and
the chiefs of police of municipalities of this state, may periodically conduct
unannounced inspections at locations where tobacco products or tobacco-derived
products, are sold or distributed to ensure compliance with the provisions of §16-9A-2
and §16-9A-3 of this code and in such manner as to conform with applicable
federal and state laws, rules and regulations. Persons under the age of eighteen
21 years may be enlisted by such commissioner, superintendent, sheriffs
or chiefs of police or employees or agents thereof to test compliance with
these sections: Provided, That the minors persons under the
age of 21 may be used to test compliance only if the testing is conducted
under the direct supervision of the commissioner, superintendent, sheriffs or
chiefs of police or employees or agents thereof and written consent of the
parent or guardian of such that person is first obtained and such
minors those persons under the age of 21 shall are not
be in violation of §16-9A-3 of this code article and chapter when
acting under the direct supervision of the commissioner, superintendent,
sheriffs or chiefs of police or employees or agents thereof and with the
written consent of the parent or guardian. It is unlawful for any person to use
persons under the age of eighteen 21 years to test compliance in
any manner not set forth herein and the person so using a minor is guilty of a
misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined the same amounts as
set forth in §16-9A-2 of this code.
(b) A person charged with a violation of §16-9A-2 and §16-9A-3 of this code as the result of an inspection under subsection (a) of this section has a complete defense if, at the time the cigarette, other tobacco product or tobacco-derived product, or cigarette wrapper, was sold, delivered, bartered, furnished, or given:
(1) The buyer or recipient
falsely evidenced that he or she was eighteen 21 years of age or
older;
(2) The appearance of the
buyer or recipient was such that a prudent person would believe the buyer or
recipient to be eighteen 21 years of age or older; and
(3) Such The person
carefully checked a driver's license or an identification card issued by this
state or another state of the United States, a passport or a United States
armed services identification card presented by the buyer or recipient and
acted in good faith and in reliance upon the representation and appearance of
the buyer or recipient in the belief that the buyer or recipient was eighteen
21 years of age or older.
(c) Any fine collected after a conviction of violating section two of this article shall be paid to the clerk of the court in which the conviction was obtained: Provided, That the clerk of the court upon receiving the fine shall promptly notify the Commissioner of the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration of the conviction and the collection of the fine: Provided, however, That any community service penalty imposed after a conviction of violating §16-9A-3 of this code shall be recorded by the clerk of the court in which the conviction was obtained: Provided further, That the clerk of the court upon being advised that community service obligations have been fulfilled shall promptly notify the Commissioner of the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration of the conviction and the satisfaction of imposed community service penalty.
(d) The Commissioner of the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration or his or her designee shall prepare and submit to the Governor on the last day of September of each year a report of the enforcement and compliance activities undertaken pursuant to this section and the results of the same, with a copy to the Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. The report shall be in the form and substance that the Governor shall submit to the applicable state and federal programs.
§16-9A-8. Selling of tobacco products, tobacco-derived products, alternative nicotine products or vapor products in vending machines prohibited except in certain places.
No person or business
entity may offer for sale any cigarette, tobacco product or tobacco-derived
product, in a vending machine. Any person or business entity which violates the
provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof,
shall be fined $250: Provided, That an establishment is exempt from this
prohibition if individuals under the age of eighteen 21 years are
not permitted to be in the establishment or if the establishment is licensed by
the alcohol beverage control commissioner as a Class A licensee. The alcohol
beverage control commissioner shall promulgate rules pursuant to §29A-3-1 et
seq. of this code to establish standards for the location and control of the
vending machines in Class A licensed establishments for the purpose of
restricting access by minors persons under the age of 21.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to raise the legal age for the purchase of tobacco, tobacco products, tobacco derived products, alternative nicotine products and vapor products to 21.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
