100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB0235

 

Introduced , by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
35 ILCS 130/24  from Ch. 120, par. 453.24
35 ILCS 135/30  from Ch. 120, par. 453.60
720 ILCS 675/2  from Ch. 23, par. 2358

    Amends the Prevention of Tobacco Use by Minors and Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act. Provides that a violation of the Act involving the sale or distribution of single or loose cigarettes that are not contained within a sealed container, pack, or package to persons who are 18 years of age or older is a petty offense punishable by a fine of not more than $50, which may be satisfied without a court appearance by a written plea of guilty and payment of all applicable fines, penalties, and costs. Amends the Cigarette Tax Act and the Cigarette Use Tax Act to provide that those violations shall be subject only to the penalties provided in the Prevention of Tobacco Use by Minors and Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act.


LRB100 04161 HLH 14167 b

CORRECTIONAL BUDGET AND IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB0235LRB100 04161 HLH 14167 b

1    AN ACT concerning criminal law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Cigarette Tax Act is amended by changing
5Section 24 as follows:
 
6    (35 ILCS 130/24)  (from Ch. 120, par. 453.24)
7    Sec. 24. Punishment for sale or possession of packages of
8contraband cigarettes.
9    (a) Possession or sale of 100 or less packages of
10contraband cigarettes. With the exception of licensed
11distributors, licensed secondary distributors, or licensed
12transporters, as defined in Section 9c of this Act, any person
13who has in his or her possession or sells 100 or less original
14packages of contraband cigarettes is guilty of a Class A
15misdemeanor and a Class 4 felony for each subsequent offense
16occurring within 12 months of a prior offense.
17    (b) Possession or sale of more than 100 but less than 251
18packages of contraband cigarettes. With the exception of
19licensed distributors, licensed secondary distributors, or
20licensed transporters, as defined in Section 9c of this Act,
21any person who has in his or her possession or sells more than
22100 but less than 251 original packages of contraband
23cigarettes is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for a first

 

 

HB0235- 2 -LRB100 04161 HLH 14167 b

1offense and a Class 4 felony for each subsequent offense.
2    (c) Possession or sale of more than 250 but less than 1,001
3packages of contraband cigarettes. With the exception of
4licensed distributors, licensed secondary distributors, or
5licensed transporters, as defined in Section 9c of this Act,
6any person who has in his or her possession or sells more than
7250 but less than 1,001 original packages of contraband
8cigarettes is guilty of a Class 4 felony.
9    (d) Possession or sale of more than 1,000 packages of
10contraband cigarettes. With the exception of licensed
11distributors, licensed secondary distributors, or licensed
12transporters, as defined in Section 9c of this Act, any person
13who has in his or her possession or sells more than 1,000
14original packages of contraband cigarettes is guilty of a Class
153 felony.
16    (e) Any person licensed as a distributor, secondary
17distributor, or transporter, as defined in Section 9c of this
18Act, who has in his or her possession or sells 100 or less
19original packages of contraband cigarettes is guilty of a Class
20A misdemeanor and a Class 4 felony for each subsequent offense
21occurring within 12 months of a prior offense.
22    (f) Any person licensed as a distributor, secondary
23distributor, or transporter, as defined in Section 9c of this
24Act, who has in his or her possession or sells more than 100
25original packages of contraband cigarettes is guilty of a Class
264 felony.

 

 

HB0235- 3 -LRB100 04161 HLH 14167 b

1    (g) Notwithstanding subsections (e) through (f), licensed
2distributors and transporters, as defined in Section 9c of this
3Act, may possess unstamped packages of cigarettes.
4Notwithstanding subsections (e) through (f), licensed
5distributors may possess cigarettes that bear a tax stamp of
6another state or taxing jurisdiction. Notwithstanding
7subsections (e) through (f), a licensed distributor or licensed
8secondary distributor may possess contraband cigarettes
9returned to the distributor or licensed secondary distributor
10by a retailer if the distributor or licensed secondary
11distributor immediately conducts an inventory of the
12cigarettes being returned, the distributor or licensed
13secondary distributor and the retailer returning the
14contraband cigarettes sign the inventory, the distributor or
15licensed secondary distributor provides a copy of the signed
16inventory to the retailer, and the distributor retains the
17inventory in its books and records and promptly notifies the
18Department of Revenue.
19    (h) Notwithstanding subsections (a) through (d) of this
20Section, a retailer unknowingly possessing contraband
21cigarettes obtained from a licensed distributor or licensed
22secondary distributor or knowingly possessing contraband
23cigarettes obtained from a licensed distributor is not subject
24to penalties under this Section if the retailer, within 48
25hours after discovering that the cigarettes are contraband
26cigarettes, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays: (i)

 

 

HB0235- 4 -LRB100 04161 HLH 14167 b

1notifies the Department and the licensed distributor or
2licensed secondary distributor from whom the cigarettes were
3obtained, orally and in writing, that he or she possesses
4contraband cigarettes obtained from a licensed distributor or
5licensed secondary distributor; (ii) places the contraband
6cigarettes in one or more containers and seals those
7containers; and (iii) places on the containers the following or
8similar language: "Contraband Cigarettes. Not For Sale." All
9contraband cigarettes in the possession of a retailer remain
10subject to forfeiture under the provisions of this Act.
11    Any retailer who knowingly possesses packages of
12cigarettes with a counterfeit stamp with intent to sell is
13guilty of a Class 2 felony. Any retailer who knowingly
14possesses unstamped packages of cigarettes with intent to sell
15is guilty of a Class 4 felony. A retailer shall not be liable
16for unknowingly possessing, selling, or distributing to
17consumers cigarettes that contain an old stamp if the correct
18tax was collected at the point of sale and the cigarettes were
19obtained from a distributor licensed under this Act.
20    (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, violations
21of subsection (d) of Section 1 of the Prevention of Tobacco Use
22by Minors and Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act,
23other than violations involving the sale or distribution of a
24tobacco product to a minor under the age of 18, shall be
25subject only to the penalties provided in subsection (g-5) of
26Section 2 of that Act.

 

 

HB0235- 5 -LRB100 04161 HLH 14167 b

1(Source: P.A. 98-1055, eff. 1-1-16.)
 
2    Section 10. The Cigarette Use Tax Act is amended by
3changing Section 30 as follows:
 
4    (35 ILCS 135/30)  (from Ch. 120, par. 453.60)
5    Sec. 30. Punishment for sale or possession of unstamped
6packages of cigarettes, other than by a licensed distributor or
7transporter.
8    (a) Possession or sale of more than 9 but less than 101
9unstamped packages of cigarettes. With the exception of
10licensed distributors, licensed secondary distributors, or
11licensed transporters, as defined in Section 9c of the
12Cigarette Tax Act, any person who has in his or her possession
13or sells more than 9 but less than 101 original packages of
14contraband cigarettes is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and a
15Class 4 felony for each subsequent offense occurring within 12
16months of a prior offense.
17    (b) Possession or sale of more than 100 but less than 251
18unstamped packages of cigarettes. With the exception of
19licensed distributors, licensed secondary distributors, or
20licensed transporters, as defined in Section 9c of the
21Cigarette Tax Act, any person who has in his or her possession
22or sells more than 100 but less than 251 original packages of
23contraband cigarettes is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for
24the first offense and a Class 4 felony for each subsequent

 

 

HB0235- 6 -LRB100 04161 HLH 14167 b

1offense.
2    (c) Possession or sale of more than 250 but less than 1,001
3unstamped packages of cigarettes. With the exception of
4licensed distributors, licensed secondary distributors, or
5licensed transporters, as defined in Section 9c of the
6Cigarette Tax Act, any person who has in his or her possession
7or sells more than 250 but less than 1,001 original packages of
8contraband cigarettes is guilty of a Class 4 felony.
9    (d) Possession or sale of more than 1,000 contraband
10packages of cigarettes. With the exception of licensed
11distributors, licensed secondary distributors, or licensed
12transporters, as defined in Section 9c of the Cigarette Tax
13Act, any person who has in his or her possession or sells, more
14than 1,000 original packages of contraband cigarettes is guilty
15of a Class 3 felony.
16    (e) Any person licensed as a distributor, secondary
17distributor, or transporter, as defined in Section 9c of the
18Cigarette Tax Act, who has in his or her possession or sells
19100 or less original packages of contraband cigarettes is
20guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and a Class 4 felony for each
21subsequent offense occurring within 12 months of a prior
22offense.
23    (f) Any person licensed as a distributor, secondary
24distributor, or transporter, as defined in Section 9c of the
25Cigarette Tax Act, who has in his or her possession or sells
26more than 100 original packages of contraband cigarettes is

 

 

HB0235- 7 -LRB100 04161 HLH 14167 b

1guilty of a Class 4 felony.
2    (g) Notwithstanding subsections (e) through (f), licensed
3distributors and transporters, as defined in Section 9c of the
4Cigarette Tax Act, may possess unstamped packages of
5cigarettes. Notwithstanding subsections (e) through (f),
6licensed distributors may possess cigarettes that bear a tax
7stamp of another state or taxing jurisdiction. Notwithstanding
8subsections (e) through (f), a licensed distributor or licensed
9secondary distributor may possess contraband cigarettes
10returned to the distributor or licensed secondary distributor
11by a retailer if the distributor or licensed secondary
12distributor immediately conducts an inventory of the
13cigarettes being returned, the distributor or licensed
14secondary distributor and the retailer returning the
15contraband cigarettes sign the inventory, the distributor or
16licensed secondary distributor provides a copy of the signed
17inventory to the retailer, and the distributor or licensed
18secondary distributor retains the inventory in its books and
19records and promptly notifies the Department of Revenue.
20    (h) Notwithstanding subsections (a) through (d) of this
21Section, a retailer unknowingly possessing contraband
22cigarettes obtained from a licensed distributor or licensed
23secondary distributor or knowingly possessing contraband
24cigarettes obtained from a licensed distributor or licensed
25secondary distributor is not subject to penalties under this
26Section if the retailer, within 48 hours after discovering that

 

 

HB0235- 8 -LRB100 04161 HLH 14167 b

1the cigarettes are contraband cigarettes, excluding Saturdays,
2Sundays, and holidays: (i) notifies the Department and the
3licensed distributor or licensed secondary distributor from
4whom the cigarettes were obtained, orally and in writing, that
5he or she possesses contraband cigarettes obtained from a
6licensed distributor or licensed secondary distributor; (ii)
7places the contraband cigarettes in one or more containers and
8seals those containers; and (iii) places on the containers the
9following or similar language: "Contraband Cigarettes. Not For
10Sale." All contraband cigarettes in the possession of a
11retailer remain subject to forfeiture under the provisions of
12this Act.
13    Any retailer who knowingly possesses packages of
14cigarettes with a counterfeit stamp with intent to sell is
15guilty of a Class 2 felony. Any retailer who knowingly
16possesses unstamped packages of cigarettes with intent to sell
17is guilty of a Class 4 felony. A retailer shall not be liable
18for unknowingly possessing, selling, or distributing to
19consumers cigarettes that contain an old stamp if the correct
20tax was collected at the point of sale and the cigarettes were
21obtained from a distributor licensed under this Act.
22    (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, violations
23of subsection (d) of Section 1 of the Prevention of Tobacco Use
24by Minors and Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act,
25other than violations involving the sale or distribution of a
26tobacco product to a minor under the age of 18, shall be

 

 

HB0235- 9 -LRB100 04161 HLH 14167 b

1subject only to the penalties provided in subsection (g-5) of
2Section 2 of that Act.
3(Source: P.A. 98-1055, eff. 1-1-16.)
 
4    Section 15. The Prevention of Tobacco Use by Minors and
5Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act is amended by
6changing Section 2 as follows:
 
7    (720 ILCS 675/2)  (from Ch. 23, par. 2358)
8    Sec. 2. Penalties.
9    (a) Any person who violates subsection (a) or (a-5) of
10Section 1 or subsection (b) or (c) of Section 1.5 of this Act
11is guilty of a petty offense. For the first offense in a
1224-month period, the person shall be fined $200 if his or her
13employer has a training program that facilitates compliance
14with minimum-age tobacco laws. For the second offense in a
1524-month period, the person shall be fined $400 if his or her
16employer has a training program that facilitates compliance
17with minimum-age tobacco laws. For the third offense in a
1824-month period, the person shall be fined $600 if his or her
19employer has a training program that facilitates compliance
20with minimum-age tobacco laws. For the fourth or subsequent
21offense in a 24-month period, the person shall be fined $800 if
22his or her employer has a training program that facilitates
23compliance with minimum-age tobacco laws. For the purposes of
24this subsection, the 24-month period shall begin with the

 

 

HB0235- 10 -LRB100 04161 HLH 14167 b

1person's first violation of the Act. The penalties in this
2subsection are in addition to any other penalties prescribed
3under the Cigarette Tax Act and the Tobacco Products Tax Act of
41995.
5    (a-5) Any retailer who violates subsection (a) or (a-5) of
6Section 1 or subsection (b) or (c) of Section 1.5 of this Act
7is guilty of a petty offense. For the first offense, the
8retailer shall be fined $200 if it does not have a training
9program that facilitates compliance with minimum-age tobacco
10laws. For the second offense, the retailer shall be fined $400
11if it does not have a training program that facilitates
12compliance with minimum-age tobacco laws. For the third
13offense, the retailer shall be fined $600 if it does not have a
14training program that facilitates compliance with minimum-age
15tobacco laws. For the fourth or subsequent offense in a
1624-month period, the retailer shall be fined $800 if it does
17not have a training program that facilitates compliance with
18minimum-age tobacco laws. For the purposes of this subsection,
19the 24-month period shall begin with the person's first
20violation of the Act. The penalties in this subsection are in
21addition to any other penalties prescribed under the Cigarette
22Tax Act and the Tobacco Products Tax Act of 1995.
23    (a-6) For the purpose of this Act, a training program that
24facilitates compliance with minimum-age tobacco laws must
25include at least the following elements: (i) it must explain
26that only individuals displaying valid identification

 

 

HB0235- 11 -LRB100 04161 HLH 14167 b

1demonstrating that they are 18 years of age or older shall be
2eligible to purchase cigarettes or tobacco products and (ii) it
3must explain where a clerk can check identification for a date
4of birth. The training may be conducted electronically. Each
5retailer that has a training program shall require each
6employee who completes the training program to sign a form
7attesting that the employee has received and completed tobacco
8training. The form shall be kept in the employee's file and may
9be used to provide proof of training.
10    (b) If a minor violates subsection (a-7) of Section 1 or
11subsection (d) of Section 1.5, he or she is guilty of a petty
12offense and the court may impose a sentence of 25 hours of
13community service and a fine of $50 for a first violation. If a
14minor violates subsection (a-6) of Section 1, he or she is
15guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
16    (c) A second violation by a minor of subsection (a-7) of
17Section 1 or subsection (d) of Section 1.5 that occurs within
1812 months after the first violation is punishable by a fine of
19$75 and 50 hours of community service.
20    (d) A third or subsequent violation by a minor of
21subsection (a-7) of Section 1 or subsection (d) of Section 1.5
22that occurs within 12 months after the first violation is
23punishable by a $200 fine and 50 hours of community service.
24    (e) Any second or subsequent violation not within the
2512-month time period after the first violation is punishable as
26provided for a first violation.

 

 

HB0235- 12 -LRB100 04161 HLH 14167 b

1    (f) If a minor is convicted of or placed on supervision for
2a violation of subsection (a-6) or (a-7) of Section 1 or
3subsection (d) of Section 1.5, the court may, in its
4discretion, and upon recommendation by the State's Attorney,
5order that minor and his or her parents or legal guardian to
6attend a smoker's education or youth diversion program if that
7program is available in the jurisdiction where the offender
8resides. Attendance at a smoker's education or youth diversion
9program shall be time-credited against any community service
10time imposed for any first violation of subsection (a-7) of
11Section 1. In addition to any other penalty that the court may
12impose for a violation of subsection (a-7) of Section 1 or
13subsection (d) of Section 1.5, the court, upon request by the
14State's Attorney, may in its discretion require the offender to
15remit a fee for his or her attendance at a smoker's education
16or youth diversion program.
17    (g) For purposes of this Section, "smoker's education
18program" or "youth diversion program" includes, but is not
19limited to, a seminar designed to educate a person on the
20physical and psychological effects of smoking tobacco products
21and alternative nicotine products and the health consequences
22of smoking tobacco products and alternative nicotine products
23that can be conducted with a locality's youth diversion
24program.
25    (g-5) A violation of subsection (d) of Section 1 of this
26Act, other than a violation involving the sale or distribution

 

 

HB0235- 13 -LRB100 04161 HLH 14167 b

1of a tobacco product to a minor under the age of 18, is a petty
2offense punishable by a fine of not more than $50 for each
3violation. Such a violation may be satisfied without a court
4appearance by a written plea of guilty and payment of all
5applicable fines, penalties, and costs.
6    (h) All moneys collected as fines for violations of
7subsection (a), (a-5), (a-6), or (a-7) of Section 1 and
8subsection (b), (c), or (d) of Section 1.5 shall be distributed
9in the following manner:
10        (1) one-half of each fine shall be distributed to the
11    unit of local government or other entity that successfully
12    prosecuted the offender; and
13        (2) one-half shall be remitted to the State to be used
14    for enforcing this Act.
15    Any violation of subsection (a) or (a-5) of Section 1 or
16subsection (b) or (c) of Section 1.5 shall be reported to the
17Department of Revenue within 7 business days.
18(Source: P.A. 98-350, eff. 1-1-14; 98-1055, eff. 1-1-16;
1999-192, eff. 1-1-16; 99-496, eff. 6-1-16; revised 9-14-16.)