Bill > A3181

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. The prohibition extends to online coupons and promotional discount codes, but would not apply to coupons or discount codes for smoking cessation products. "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. A violation of this prohibition would 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 would be in addition to any other penalties that may apply for the offense.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Daniel Benson (D)*,  Herbert Conaway (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), 

Substituted by S1647 (1R) (on 01/13/2020)