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Current Status Bill Number:View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.3872 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:20010404 Primary Sponsor:Talley All Sponsors:Talley, Simrill, Whipper, Allison, Barrett, Cato, Cobb-Hunter, Davenport, Delleney, Haskins, M. Hines, Lee, Littlejohn, Lourie, Merrill, Owens, Scarborough, Sheheen, Sinclair, F.N. Smith, W.D. Smith, Taylor, Walker, White, Wilder, Quinn, Bingham, Hinson, McLeod Drafted Document Number:l:\council\bills\ggs\22945cm01.doc Companion Bill Number:532 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Judiciary Committee 25 HJ Subject:Youth Access to Tobacco Prevention Act of 2001, Agriculture, Cigarettes, Minors, Crimes and Offenses, Businesses History Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ ______________________________________ _______ ____________ House 20020130 Co-Sponsor added (Rule 5.2) by Rep. McLeod House 20010425 Co-Sponsor added (Rule 5.2) by Rep. Hinson House 20010411 Co-Sponsor added (Rule 5.2) by Rep. Bingham House 20010410 Co-Sponsor added (Rule 5.2) by Rep. Quinn ------ 20010404 Companion Bill No. 532 House 20010404 Introduced, read first time, 25 HJ referred to Committee Versions of This Bill
TO ENACT THE "YOUTH ACCESS TO TOBACCO PREVENTION ACT OF 2001" INCLUDING PROVISIONS TO AMEND SECTION 16-17-500, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SUPPLYING MINORS WITH TOBACCO OR CIGARETTES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THIS PROVISION APPLIES TO THE SALE, FURNISHING, GIVING, DISTRIBUTION, AND PROVISION TO A MINOR OF CIGARETTES, TOBACCO, CIGARETTE PAPER, OR A TOBACCO PRODUCT, TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON MAY NOT SELL A TOBACCO PRODUCT TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO DOES NOT PRESENT UPON DEMAND PROPER PROOF OF AGE OR IS NOT BELIEVED TO BE AT LEAST EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE, TO PROVIDE THAT A RETAIL DISTRIBUTOR OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS MUST TRAIN ITS RETAIL SALES EMPLOYEES REGARDING THE PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION, TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS LESS THAN EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE MAY NOT PURCHASE, ACCEPT RECEIPT, ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE, ATTEMPT TO ACCEPT RECEIPT OF A TOBACCO PRODUCT, OR POSSESS OR OFFER FRAUDULENT PROOF OF AGE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING OR POSSESSING A TOBACCO PRODUCT, TO PROVIDE THAT A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY MAY USE MINORS TO TEST A COMMUNITY'S COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SECTION, TO PROVIDE THE CONDITIONS IN WHICH TOBACCO PRODUCTS MAY BE DISTRIBUTED IN VENDING MACHINES, TO REVISE THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING THE PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION, AND TO DEFINE THE TERM "PERSON"; TO AMEND SECTION 16-17-501, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS OF TERMS RELATING TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF TOBACCO PRODUCT SAMPLES AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROVISIONS THAT REGULATE THE SALE AND USE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THESE DEFINITIONS APPLY TO PROVISIONS REGULATING SUPPLYING TOBACCO PRODUCTS TO MINORS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "Youth Access to Tobacco Prevention Act of 2001".
SECTION 2. Section 16-17-500 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 445 of 1996, is further amended to read:
"Section 16-17-500. (A) It shall be is unlawful for any a person to sell, furnish, give, distribute, purchase for, or provide any a minor under the age of eighteen years with cigarettes, tobacco, cigarette paper, or any substitute therefore a tobacco product. Any person violating the provisions of this section, either in person, by agent or in any other way, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon indictment and conviction, therefor shall be punished as follows:
(1) for a first offense, by a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars;
(2) for a second offense, by a fine not exceeding fifty dollars; and
(3) for a third or subsequent offense, by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars or imprisonment for not more than one year nor less than sixty days, or both.
One-half of any fine imposed shall be paid to the informer of the offense and the other half to the treasurer of the county in which such conviction shall be had.
(B) It is unlawful for a person to sell a tobacco product to an individual who does not present upon demand proper proof of age. Proof of age is not required from an individual who the person believes or knows is at least eighteen years of age. Proof that is demanded, is shown, and reasonably is relied upon for the individual's proof of age is a defense to an action initiated pursuant to this section. To determine whether a person believes an individual is at least eighteen years of age, a court may consider, but is not limited to considering, proof of the individual's general appearance, facial characteristics, behavior, and manners. This subsection does not apply to mail order sales.
(C) A retail distributor of tobacco products must train its retail sales employees regarding the provisions contained in this section. In lieu of the penalties contained in subsection (F), a retail establishment that fails to comply with this provision must be fined not more than one thousand dollars. A retail establishment that provides proof that it has complied with the provisions contained in this section is not subject to this penalty.
(D) It is unlawful for an individual less than eighteen years of age to purchase, accept receipt, attempt to purchase, or attempt to accept receipt of a tobacco product, or present or offer to a person proof of age which is false or fraudulent for the purpose of purchasing or possessing a tobacco product. However, a person less than eighteen years of age may be enlisted by sheriff's departments and local law enforcement agencies to test a community's compliance with this section and to reduce the extent to which tobacco products are sold or distributed to individuals less than eighteen years of age when the testing is under the direct supervision of the law enforcement agency and with the individual's parental consent.
(E) It is unlawful for an individual less than eighteen years of age to possess a tobacco product. This subsection does not apply to the possession of tobacco products by an individual less than eighteen years of age who delivers tobacco products pursuant to his employment responsibilities.
(F) Tobacco products may be distributed only in vending machines located in an establishment:
(1) which is open only to persons who are eighteen years of age or older; or
(2) where the vending machine is under continuous control by the owner or licensee of the premises, or an employee of the owner or licensee, can be operated only upon activation by the owner, licensee, or employee before each purchase, and is not accessible to the public when the establishment is closed. The owner, licensee, or employee must demand proof of age from a prospective purchaser if he has reasonable grounds to believe the prospective purchaser is less than eighteen years of age. Proof that an owner, licensee, or employee demanded, was shown, and reasonably relied upon an individual's proof of age is a defense to any action brought pursuant to this subsection.
Vending machines which distribute tobacco products in establishments that do not meet the conditions contained in this subsection must be removed from an establishment before July 1, 2001.
(G) A person, individual, or business that intentionally or knowingly violates a provision contained in this section either in person, by agent, or in any other way, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished as follows:
(1) for a first offense, by a fine not more than one hundred dollars,
(2) for a second offense, by a fine not more than two hundred dollars; and
(3) for a third or subsequent offense, by a fine not less than three hundred dollars, or imprisonment for not more than one year and not less than sixty days, or both.
One-half of any fine imposed pursuant to this section must be paid to the informer of the offense, one quarter distributed to the treasurer of the county in which the conviction occurred, and one quarter distributed to the county alcohol and drug abuse commission and used for funding youth smoking prevention programs.
(H) In lieu of the penalties contained in subsection (F), a court may require an individual who is less than eighteen years of age who illegally purchases or possesses a tobacco product to perform not more than twenty hours of community service for a first offense and not more than forty hours of community service for a second or subsequent offense. If the individual fails or refuses to complete his community service sentence, then the court may impose a sentence pursuant to subsection (F).
(I) As used in this section 'person' means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, club, or commercial entity."
SECTION 3. Section 16-17-501 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 445 of 1996, is amended to read:
"Section 16-17-501. As used in this Section and Sections 16-17-500, 16-17-502, 16-17-503, and 16-17-504:
(1) 'Distribute' means to sell, furnish, give, or provide tobacco products, including tobacco product samples, cigarette paper, or a substitute for them, to the ultimate consumer.
(2) 'Proof of age' means a driver's license or other documentary or written evidence that the individual is eighteen years of age or older.
(3) 'Sample' means a tobacco product distributed to members of the general public at no cost for the purpose of promoting the products.
(4) 'Sampling' means the distribution of samples to members of the general public in a public place.
(5) 'Tobacco product' means a product that contains tobacco and is intended for human consumption."
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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