Senator Curtis S. Bramble proposes the following substitute bill:


1     
TOBACCO REGULATION AMENDMENTS

2     
2021 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble

5     
House Sponsor: Francis D. Gibson

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends provisions relating to the regulation of electronic cigarettes.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     provides that a regulation on nicotine content in electronic cigarette products may
13     not be more restrictive than a certain level;
14          ▸     limits the Department of Health's authority to regulate certain electronic cigarette
15     products that have been authorized for sale by the United States Food and Drug
16     Administration;
17          ▸     amends provisions relating to penalties for violating the terms of a retail tobacco
18     permit; and
19          ▸     modifies the tax rate for certain electronic cigarette substances, prefilled electronic
20     cigarettes, alternative nicotine products, nontherapeutic nicotine device substances,
21     and prefilled nontherapeutic nicotine devices.
22     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
23          None
24     Other Special Clauses:
25          None

26     Utah Code Sections Affected:
27     AMENDS:
28          26-57-103, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 302
29          26-62-305, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapters 302, 347 and last amended
30     by Coordination Clause, Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 302
31          26-62-402, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 302
32          59-14-804, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 347
33     

34     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
35          Section 1. Section 26-57-103 is amended to read:
36          26-57-103. Electronic cigarette products -- Labeling -- Manufacturing and
37     quality control standards -- Advertising.
38          (1) The department shall, in consultation with a local health department, as defined in
39     Section 26A-1-102, and with input from members of the public, establish by rule made in
40     accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the standards for
41     electronic cigarette substance:
42          (a) labeling;
43          (b) nicotine content;
44          (c) packaging; and
45          (d) product quality.
46          (2) On or before January 1, 2021, the department shall, in consultation with a local
47     health department, as defined in Section 26A-1-102, and with input from members of the
48     public, establish by rule made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
49     Rulemaking Act, the standards for manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette substance:
50          (a) labeling;
51          (b) nicotine content;
52          (c) packaging; and
53          (d) product quality.
54          (3) (a) A person may not sell an electronic cigarette substance unless the electronic
55     cigarette substance complies with the standards established by the department under Subsection
56     (1).

57          (b) Beginning on July 1, 2021, a person may not sell a manufacturer sealed electronic
58     cigarette substance unless the manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette substance complies with
59     the standards established by the department under Subsection (2).
60          (4) (a) A local health department may not enact a rule or regulation regarding
61     electronic cigarette substance labeling, nicotine content, packaging, or product quality that is
62     not identical to the standards established by the department under Subsections (1) and (2).
63          (b) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(c), a local health department may enact a rule
64     or regulation regarding electronic cigarette substance manufacturing.
65          (c) A local health department may not enact a rule or regulation regarding a
66     manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette substance.
67          (5) A person may not advertise an electronic cigarette product:
68          (a) as a tobacco cessation device;
69          (b) if the person is not licensed to sell an electronic cigarette product under Section
70     59-14-803; or
71          (c) during a period of time when the person's license to sell an electronic cigarette
72     product under Section 59-14-803 has been suspended or revoked.
73          (6) The department may not:
74          (a) set a standard for nicotine content under Subsection (1) or (2) that limits nicotine
75     content to a concentration that is lower than the greater of:
76          (i) 65 mg/mL; and
77          (ii) the nicotine yield of an electronic cigarette product established by federal law; or
78          (b) regulate a product under this section if the product is authorized for sale under:
79          (i) 21 U.S.C. Sec. 387j;
80          (ii) 21 U.S.C. Sec. 387k; or
81          (iii) any other review process established by the United States Food and Drug
82     Administration to authorize an electronic cigarette product for sale in the United States.
83          Section 2. Section 26-62-305 is amended to read:
84          26-62-305. Penalties.
85          (1) (a) If an enforcing agency determines that a person has violated the terms of a
86     permit issued under this chapter, the enforcing agency may impose the penalties described in
87     this section.

88          (b) If multiple violations are found in a single inspection by an enforcing agency or
89     investigation by a law enforcement agency under Section 77-39-101, the enforcing agency shall
90     treat the multiple violations as one single violation under Subsections (2), (3), and (4).
91          (2) Except as provided in Subsection (3) and Section 26-62-402, if a violation is found
92     in an inspection by an enforcing agency or an investigation by a law enforcement agency under
93     Section 77-39-101, the enforcing agency shall:
94          (a) on a first violation at a retail location, impose a penalty of no more than [$500]
95     $1,000;
96          (b) on a second violation at the same retail location that occurs within one year of a
97     previous violation, impose a penalty of no more than [$750] $1,500;
98          (c) on a third violation at the same retail location that occurs within two years after two
99     previous violations, impose:
100          (i) a suspension of the permit for 30 consecutive business days within 60 days after the
101     day on which the third violation occurs; or
102          (ii) a penalty of no more than [$1,000] $2,000; and
103          (d) on a fourth or subsequent violation within two years of three previous violations:
104          (i) impose a penalty of no more than [$1,000] $2,000;
105          (ii) revoke a permit of the retailer; and
106          (iii) if applicable, recommend to a municipality or county that a retail tobacco specialty
107     business license issued under Section 10-8-41.6 or 17-50-333 be suspended or revoked.
108          (3) If a violation is found in an investigation of a general tobacco retailer by a law
109     enforcement agency under Section 77-39-101 for the sale of a tobacco product, an electronic
110     cigarette product, or a nicotine product to an individual under 21 years old and the violation is
111     committed by the owner of the general tobacco retailer, the enforcing agency shall:
112          (a) on a first violation, impose a fine of no more than $2,000 on the general tobacco
113     retailer; and
114          (b) on the second violation for the same general tobacco retailer within one year of the
115     first violation:
116          (i) impose a fine not exceeding $5,000; and
117          (ii) revoke the permit for the general tobacco retailer.
118          (4) If a violation is found in an investigation of a retail tobacco specialty business by a

119     law enforcement agency under Section 77-39-101 for the sale of a tobacco product, an
120     electronic cigarette product, or a nicotine product to an individual under 21 years old, the
121     enforcing agency shall apply the provisions of Section 26-62-402.
122          (5) (a) Except when a transfer described in Subsection (6) occurs, a local health
123     department may not issue a permit to:
124          (i) a tobacco retailer for whom a permit is suspended or revoked under Subsection (2)
125     or (3) or Section 26-62-402; or
126          (ii) a tobacco retailer that has the same proprietor, director, corporate officer, partner,
127     or other holder of significant interest as another tobacco retailer for whom a permit is
128     suspended or revoked under Subsection (2) or (3) or Section 26-62-402.
129          (b) A person whose permit:
130          (i) is suspended under this section may not apply for a new permit for any other
131     tobacco retailer for a period of 12 months after the day on which an enforcing agency suspends
132     the permit; and
133          (ii) is revoked under this section or Section 26-62-402 may not apply for a new permit
134     for any tobacco retailer for a period of 24 months after the day on which an enforcing agency
135     revokes the permit.
136          (6) Violations of this chapter, Section 10-8-41.6, Section 17-50-333, or Section
137     26-62-402 that occur at a tobacco retailer location shall stay on the record for that tobacco
138     retailer location unless:
139          (a) the tobacco retailer is transferred to a new proprietor; and
140          (b) the new proprietor provides documentation to the local health department that the
141     new proprietor is acquiring the tobacco retailer in an arm's length transaction from the previous
142     proprietor.
143          Section 3. Section 26-62-402 is amended to read:
144          26-62-402. Penalties.
145          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), if a violation of this part is found in an
146     investigation of a retail tobacco specialty business by a law enforcement agency under Section
147     77-39-101, the enforcing agency shall:
148          (a) on a first violation, impose a penalty of no more than [$500] $1,000 on the retail
149     tobacco specialty business;

150          (b) on a second violation for the same retail tobacco specialty business that occurs
151     within one year of a previous violation, impose a penalty of no more than [$750] $1,500;
152          (c) on a third violation for the same retail tobacco specialty business that occurs within
153     two years of the two previous violations, impose:
154          (i) a suspension of the permit for 30 consecutive business days within 60 days after the
155     day on which the third violation occurs; or
156          (ii) a penalty of no more than [$1,000] $2,000; and
157          (d) on a fourth or subsequent violation within two years of the three previous
158     violations:
159          (i) impose a penalty of no more than [$1,000] $2,000;
160          (ii) revoke the permit of the retail tobacco specialty business; and
161          (iii) recommend to a municipality or county that a retail tobacco specialty business
162     license issued under Section 10-8-41.6 or 17-50-333 be suspended or revoked.
163          (2) If a violation of this part is committed by the owner and is found in an investigation
164     of a retail tobacco specialty business by a law enforcement agency under Section 77-39-101,
165     the enforcing agency shall:
166          (a) on a first violation, impose a fine not exceeding $2,000; and
167          (b) on a second violation at the same retail tobacco specialty business within one year
168     of the first violation:
169          (i) impose a fine not exceeding $5,000;
170          (ii) revoke the retail tobacco specialty business's permit; and
171          (iii) recommend to a municipality or county that the retail tobacco specialty license
172     issued under Section 10-8-41.6 or 17-50-333 to the retail tobacco specialty business be
173     suspended or revoked.
174          (3) If multiple violations are found in a single investigation by a law enforcement
175     agency under Section 77-39-101, the enforcing agency shall treat the multiple violations as a
176     single violation.
177          Section 4. Section 59-14-804 is amended to read:
178          59-14-804. Taxation of electronic cigarette substance, prefilled electronic
179     cigarette, alternative nicotine product, nontherapeutic nicotine device substance, and
180     prefilled nontherapeutic nicotine device.

181          (1) (a) Beginning on July 1, 2020, a tax is imposed upon the following:
182          (i) an electronic cigarette substance; and
183          (ii) a prefilled electronic cigarette.
184          (b) Beginning on July 1, 2021, a tax is imposed upon the following:
185          (i) a nontherapeutic nicotine device substance; and
186          (ii) a prefilled nontherapeutic nicotine device.
187          (c) Beginning on July 1, 2021, a tax is imposed upon an alternative nicotine product.
188          (2) (a) The amount of tax imposed under Subsections (1)(a) and (b) is [.56] .70
189     multiplied by the manufacturer's sales price.
190          (b) (i) The tax under Subsection (1)(c) on an alternative nicotine product is imposed:
191          (A) at a rate of $1.83 per ounce; and
192          (B) on the basis of the net weight of the alternative nicotine product as listed by the
193     manufacturer.
194          (ii) If the net weight of the alternative nicotine product is in a quantity that is a
195     fractional part of one ounce, a proportionate amount of the tax described in Subsection
196     (2)(b)(i)(A) is imposed:
197          (A) on that fractional part of one ounce; and
198          (B) in accordance with rules made by the commission in accordance with Title 63G,
199     Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
200          (3) If a product is sold in the same package as a product that is taxed under Subsection
201     (1), the tax described in Subsection (2) shall apply to the wholesale manufacturer's sale price of
202     the entire packaged product.
203          (4) (a) A manufacturer, jobber, distributor, wholesaler, retailer, consumer, or user shall
204     pay the tax levied under Subsection (1) at the time that an electronic cigarette substance, a
205     prefilled electronic cigarette, an alternative nicotine product, a nontherapeutic nicotine device
206     substance, or a prefilled nontherapeutic nicotine device is first received in the state.
207          (b) A manufacturer, jobber, distributor, wholesaler, retailer, consumer, or user may not
208     resell an electronic cigarette substance, a prefilled electronic cigarette, an alternative nicotine
209     product, a nontherapeutic nicotine device substance, or a prefilled nontherapeutic nicotine
210     device to another distributor, another retailer, or a consumer before paying the tax levied under
211     Subsection (1).

212          (5) (a) The manufacturer, jobber, distributor, wholesaler, retailer, consumer, or user
213     shall remit the taxes collected in accordance with this section to the commission.
214          (b) The commission shall deposit revenues generated by the tax imposed by this
215     section into the Electronic Cigarette Substance and Nicotine Product Tax Restricted Account
216     created in Section 59-14-807.