Bill > H3509

This bill establishes an interagency task force on illegal tobacco enforcement within the department of the attorney general, comprised of designees from the attorney general, commissioner of revenue, commander of the state police, and state treasurer, to assist the department of revenue in enforcing laws related to illegal tobacco sales, including investigating and prosecuting criminal activity such as the possession, sale, delivery, or transport of unstamped cigarettes or tobacco products, and the unauthorized use of tax stamps. The task force will also be responsible for seizing and forfeiting items like vending machines, vehicles used in illegal transportation, and related records, with proceeds from forfeited property and sales deposited into a newly created Tobacco Enforcement Trust Fund, which will be administered by the state treasurer and used to fund the task force's enforcement activities, investigations, and acquisition of technical equipment or expertise, with an initial appropriation of $2,000,000 from the General Fund to this trust fund.