2015 -- S 0720

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LC001336

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

     

     Introduced By: Senator Joshua Miller

     Date Introduced: March 18, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 23-1-56 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-1 entitled "Department

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of Health" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     23-1-56. License. [Effective January 1, 2015.] -- (a) Each person engaging in the

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business of selling electronic nicotine-delivery system products in the state, including any

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distributor or dealer, shall secure a license annually from the department before engaging in that

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business or continuing to engage in it. A separate application and license is required for each

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place of business operated by a distributor or dealer. If the applicant for a license does not have a

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place of business in this state, the license shall be issued for such applicant's principal place of

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business, wherever located. A licensee shall notify the department within thirty (30) days in the

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event that it changes its principal place of business. A separate license is required for each class

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of business if the applicant is engaged in more than one of the activities required to be licensed by

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this section. No person shall maintain or operate, or cause to be operated, a vending machine for

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electronic nicotine-delivery systems without procuring a dealer's license for each machine.

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      (b) The director shall have authority to set a reasonable fee not to exceed twenty-five

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dollars ($25.00) for the issuance of the license.

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      (c) Each issued license shall be prominently displayed on the premises, if any, covered

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by the license.

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      (d) The director shall create and maintain a website setting forth the identity of all

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licensed persons under this section, itemized by type of license possessed, and shall update the

 

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site no less frequently than six (6) times per year.

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      (e) A manufacturer or importer may sell or distribute electronic nicotine-delivery

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systems to a person located or doing business within the state only if such person is a licensed

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distributor. An importer may obtain electronic nicotine-delivery systems only from a licensed

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manufacturer. A distributor may sell or distribute electronic nicotine-delivery systems to a person

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located or doing business within this state only if such person is a licensed distributor or dealer. A

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distributor may obtain electronic nicotine-delivery systems only from a licensed manufacturer,

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importer, or distributor. A dealer may obtain electronic nicotine-delivery systems only from a

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licensed distributor.

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      (f) (1) No license under this chapter may be granted, maintained, or renewed if the

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applicant, or any combination of persons owning directly or indirectly any interests in the

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applicant:

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      (i) Is delinquent in any tax filings for one month or more; or

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      (ii) Had a license under this chapter revoked within the past two (2) years.

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      (2) No person shall apply for a new license, or renewal of a license and no license shall

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be issued or renewed for any person, unless all outstanding fines, fees, or other charges relating to

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any license held by that person have been paid.

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      (3) No license shall be issued relating to a business at any specific location until all prior

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licenses relating to that location have been officially terminated and all fines, fees, or charges

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relating to the prior licenses have been paid or otherwise resolved or if the director has found that

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the person applying for the new license is not acting as an agent for the prior licensee who is

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subject to any such related fines, fees, or charges that are still due. Evidence of such agency status

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includes, but is not limited to, a direct familial relationship and/or employment, contractual, or

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other formal financial or business relationship with the prior licensee.

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      (4) No person shall apply for a new license pertaining to a specific location in order to

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evade payment of any fines, fees, or other charges relating to a prior license for that location.

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      (5) No new license shall be issued for a business at a specific location for which a license

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has already issued unless there is a bona fide, good-faith change in ownership of the business at

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that location.

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      (6) No license or permit shall be issued, renewed or maintained for any person, including

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the owners of the business being licensed, who has been convicted of violating any criminal law

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relating to tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products, the payment of

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taxes, or fraud, or has been ordered to pay civil fines of more than twenty-five thousand dollars

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($25,000) for violations of any civil law relating to tobacco products and/or electronic nicotine-

 

LC001336 - Page 2 of 4

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delivery system products, the payment of taxes, or fraud.

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     (7) No license or permit for the business of selling electronic nicotine-delivery system

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products as defined in § 11-9-13.4 shall be issued, renewed or maintained in this state for any

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person, including the owners of the business being licensed, who has not secured a license for

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cigarette products.

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     SECTION 2. Section 44-20-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-20 entitled "Cigarette

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Tax" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     44-20-2. Importer, distributor, and dealer licenses required -- Licenses required. --

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Each person engaging in the business of selling cigarette and/or any tobacco products in this state,

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including any distributor or dealer, shall secure a license from the administrator before engaging

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in that business, or continuing to engage in it. A separate application and license is required for

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each place of business operated by a distributor or dealer; provided, that an operator of vending

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machines for cigarette products is not required to obtain a distributor's license for each machine.

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If the applicant for a license does not have a place of business in this state, the license shall be

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issued for such applicant's principal place of business, wherever located. A licensee shall notify

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the administrator within thirty (30) days in the event that it changes its principal place of

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business. A separate license is required for each class of business if the applicant is engaged in

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more than one of the activities required to be licensed by this section. No person shall maintain or

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operate or cause to be operated a vending machine for cigarette products without procuring a

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dealer's license for each machine; provided, that no person shall engage in the business of selling

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electronic nicotine-delivery systems as defined in § 11-9-13.4 without first securing a license to

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sell cigarette and/or tobacco products in this state.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

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     This act would prohibit the sale of electronic nicotine-delivery systems without having a

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license to sell cigarettes and/or tobacco products.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001336

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