Public Act 0496 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB0032 Enrolled LRB099 02713 RLC 22720 b

Public Act 099-0496

AN ACT concerning criminal law.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Prevention of Tobacco Use by Minors and Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act is amended by changing Sections 1.5 and 2 as follows:

(720 ILCS 675/1.5)

Sec. 1.5. Distribution of alternative nicotine products to persons under 18 years of age prohibited.

(a) For the purposes of this Section, "alternative nicotine product" means a product or device not consisting of or containing tobacco that provides for the ingestion into the body of nicotine, whether by chewing, smoking, absorbing, dissolving, inhaling, snorting, sniffing, or by any other means. "Alternative nicotine product" excludes cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, or other tobacco products as these terms are defined in Section 1 of this Act and any product approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration as a non-tobacco product for sale as a tobacco cessation product, as a tobacco dependence product, or for other medical purposes, and is being marketed and sold solely for that approved purpose.

(b) A person, either directly or indirectly by an agent or employee, or by a vending machine owned by the person or located in the person's establishment, may not sell, offer for sale, give, or furnish any alternative nicotine product, or any cartridge or component of an alternative nicotine product, to a person under 18 years of age.

(c) Before selling, offering for sale, giving, or furnishing an alternative nicotine product, or any cartridge or component of an alternative nicotine product, to another person, the person selling, offering for sale, giving, or furnishing the alternative nicotine product shall verify that the person is at least 18 years of age by:

(1) examining from any person that appears to be under 27 years of age a government-issued photographic identification that establishes the person is at least 18 years of age or

(2) for sales made though the Internet or other remote sales methods, performing an age verification through an independent, third-party age verification service that compares information available from public records to the personal information entered by the person during the ordering process that establishes the person is 18 years of age or older.

(d) A person under 18 years of age shall not possess an alternative nicotine product.

(Source: P.A. 98-350, eff. 1-1-14.)

(720 ILCS 675/2) (from Ch. 23, par. 2358)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 98-1055)

Sec. 2. Penalties.

(a) Any person who violates subsection (a) or (a-5) of Section 1 or subsection (b) or (c) of Section 1.5 of this Act is guilty of a petty offense. For the first offense in a 24-month period, the person shall be fined $200 if his or her employer has a training program that facilitates compliance with minimum-age tobacco laws. For the second offense in a 24-month period, the person shall be fined $400 if his or her employer has a training program that facilitates compliance with minimum-age tobacco laws. For the third offense in a 24-month period, the person shall be fined $600 if his or her employer has a training program that facilitates compliance with minimum-age tobacco laws. For the fourth or subsequent offense in a 24-month period, the person shall be fined $800 if his or her employer has a training program that facilitates compliance with minimum-age tobacco laws. For the purposes of this subsection, the 24-month period shall begin with the person's first violation of the Act. The penalties in this subsection are in addition to any other penalties prescribed under the Cigarette Tax Act and the Tobacco Products Tax Act of 1995.

(a-5) Any retailer person who violates subsection (a) or (a-5) of Section 1 or subsection (b) or (c) of Section 1.5 of this Act is guilty of a petty offense. For the first offense, the retailer shall be fined $200 if it does not have a training program that facilitates compliance with minimum-age tobacco laws. For the second offense, the retailer shall be fined $400 if it does not have a training program that facilitates compliance with minimum-age tobacco laws. For the third offense, the retailer shall be fined $600 if it does not have a training program that facilitates compliance with minimum-age tobacco laws. For the fourth or subsequent offense in a 24-month period, the retailer shall be fined $800 if it does not have a training program that facilitates compliance with minimum-age tobacco laws. For the purposes of this subsection, the 24-month period shall begin with the person's first violation of the Act. The penalties in this subsection are in addition to any other penalties prescribed under the Cigarette Tax Act and the Tobacco Products Tax Act of 1995.

(a-6) For the purpose of this Act, a training program that facilitates compliance with minimum-age tobacco laws must include at least the following elements: (i) it must explain that only individuals displaying valid identification demonstrating that they are 18 years of age or older shall be eligible to purchase cigarettes or tobacco products; (ii) it must explain where a clerk can check identification for a date of birth; and (iii) it must explain the penalties that a clerk and retailer are subject to for violations of the Prevention of Tobacco Use by Minors and Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act.

(b) If a minor violates subsection (a-7) of Section 1 or subsection (d) of Section 1.5 he or she is guilty of a petty offense and the court may impose a sentence of 25 hours of community service and a fine of $50 for a first violation. If a minor violates subsection (a-6) of Section 1, he or she is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(c) A second violation by a minor of subsection (a-7) of Section 1 or subsection (d) of Section 1.5 that occurs within 12 months after the first violation is punishable by a fine of $75 and 50 hours of community service.

(d) A third or subsequent violation by a minor of subsection (a-7) of Section 1 or subsection (d) of Section 1.5 that occurs within 12 months after the first violation is punishable by a $200 fine and 50 hours of community service.

(e) Any second or subsequent violation not within the 12-month time period after the first violation is punishable as provided for a first violation.

(f) If a minor is convicted of or placed on supervision for a violation of subsection (a-6) or (a-7) of Section 1 or subsection (d) of Section 1.5, the court may, in its discretion, and upon recommendation by the State's Attorney, order that minor and his or her parents or legal guardian to attend a smoker's education or youth diversion program if that program is available in the jurisdiction where the offender resides. Attendance at a smoker's education or youth diversion program shall be time-credited against any community service time imposed for any first violation of subsection (a-7) of Section 1. In addition to any other penalty that the court may impose for a violation of subsection (a-7) of Section 1 or subsection (d) of Section 1.5, the court, upon request by the State's Attorney, may in its discretion require the offender to remit a fee for his or her attendance at a smoker's education or youth diversion program.

(g) For purposes of this Section, "smoker's education program" or "youth diversion program" includes, but is not limited to, a seminar designed to educate a person on the physical and psychological effects of smoking tobacco products and alternative nicotine products and the health consequences of smoking tobacco products and alternative nicotine products that can be conducted with a locality's youth diversion program.

(h) All moneys collected as fines for violations of subsection (a), (a-5), (a-6), or (a-7) of Section 1 and subsection (b), (c), or (d) of Section 1.5 shall be distributed in the following manner:

(1) one-half of each fine shall be distributed to the unit of local government or other entity that successfully prosecuted the offender; and

(2) one-half shall be remitted to the State to be used for enforcing this Act.

Any violation of subsection (a) or (a-5) of Section 1 or subsection (b) or (c) of Section 1.5 shall be reported to the Department of Revenue within 7 business days.

(Source: P.A. 98-350, eff. 1-1-14; 98-1055, eff. 1-1-16.)

Effective Date: 6/1/2016