Bill > S1647

Introduced Session

This bill prohibits the use of coupons, price reductions, and price rebates in connection with the sale or offer for sale of tobacco and vapor products to consumers at retail, including online coupons and promotional discount codes. "Tobacco product" is defined to include cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and tobacco in any other form; and "vapor product" is defined to include electronic smoking devices and the vapor cartridges used in or with the devices. The prohibition established under the bill would not apply to coupons and discounts for smoking cessation products approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration. A violation of this prohibition will be punishable by a civil penalty of not less than $250 for a first violation, not less than $500 for a second violation, and $1,000 for a third or subsequent violation, which will be paid into the treasury of the municipality in which the violation occurred. Additionally, a licensed tobacco retail dealer found to have committed a violation would, following a hearing, be subject to an additional administrative penalty or suspension of the dealer's license; the license would be subject to revocation following a second violation. Penalties imposed under the bill will be in addition to any other penalties that may apply for the offense.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Daniel Benson (D)*,  Richard Codey (D)*,  Herbert Conaway (D)*,  Patrick Diegnan (D)*,  Carol Murphy (D)*,  Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D)*,  John Armato (D),  Mila Jasey (D),  Angelica Jimenez (D),  Patricia Jones (D),  Vincent Mazzeo (D),  John McKeon (D),  Nancy Pinkin (D),  Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D),  Shirley Turner (D),  Joe Vitale (D),  Loretta Weinberg (D), 

Approved P.L.2019, c.396. (on 01/21/2020)