Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§18.2-246.8, 18.2-371.2, 18.2-391, 22.1-79.5, 22.1-206, 22.1-279.6, 58.1-1021.04:1, and 59.1-293.10 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 10 of Title 58.1 an article numbered 4, consisting of sections numbered 58.1-1030.1 through 58.1-1030.7, as follows:
§18.2-246.8. Age verification requirements.
A. No person shall mail, ship, or otherwise deliver cigarettes in connection with a delivery sale unless prior to the first delivery sale to a consumer such person:
1. Obtains from the prospective consumer a certification that includes (i) a reliable confirmation that the consumer is at least the legal minimum purchase age, and (ii) a statement signed by the prospective consumer in writing that certifies the prospective consumer's address and that the consumer is at least 21 years of age. Such statement shall also confirm (a) that the prospective consumer understands that signing another person's name to such certification is illegal, (b) that the sale of cigarettes to individuals under the legal minimum purchase age is illegal, and (c) that the purchase of cigarettes by individuals under the legal minimum purchase age is illegal under the laws of the Commonwealth;
2. Makes a good faith effort to verify the information contained in the certification provided by the prospective consumer pursuant to subsection A against a commercially available database of valid, government-issued identification that contains the date of birth or age of the individual placing the order, or obtains a photocopy or other image of the valid, government-issued identification stating the date of birth or age of the individual placing the order;
3. Provides to the prospective consumer, via e-mail or other means, a notice that meets the requirements of §18.2-246.9; and
4. Receives payment for the delivery sale from the prospective consumer by a credit or debit card that has been issued in such consumer's name or by a check drawn on the consumer's account.
B. 1. If a purchase order for a tobacco product, as defined in §58.1-1030.1, is made via the Internet, no person shall make a delivery for such order unless the delivery is to a permit holder, as defined in § 58.1-1030.1.
2. Persons accepting purchase orders made via the Internet for delivery sales may request that prospective consumers provide their e-mail addresses.
§18.2-371.2. Prohibiting sale or distribution of tobacco products to persons under 21 years of age; penalty.
A. No person shall sell to, distribute to, purchase for, or
knowingly permit the purchase by any person less than 21 years of age, knowing
or having reason to believe that such person is less than 21 years of age, any
tobacco product, nicotine vapor product, or alternative nicotine product.
Tobacco products, nicotine vapor products, and alternative
nicotine products may be sold No person shall sell tobacco products from
a vending machine only if the machine is (i) posted with a notice, in a
conspicuous manner and place, indicating that the purchase or possession of
tobacco products by persons under 21 years of age is unlawful and (ii) located
in a place that is not open to the general public and is not generally
accessible to persons under 21 years of age. An establishment that prohibits
the presence of persons under 21 years of age unless accompanied by a person 21
years of age or older is not open to the general public.
B. No person less than 21 years of age shall attempt to
purchase, purchase, or possess any tobacco product, nicotine vapor product, or
alternative nicotine product. The provisions of this subsection shall not be
applicable to the possession of tobacco products, nicotine vapor products, or
alternative nicotine products by a person less than 21 years of age making a
delivery of tobacco products, nicotine vapor products, or alternative nicotine
products in pursuance of his employment. This subsection shall not apply to
purchase, attempt to purchase, or possession by a law-enforcement officer or
his agent when the same is necessary in the performance of his duties.
C. No person shall sell a tobacco product, nicotine
vapor product, or alternative nicotine product to any individual who does
not demonstrate, by producing a driver's license or similar photo
identification issued by a government agency, that the individual is at least
21 years of age. No such verification shall be required if such individual
is at least 30 years of age. It shall not be a defense to a violation of this
subsection that a purchaser appeared to be at least 30 years of age.
Such identification is not required from an individual whom the person has
reason to believe is at least 21 years of age or who the person knows is at
least 21 years of age. Proof that the person demanded, was shown, and
reasonably relied upon a photo identification stating that the individual was
at least 21 years of age shall be a defense to any action brought under this
subsection. In determining whether a person had reason to believe an individual
is at least 21 years of age, the trier of fact may consider, but is not limited
to, proof of the general appearance, facial characteristics, behavior, and
manner of the individual.
This subsection shall not apply to mail order or Internet
sales, provided that the person offering the tobacco product, nicotine vapor
product, or alternative nicotine product for sale through mail order or the
Internet (i) prior to the sale of the tobacco product, nicotine vapor
product, or alternative nicotine product verifies that the purchaser is at
least 21 years of age through a commercially available database that is
regularly used by businesses or governmental entities for the purpose of age
and identity verification and (ii) uses a method of mailing, shipping, or
delivery that requires the signature of a person at least 21 years of age
before the tobacco product, nicotine vapor product, or alternative nicotine
product will be released to the purchaser.
D. The provisions of subsections B and C shall not apply to
the sale, giving, or furnishing of any tobacco product, nicotine vapor product,
or alternative nicotine product to any active duty military personnel who are
18 years of age or older. An identification card issued by the Armed Forces of
the United States shall be accepted as proof of age for this purpose.
E. A violation of subsection A or C by an individual or by
a separate retail establishment that involves a nicotine vapor product,
alternative nicotine product, or tobacco product other than a bidi is
punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed $100 for a first violation, a civil
penalty not to exceed $200 for a second violation, and a civil penalty not to
exceed $500 for a third or subsequent violation.
C. A violation of subsection A or C B by
an individual or by a separate retail establishment that involves the sale,
distribution, or purchase of a bidi is punishable by a civil penalty in the
amount of $500 for a first violation, a civil penalty in the amount of $1,000
for a second violation, and a civil penalty in the amount of $2,500 for a third
or subsequent violation. If applicable, upon a third or subsequent
violation, the Department of Taxation shall suspend or revoke any distributor's
license pursuant to subsection C of §58.1-1021.04:1 and suspend or revoke any
tobacco retailer's permit pursuant to subsection B of §58.1-1030.5.
Where a defendant retail establishment offers proof that it
has trained its employees concerning the requirements of this section, the
court shall suspend all of the penalties imposed hereunder. However, where the
court finds that a retail establishment has failed to so train its employees, the
court may impose a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 in lieu of any penalties
imposed hereunder for a violation of subsection A or C involving a nicotine
vapor product, alternative nicotine product, or tobacco product other than a
bidi.
A violation of subsection B is punishable by a civil
penalty not to exceed $100 for a first violation and a civil penalty not to
exceed $250 for a second or subsequent violation. A court may, as an
alternative to the civil penalty, and upon motion of the defendant, prescribe
the performance of up to 20 hours of community service for a first violation of
subsection B and up to 40 hours of community service for a second or subsequent
violation. If the defendant fails or refuses to complete the community service
as prescribed, the court may impose the civil penalty. Upon a violation of
subsection B, the judge may enter an order pursuant to subdivision A 9 of §
16.1-278.8 For any violation of this section by an employee of a retail
establishment, such civil penalty shall be assessed against the establishment
only but not the employee.
Any attorney for the Commonwealth of the county or city in
which an alleged violation occurred may bring an action to recover the civil
penalty, which shall be paid into the state treasury. Any law-enforcement
officer may issue a summons for a violation of subsection A, or B,
or C.
F. D. 1. Cigarettes shall be sold only in sealed
packages provided by the manufacturer, with the required health warning. The
proprietor of every retail establishment that offers for sale any tobacco
product, nicotine vapor product, or alternative nicotine product shall
post in a conspicuous manner and place a sign or signs indicating that the sale
of tobacco products, nicotine vapor products, or alternative nicotine products
to any person under 21 years of age is prohibited by law. Any attorney for the
county, city, or town in which an alleged violation of this subsection occurred
may enforce this subsection by civil action to recover a civil penalty not to
exceed $50. The civil penalty shall be paid into the local treasury. No filing
fee or other fee or cost shall be charged to the county, city, or town which
instituted the action.
2. For the purpose of compliance with regulations of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration published at 61 Federal Register 1492, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services may promulgate regulations which allow the Department to undertake the activities necessary to comply with such regulations.
3. Any attorney for the county, city, or town in which an alleged violation of this subsection occurred may enforce this subsection by civil action to recover a civil penalty not to exceed $100. The civil penalty shall be paid into the local treasury. No filing fee or other fee or cost shall be charged to the county, city, or town which instituted the action.
G. E. Nothing in this section shall be construed
to create a private cause of action.
H. F. Agents of the Virginia Alcoholic
Beverage Control Authority designated pursuant to §4.1-105 may issue a summons
for any violation of this section. Such agents shall conduct a minimum
number of two compliance checks each year on any retailer selling tobacco
products, utilizing a person under 21 years of age as an agent in order to
ensure compliance with the provisions of this section.
I. G. As used in this section:
"Alternative nicotine product" means any
noncombustible product containing nicotine that is intended for human
consumption, whether chewed, absorbed, dissolved, or ingested by any other
means. "Alternative nicotine product" does not include any nicotine
vapor product, tobacco product, or product regulated as a drug or device by the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under Chapter V (21 U.S.C. §351 et seq.)
of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
"Bidi" means a product containing tobacco that is
wrapped in temburni leaf (diospyros melanoxylon) or tendu leaf (diospyros
exculpra), or any other product that is offered to, or purchased by, consumers
as a bidi or beedie.
"Nicotine vapor product" means any noncombustible
product containing nicotine that employs a heating element, power source,
electronic circuit, or other electronic, chemical, or mechanical means,
regardless of shape or size, that can be used to produce vapor from nicotine in
a solution or other form. "Nicotine vapor product" includes any
electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe,
or similar product or device and any cartridge or other container of nicotine
in a solution or other form that is intended to be used with or in an
electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe,
or similar product or device. "Nicotine vapor product" does not
include any product regulated by the FDA under Chapter V (21 U.S.C. §351 et
seq.) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
"Electronic smoking device" means any device that may be used to deliver any aerosolized or vaporized substance to the person inhaling from the device, including, but not limited to, an e-cigarette, e-cigar, e-pipe, vape pen or e-hookah. "Electronic smoking device" includes any component, part, or accessory of the device, whether or not sold separately, and also includes any substance intended to be aerosolized or vaporized during the use of the device, whether or not the substance contains nicotine. "Electronic smoking device" does not include any battery or battery charger when sold separately. "Electronic smoking device" does not include drugs or devices, as such terms are defined in 21 U.S.C. § 321, or combination products, as such term is used in 21 U.S.C. §353, if such drugs, devices, or combination products are authorized for sale by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
"Tobacco product" means (i) any product
containing, made of, or derived from tobacco or that contains
nicotine that is intended for human consumption or is likely to be consumed,
whether smoked, heated, chewed, dissolved, inhaled, absorbed, or ingested by
any other means, including a cigarette, a cigar, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco,
snuff, or snus; (ii) any electronic smoking device and any substances that may
be aerosolized or vaporized by such device, whether or not the substance
contains nicotine; and includes cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco,
pipe tobacco, bidis, and wrappings (iii) any component, part, or
accessory of a product described in clause (i) or (ii), whether or not such
component, part, or accessory contains tobacco or nicotine, including filters,
rolling papers, blunt or hemp wraps, and pipes. "Tobacco product"
does not include any nicotine vapor product, alternative nicotine product,
or product that is regulated by the FDA under Chapter V (21 U.S.C. §351 et
seq.) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act drugs or devices, as
such terms are defined in 21 U.S.C. §321, or combination products, as such
term is used in 21 U.S.C. §353, if such drugs, devices, or combination
products are authorized for sale by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
"Wrappings" includes papers materials made
or sold for covering or rolling tobacco or other materials for smoking in a
manner similar to a cigarette or cigar.
§18.2-391. Unlawful acts; penalties.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, rent or loan to a juvenile, knowing or having reason to know that such person is a juvenile, or to knowingly display for commercial purpose in a manner whereby juveniles may examine and peruse:
1. Any picture, photography, drawing, sculpture, motion
picture in any format or medium, video or computer game, electronic file or
message containing an image, or similar visual representation or image of a
person or portion of the human body which depicts sexually explicit nudity,
sexual conduct or sadomasochistic abuse and which is harmful to juveniles,;
or
2. Any book, pamphlet, magazine, printed matter however
reproduced, electronic file or message containing words, or sound recording
which contains any matter enumerated in subdivision 1 of this subsection,
or explicit and detailed verbal descriptions or narrative accounts of sexual
excitement, sexual conduct or sadomasochistic abuse and which, taken as a
whole, is harmful to juveniles.
However, if a person uses services of an Internet service provider or an electronic mail service provider in committing acts prohibited under this subsection, such Internet service provider or electronic mail service provider shall not be held responsible for violating this subsection.
B. It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to sell to a juvenile an admission ticket or pass, or knowingly to admit a juvenile to premises whereon there is exhibited a motion picture, show or other presentation which, in whole or in part, depicts sexually explicit nudity, sexual conduct or sadomasochistic abuse and which is harmful to juveniles or to exhibit any such motion picture at any such premises which are not designed to prevent viewing from any public way of such motion picture by juveniles not admitted to any such premises.
C. It shall be unlawful for any juvenile falsely to represent to any person mentioned in subsection A or subsection B hereof, or to his agent, that such juvenile is 18 years of age or older, with the intent to procure any material set forth in subsection A, or with the intent to procure such juvenile's admission to any motion picture, show or other presentation, as set forth in subsection B.
D. It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to make a false representation to any person mentioned in subsection A or subsection B hereof or to his agent, that he is the parent or guardian of any juvenile, or that any juvenile is 18 years of age, with the intent to procure any material set forth in subsection A, or with the intent to procure such juvenile's admission to any motion picture, show or other presentation, as set forth in subsection B.
E. No person shall sell, rent, or loan any item described in
subdivision A 1 or A 2 to any individual who does not demonstrate his
age in accordance with the provisions of subsection C B of §
18.2-371.2.
F. A violation of subsection A, B, C, or D is a Class 1 misdemeanor. A person or separate retail establishment who violates subsection E shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $100 for a first violation, a civil penalty not to exceed $200 for a second violation, and a civil penalty not to exceed $500 for a third or subsequent violation.
§22.1-79.5. Policy regarding tobacco products.
Each school board shall develop and implement a policy to
prohibit, at any time, the use and distribution of any tobacco product or
nicotine vapor product, as those terms are defined in §18.2-371.2,
on a school bus, on school property, or at an on-site or off-site
school-sponsored activity.
Such policy shall include (i) provisions for its enforcement among students, employees, and visitors, including the enumeration of possible sanctions or disciplinary action consistent with state or federal law, and (ii) referrals to resources to help staff and students overcome tobacco addiction.
Each school board shall work to ensure adequate notice of this policy.
§22.1-206. Instruction concerning drugs, alcohol, substance abuse, and tobacco and nicotine products.
A. Instruction concerning drugs and drug abuse shall be provided by the public schools as prescribed by the Board of Education.
B. Instruction concerning the public safety hazards and dangers of alcohol abuse, underage drinking, and drunk driving shall be provided in the public schools. The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority shall provide educational materials to the Department of Education. The Department of Education shall review and shall distribute such materials as are approved to the public schools.
C. The Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth shall
develop and the Department of Education shall distribute to each local school
division educational materials concerning the health and safety risks of using
tobacco products, nicotine vapor products, and alternative nicotine products,
as such terms are defined in §18.2-371.2. Instruction concerning the
health and safety risks of using tobacco products, nicotine vapor products,
and alternative nicotine products, as such terms are defined in §
18.2-371.2, shall be provided in each public elementary and secondary school in
the Commonwealth, consistent with such educational materials.
§22.1-279.6. Board of Education guidelines and model policies for codes of student conduct; school board regulations.
A. The Board of Education shall establish guidelines and develop model policies for codes of student conduct to aid local school boards in the implementation of such policies. The guidelines and model policies shall include, but not be limited to, (i) criteria for the removal of a student from a class, the use of suspension, expulsion, and exclusion as disciplinary measures, the grounds for suspension and expulsion and exclusion, and the procedures to be followed in such cases, including proceedings for such suspension, expulsion, and exclusion decisions and all applicable appeals processes; (ii) standards, consistent with state, federal and case laws, for school board policies on alcohol and drugs, gang-related activity, hazing, vandalism, trespassing, threats, search and seizure, disciplining of students with disabilities, intentional injury of others, self-defense, bullying, the use of electronic means for purposes of bullying, harassment, and intimidation, and dissemination of such policies to students, their parents, and school personnel; and (iii) standards for in-service training of school personnel in and examples of the appropriate management of student conduct and student offenses in violation of school board policies.
In accordance with the most recent enunciation of constitutional principles by the Supreme Court of the United States of America, the Board's standards for school board policies on alcohol and drugs and search and seizure shall include guidance for procedures relating to voluntary and mandatory drug testing in schools, including, but not limited to, which groups may be tested, use of test results, confidentiality of test information, privacy considerations, consent to the testing, need to know, and release of the test results to the appropriate school authority.
In the case of suspension and expulsion, the procedures set forth in this article shall be the minimum procedures that the school board may prescribe.
B. School boards shall adopt and revise, as required by § 22.1-253.13:7 and in accordance with the requirements of this section, regulations on codes of student conduct that are consistent with, but may be more stringent than, the guidelines of the Board. School boards shall include, in the regulations on codes of student conduct, procedures for suspension, expulsion, and exclusion decisions and shall biennially review the model student conduct code to incorporate discipline options and alternatives to preserve a safe, nondisruptive environment for effective teaching and learning.
C. Each school board shall include in its code of student conduct prohibitions against hazing and profane or obscene language or conduct. School boards shall also cite in their codes of student conduct the provisions of §18.2-56, which defines and prohibits hazing and imposes a Class 1 misdemeanor penalty for violations, that is, confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both.
D. Each school board shall include in its code of student conduct policies and procedures that include a prohibition against bullying. Such policies and procedures shall (i) be consistent with the standards for school board policies on bullying and the use of electronic means for purposes of bullying developed by the Board pursuant to subsection A and (ii) direct the principal to notify the parent of any student involved in an alleged incident of bullying of the status of any investigation within five school days of the allegation of bullying.
Such policies and procedures shall not be interpreted to infringe upon the First Amendment rights of students and are not intended to prohibit expression of religious, philosophical, or political views, provided that such expression does not cause an actual, material disruption of the work of the school.
E. A school board may regulate the use or possession of beepers or other portable communications devices and laser pointers by students on school property or attending school functions or activities and establish disciplinary procedures pursuant to this article to which students violating such regulations will be subject.
F. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any school board to adopt policies requiring or encouraging any drug testing in schools. However, a school board may, in its discretion, require or encourage drug testing in accordance with the Board of Education's guidelines and model student conduct policies required by subsection A and the Board's guidelines for student searches required by §22.1-279.7.
G. The Board of Education shall establish standards to ensure compliance with the federal Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 (Part F-Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994), as amended, in accordance with §22.1-277.07.
This subsection shall not be construed to diminish the authority of the Board of Education or to diminish the Governor's authority to coordinate and provide policy direction on official communications between the Commonwealth and the United States government.
H. Each school board shall include in its code of student
conduct a prohibition on possessing any tobacco product or nicotine vapor
product, as those terms are defined in §18.2-371.2, on a school
bus, on school property, or at an on-site or off-site school-sponsored
activity.
§58.1-1021.04:1. Distributor's license; penalty.
A. No person shall engage in the business of selling or dealing in tobacco products as a distributor in the Commonwealth without first having received a separate license from the Department for each location or place of business. Each application for a distributor's license shall be accompanied by a fee to be prescribed by the Department. Every application for such license shall be made on a form prescribed by the Department and the following information shall be provided on the application:
1. The name and address of the applicant. If the applicant is a firm, partnership or association, the name and address of each of its members shall be provided. If the applicant is a corporation, the name and address of each of its principal officers shall be provided;
2. The address of the applicant's principal place of business;
3. The place or places where the business to be licensed is to be conducted; and
4. Such other information as the Department may require for the purpose of the administration of this article.
B. A person outside the Commonwealth who ships or transports tobacco products to retailers in the Commonwealth, to be sold by those retailers, may make application for license as a distributor, be granted such a license by the Department, and thereafter be subject to all the provisions of this article. Once a license is granted pursuant to this section, such person shall be entitled to act as a licensed distributor and, unless such person maintains a registered agent pursuant to Chapter 9, 10, 12 or 14 of Title 13.1 or Chapter 2.1 or 2.2 of Title 50, shall be deemed to have appointed the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission as the person's agent for the purpose of service of process relating to any matter or issue involving the person and arising under the provisions of this article.
The Department shall conduct a background investigation, to include a Virginia Criminal History Records search, and fingerprints of the applicant, or the responsible principals, managers, and other persons engaged in handling tobacco products at the licensable locations, that shall be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation if the Department deems a National Criminal Records search necessary, on applicants for licensure as tobacco products distributors. The Department may refuse to issue a distributor's license or may suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a distributor's license issued to any person, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or business trust, if it determines that the principals, managers, and other persons engaged in handling tobacco products at the licensable location of the applicant have been (i) found guilty of any fraud or misrepresentation in any connection; (ii) convicted of robbery, extortion, burglary, larceny, embezzlement, fraudulent conversion, gambling, perjury, bribery, treason, or racketeering; or (iii) convicted of a felony. Anyone who knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals or misrepresents a material fact or knowingly and willfully makes a false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or representation in any application for a distributor's license to the Department, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The Department may establish an application or renewal fee not to exceed $750 to be retained by the Department to be applied to the administrative and other costs of processing distributor's license applications, conducting background investigations and issuing distributor's licenses. Any amount collected pursuant to this section in excess of such costs as of June 30 in even numbered years shall be reported to the State Treasurer and deposited into the state treasury.
C. Upon receipt of an application in proper form and payment of the required license fee, the Department shall, unless otherwise provided by this article, issue to the applicant a license, which shall permit the licensee to engage in business as a distributor at the place of business shown on the license. Each license, or a copy thereof, shall be prominently displayed on the premises covered by the license. No license shall be transferable to any other person. Distributor's licenses issued pursuant to this section shall be valid for a period of three years from the date of issue unless revoked by the Department in the manner provided herein. The Department may at any time revoke the license issued to any distributor who is found guilty of violating or noncompliance with any of the provisions of this chapter, or any of the rules of the Department adopted and promulgated under authority of this chapter. The Department shall suspend or revoke the license issued to any distributor who is found guilty of a third or subsequent violation of subsection A or B of §18.2-371.2.
D. The Department shall compile and maintain a current list of licensed distributors. The list shall be updated on a monthly basis, and published on the Department's official Internet website, available to any interested party.
§58.1-1030.1. Definitions.
As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:
"Electronic smoking device" means the same as such term is defined in §18.2-371.2.
"Permit holder" means a person that has obtained a permit from the Department pursuant to the provisions of §58.1-1030.3.
"Person" means any natural person.
"Tobacco product" means the same as such term is defined in §18.2-371.2.
"Tobacco retailer" means any person, partnership, joint venture, society, club, trustee, trust, association, organization, or corporation that owns, operates, or manages any tobacco retail establishment. "Tobacco retailer" does not include nonmanagement employees of a tobacco retail establishment.
"Tobacco retail establishment" means any place of business where tobacco products are available for sale to the general public, including any grocery store, tobacco product shop, kiosk, convenience store, gasoline service station, bar, or restaurant where tobacco products are available for sale to the general public.
"Youth-oriented facility" means a child care center, elementary school, middle school, junior high school, high school, and public park and any establishment that advertises in a manner that identifies the establishment as catering to or providing services primarily intended for minors.
§58.1-1030.2. Permit required for sale of tobacco products at retail; civil penalties.
A. No tobacco retailer shall operate a tobacco retail establishment, conduct business as a tobacco retailer, or otherwise sell or offer to sell tobacco products at retail unless such tobacco retailer has obtained a permit from the Department pursuant to §58.1-1030.3.
B. 1. No tobacco retailer shall operate a tobacco retail establishment, conduct business as a tobacco retailer, or otherwise sell or offer to sell tobacco products at retail at a location within 1,000 feet of a youth-oriented facility.
2. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a tobacco retailer that (i) was operating as a tobacco retailer before July 1, 2020, or (ii) begins operating as a tobacco retailer on or after July 1, 2020, provided that at the time such retailer begins operation such retailer is not located within 1,000 feet of a youth-oriented facility.
C. Any tobacco retailer who violates this section shall be subject to a civil penalty, to be assessed and collected by the Department, for each violation of $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for a second or subsequent offense within a 36-month period. Any tobacco retailer who violates this section shall be ineligible to obtain a permit from the Department pursuant to §58.1-1030.3 for a period of three years from the date of such tobacco retailer's most recent violation. All penalties assessed pursuant to this section shall accrue to the Literary Fund.
§58.1-1030.3. Application for permit; penalty.
A. Any person may apply for a permit to operate a tobacco retail establishment or conduct business as a registered tobacco retailer according to forms and procedures prescribed by the Department. The Department shall require a separate permit for each location or place of business. The application forms shall require the following information:
1. The name and address of the applicant; if the applicant is a firm, partnership, or association, the name and address of each of its members; if the applicant is a corporation, the name and address of each of its principal officers;
2. The address of the applicant's principal place of business;
3. The address of the place or places where the business to be permitted is to be conducted; and
4. Any other information as the Department may require for the purpose of the administration of this section.
B. 1. The application process shall require an applicant to participate in, and provide for its employees, education related to tobacco products as provided in §58.1-1030.6. The Department shall conduct a background investigation, to include a Virginia criminal history records search and fingerprints, of the applicant, or its responsible principals, managers, and other persons working for the applicant's business, which shall be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation if the Department determines that a National Criminal Records search is necessary on permit applicants.
2. As applicable, the Department shall refuse to issue a permit and shall suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a permit issued to any person, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or business trust if it determines that any principal, manager, or other person working for the person's business has been (i) found guilty of any fraud or misrepresentation in any connection; (ii) convicted of robbery, extortion, burglary, larceny, embezzlement, fraudulent conversion, gambling, perjury, bribery, treason, or racketeering; or (iii) convicted of a felony. Any person that knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals, or misrepresents a material fact or knowingly and willfully makes a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation in any application is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
C. Upon receipt of an application in proper form and payment of any required fees, the Department shall, unless otherwise provided by this article, issue to the applicant a permit authorizing the permit holder to sell and offer to sell tobacco products at retail. Each permit, or a copy thereof, shall be prominently displayed in the place of business covered by the permit. No permit shall be transferable to any other person.
D. Unless an applicant or permit holder maintains a registered agent pursuant to Chapter 9 (§13.1-601 et seq.), 10 (§13.1-801 et seq.), 12 (§13.1-1000 et seq.), or 14 (§13.1-1200 et seq.) of Title 13.1 or Chapter 2.1 (§50-73.1 et seq.) or 2.2 (§50-73.79 et seq.) of Title 50, the applicant or permit holder shall be deemed to have appointed the clerk of the State Corporation Commission as the applicant's or permit holder's agent for the purpose of service of process relating to any matter or issue involving the applicant or permit holder and arising under the provisions of this article.
E. 1. The Department shall annually determine and publish a fee for applications and renewals of permits in an amount reasonably estimated to pay, but not exceed, the Department's administrative and other costs of permitting administration, education and training, retail inspections, and unannounced compliance checks pursuant to the provisions of this article. Any application or renewal fees collected pursuant to this subsection (i) in excess of such costs as of June 30 in even-numbered years shall be reported to the State Treasurer and deposited into the state treasury and (ii) not in excess of such costs as of June 30 in even-numbered years shall be reported to the State Treasurer and deposited into the Tobacco Retail Permit Fund established pursuant to §58.1-1030.7.
F. Permits issued pursuant to this section shall be valid for one year from the date of issue unless revoked by the Department. The Department may revoke a permit if a permit holder fails to pay a tax due under the provisions of this title. The Department may revoke a permit pursuant to any other provision of this article that provides such authority.
G. The Department shall compile and maintain a current list of permit holders. The list shall be updated on a semiannual basis and published on the Department's website.
H. Any monetary penalty collected pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be reported to the State Treasurer and deposited into the state treasury.
§58.1-1030.4. Certain records required of permit holder; access to premises.
A. 1. Each permit holder permitted pursuant to § 58.1-1030.3 shall keep in each permitted place of business complete and accurate records for that place of business, including itemized invoices of (i) products held and purchased, (ii) all sales of products, and (iii) any records required by the Department.
2. All books, records, and other papers and documents required by this subsection shall be preserved, in a form prescribed by the Department, for a period of at least three years after the date of the documents or the date of the entries thereof appearing in the records, unless the Department authorizes, in writing, destruction or disposal of such documents at an earlier date.
B. At any time during usual business hours, duly authorized agents or employees of the Department may enter any place of business of a permit holder and inspect the premises, the records required to be kept under this section, and the products contained therein to determine whether the permit holder is in compliance with the provisions of this article. Refusal to allow such inspection by a duly authorized agent or employee of the Department shall be grounds for revocation of the permit holder's permit.
C. Each permit holder that sells products to persons other than an ultimate consumer shall render with each sale itemized invoices showing the seller's name and address, the purchaser's name and address, the date of sale, and all prices. Such persons shall preserve legible copies of all such invoices for three years after the date of sale.
§58.1-1030.5. Restrictions on the sale of tobacco products to minors; penalties.
A. A permit holder shall be required to comply with the provisions of this article, §§18.2-246.8, 18.2-246.10, and 18.2-371.2, and any other federal, state, or local law related to the sale of tobacco products. If the Department determines that a permit holder has violated any such provision of law, the Department may revoke its permit.
B. 1. For each permit holder, the Department shall conduct two unannounced investigations per year to verify that the permit holder is not selling tobacco products to persons under 21 years of age. If the Department determines that the permit holder has violated any provision of this article, § 18.2-246.8, 18.2-246.10, or 18.2-371.2, or any other federal, state, or local law related to the sale of tobacco products, it shall conduct four unannounced investigations of the permit holder per year at intervals not to exceed three months.
2. If the Department determines that a permit holder, or a permit holder's agent or employee, sold a tobacco product to a person under 21 years of age or violated subsection A or B of §18.2-371.2, the Department shall impose and the permit holder shall be subject to (i) a civil penalty of $500 for a first offense, (ii) a civil penalty of $1,000 for a second offense, (iii) a civil penalty of $1,500 and a suspension of the permit holder's permit for 15 days for a third offense, and (iv) a civil penalty of $2,000, a revocation of the permit holder's permit, and a restriction imposed on such person from applying for a permit pursuant to the provisions of subsection C of §58.1-1030.2 for a period of three years for a fourth offense.
C. The Department shall collaborate with the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to the extent possible to enforce the provisions of this article and §4.1-103.01.
§58.1-1030.6. Required education for permit holders and employees.
Any person that applies for a permit pursuant to § 58.1-1030.3 and any permit holder shall be required to attest that it has conducted education and training for its employees related to:
1. The provisions of this article;
2. The prohibitions on the sale of tobacco products to persons under age 21 and other restrictions prescribed by §§18.2-246.8, 18.2-246.10, and 18.2-371.2;
3. Forms of identification that are acceptable as proof of age; and
4. The legal penalties that may be incurred for violation of the provisions of law identified in subdivisions 1 and 2.
§58.1-1030.7. Tobacco Retail Permit Fund.
There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Tobacco Retail Permit Fund, referred to in this section as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All revenues accruing to the Fund pursuant to this article, all funds appropriated for such purpose, and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds received on its behalf shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely for the purposes of funding the Department's direct and indirect costs of the license administration and enforcement program, including the administrative costs of permitting administration, education and training, retail inspections, and unannounced compliance checks. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Tax Commissioner.
§59.1-293.10. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires another meaning:
"Child-resistant packaging" means packaging that is designed or constructed to meet the child-resistant effectiveness standards set forth in 16 C.F.R. §1700.15(b)(1) when tested in accordance with the protocols described in 16 C.F.R. §1700.20 as in effect on July 1, 2015.
"Liquid nicotine" means a liquid or other substance containing nicotine in any concentration that is sold, marketed, or intended for use in a nicotine vapor product.
"Liquid nicotine container" means a bottle or other container holding liquid nicotine in any concentration but does not include a cartridge containing liquid nicotine if such cartridge is prefilled and sealed by the manufacturer of such cartridge and is not intended to be opened by the consumer.
"Nicotine vapor product" has the same meaning as in
§ 18.2-371.2 58.1-1021.01.
2. That the Department of Taxation shall develop guidelines implementing the provisions of this act. Such guidelines shall be exempt from the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (§2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).