| 15 | 15 | | An act relating to nicotine dispensing devices; 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | amending s. 569.31, F.S.; defining and revising terms; 3 |
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| 17 | 17 | | creating s. 569.311, F.S.; providing legislative 4 |
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| 18 | 18 | | findings; authorizing the Attorney General to adopt 5 |
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| 19 | 19 | | rules for the creation of a directory listing nicoti ne 6 |
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| 20 | 20 | | dispensing devices for certain purposes; providing the 7 |
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| 21 | 21 | | Attorney General with factors that must be considered 8 |
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| 22 | 22 | | in determining which nicotine dispensing devices must 9 |
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| 23 | 23 | | be listed on such a directory; providing construction; 10 |
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| 24 | 24 | | providing that a determination by t he Attorney General 11 |
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| 25 | 25 | | to include a nicotine dispensing device on the 12 |
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| 26 | 26 | | directory is subject to review under ch. 120, F.S.; 13 |
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| 27 | 27 | | providing applicability; requiring the Department of 14 |
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| 28 | 28 | | Legal Affairs to develop and maintain a directory of 15 |
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| 29 | 29 | | all nicotine products manufactu rers that sell nicotine 16 |
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| 30 | 30 | | dispensing devices in this state which have been 17 |
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| 31 | 31 | | listed on the directory by the Attorney General; 18 |
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| 32 | 32 | | requiring the department to make the directory 19 |
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| 33 | 33 | | available for public inspection on its website by a 20 |
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| 34 | 34 | | certain date; providing retailers a nd wholesalers of a 21 |
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| 35 | 35 | | nicotine dispensing device that has been added to the 22 |
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| 36 | 36 | | directory a specified timeframe within which they may 23 |
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| 37 | 37 | | sell or remove the nicotine dispensing device from 24 |
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| 38 | 38 | | inventory; providing that such nicotine dispensing 25 |
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| 46 | 46 | | Page 2 of 15 |
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| 47 | 47 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 48 | 48 | | |
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| 49 | 49 | | |
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| 50 | 50 | | |
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| 51 | 51 | | devices are considered con traband after such specified 26 |
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| 52 | 52 | | timeframe; providing that nicotine products 27 |
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| 53 | 53 | | manufacturers that offer for sale in this state a 28 |
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| 54 | 54 | | nicotine dispensing device listed on the directory are 29 |
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| 55 | 55 | | subject to a fine for each day the nicotine dispensing 30 |
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| 56 | 56 | | device is offered until it is either removed from the 31 |
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| 57 | 57 | | market or is no longer listed on the directory; 32 |
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| 58 | 58 | | providing retailers, distributors, and wholesalers a 33 |
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| 59 | 59 | | specified timeframe in which to remove a nicotine 34 |
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| 60 | 60 | | dispensing device from inventory after such device has 35 |
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| 61 | 61 | | been listed; creating s. 569.312, F.S.; providing 36 |
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| 62 | 62 | | criminal and civil penalties for a person who sells, 37 |
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| 63 | 63 | | ships, or otherwise distributes a listed nicotine 38 |
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| 64 | 64 | | dispensing device in this state for eventual retail 39 |
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| 65 | 65 | | sale; providing that a violation of this section is an 40 |
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| 66 | 66 | | unfair and deceptive trade practice; providing that 41 |
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| 67 | 67 | | the Department of Legal Affairs is the sole 42 |
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| 68 | 68 | | enforcement authority that may bring an action for an 43 |
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| 69 | 69 | | unfair or deceptive trade practice under this section; 44 |
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| 70 | 70 | | creating s. 569.345, F.S.; declaring nicotine 45 |
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| 71 | 71 | | dispensing devices t hat violate ch. 569, F.S., as 46 |
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| 72 | 72 | | contraband subject to seizure and confiscation by 47 |
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| 73 | 73 | | certain persons under the Florida Contraband 48 |
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| 74 | 74 | | Forfeiture Act; providing procedures for the seizure 49 |
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| 75 | 75 | | and destruction of such nicotine dispensing devices; 50 |
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| 83 | 83 | | Page 3 of 15 |
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| 84 | 84 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 85 | 85 | | |
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| 86 | 86 | | |
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| 87 | 87 | | |
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| 88 | 88 | | providing applicability; creating s. 569.346, F.S.; 51 |
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| 89 | 89 | | requiring nonresident manufacturers of nicotine 52 |
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| 90 | 90 | | dispensing devices to appoint an agent in this state 53 |
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| 91 | 91 | | to accept service for any action or proceeding against 54 |
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| 92 | 92 | | the manufacturer; providing that service upon the 55 |
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| 93 | 93 | | agent constitutes servi ce upon the manufacturer; 56 |
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| 94 | 94 | | requiring such manufacturers to notify the department 57 |
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| 95 | 95 | | of the termination and appointment of an agent within 58 |
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| 96 | 96 | | a specified timeframe; providing that the Secretary of 59 |
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| 97 | 97 | | State is deemed the agent for manufacturers that do 60 |
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| 98 | 98 | | not appoint an agent as required by law; amending s. 61 |
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| 99 | 99 | | 569.41, F.S.; revising criminal penalties for those 62 |
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| 100 | 100 | | who sell, deliver, barter, furnish, or give a nicotine 63 |
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| 101 | 101 | | dispensing device, directly or indirectly, to persons 64 |
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| 102 | 102 | | under 21 years of age; amending s. 569.002, F.S.; 65 |
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| 103 | 103 | | conforming cross-references; providing an effective 66 |
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| 104 | 104 | | date. 67 |
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| 105 | 105 | | 68 |
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| 106 | 106 | | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 69 |
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| 107 | 107 | | 70 |
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| 108 | 108 | | Section 1. Section 569.31, Florida Statutes, is amended to 71 |
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| 109 | 109 | | read: 72 |
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| 110 | 110 | | 569.31 Definitions. —As used in this part, the term: 73 |
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| 111 | 111 | | (1) "Dealer" is synonymous with the term "retail nicotine 74 |
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| 112 | 112 | | products dealer." 75 |
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| 120 | 120 | | Page 4 of 15 |
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| 121 | 121 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 122 | 122 | | |
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| 123 | 123 | | |
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| 124 | 124 | | |
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| 125 | 125 | | (2) "Division" means the Division of Alcoholic Beverages 76 |
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| 126 | 126 | | and Tobacco of the Department of Business and Professional 77 |
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| 127 | 127 | | Regulation. 78 |
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| 128 | 128 | | (3) "FDA" means the United States Food and Drug 79 |
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| 129 | 129 | | Administration. 80 |
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| 130 | 130 | | (4)(3) "Nicotine dispensing device" means any product that 81 |
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| 131 | 131 | | employs an electronic, chemical, or mechanical means to produce 82 |
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| 132 | 132 | | vapor or aerosol from a nicotine product, including, but not 83 |
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| 133 | 133 | | limited to, an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, 84 |
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| 134 | 134 | | electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe, or other similar device 85 |
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| 135 | 135 | | or product, any replacement cartridge for such device, and any 86 |
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| 136 | 136 | | other container of nicotine in a solution or other form intended 87 |
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| 137 | 137 | | to be used with or within an electronic cigarette, electronic 88 |
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| 138 | 138 | | cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe, or other similar 89 |
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| 139 | 139 | | device or product. For purposes of this definition, each 90 |
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| 140 | 140 | | individual stock keeping unit is considered a separate nicotine 91 |
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| 141 | 141 | | dispensing device. 92 |
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| 142 | 142 | | (5)(4) "Nicotine product" means any product that contains 93 |
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| 143 | 143 | | nicotine, including liquid nicotine, which is intended for human 94 |
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| 144 | 144 | | consumption, whether inhaled, chewed, absorbed, dissolved, or 95 |
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| 145 | 145 | | ingested by any means. The term also includes any nicotine 96 |
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| 146 | 146 | | dispensing device. The term does not include a: 97 |
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| 147 | 147 | | (a) Tobacco product, as defi ned in s. 569.002; 98 |
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| 148 | 148 | | (b) Product regulated as a drug or device by the United 99 |
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| 149 | 149 | | States Food and Drug Administration under Chapter V of the 100 |
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| 157 | 157 | | Page 5 of 15 |
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| 158 | 158 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 159 | 159 | | |
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| 160 | 160 | | |
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| 161 | 161 | | |
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| 162 | 162 | | Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; or 101 |
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| 163 | 163 | | (c) Product that contains incidental nicotine. 102 |
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| 164 | 164 | | (6) "Nicotine products manuf acturer" means any person or 103 |
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| 165 | 165 | | entity that manufactures nicotine products. 104 |
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| 166 | 166 | | (7)(5) "Permit" is synonymous with the term "retail 105 |
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| 167 | 167 | | nicotine products dealer permit." 106 |
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| 168 | 168 | | (8)(6) "Retail nicotine products dealer" means the holder 107 |
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| 169 | 169 | | of a retail nicotine products deale r permit. 108 |
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| 170 | 170 | | (9)(7) "Retail nicotine products dealer permit" means a 109 |
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| 171 | 171 | | permit issued by the division under s. 569.32. 110 |
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| 172 | 172 | | (10)(8) "Self-service merchandising" means the open 111 |
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| 173 | 173 | | display of nicotine products, whether packaged or otherwise, for 112 |
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| 174 | 174 | | direct retail customer access and handling before purchase 113 |
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| 175 | 175 | | without the intervention or assistance of the dealer or the 114 |
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| 176 | 176 | | dealer's owner, employee, or agent. An open display of such 115 |
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| 177 | 177 | | products and devices includes the use of an open display unit. 116 |
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| 178 | 178 | | (11) "Sell" or "sale" means, in addition to its common 117 |
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| 179 | 179 | | usage meaning, any sale, transfer, exchange, barter, gift, or 118 |
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| 180 | 180 | | offer for sale and distribution, in any manner or by any means. 119 |
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| 181 | 181 | | Section 2. Section 569.311, Florida Statutes, is created 120 |
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| 182 | 182 | | to read: 121 |
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| 183 | 183 | | 569.311 Control of nicotine dispensing devices; grant of 122 |
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| 184 | 184 | | authority to Attorney General to create a directory of nicotine 123 |
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| 185 | 185 | | products attractive to minors. — 124 |
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| 186 | 186 | | (1) The Legislature has determined that information, 125 |
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| 194 | 194 | | Page 6 of 15 |
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| 195 | 195 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 196 | 196 | | |
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| 197 | 197 | | |
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| 198 | 198 | | |
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| 199 | 199 | | testings, approvals, or scientific evidence may, from time to 126 |
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| 200 | 200 | | time, indicate that certain nicotine dispensing devices have a 127 |
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| 201 | 201 | | greater potential to be attractive to and be abused by minors 128 |
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| 202 | 202 | | than was evident when such devices were allowed on the market. 129 |
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| 203 | 203 | | It is the intent of the Legislature to quickly provide a method 130 |
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| 204 | 204 | | to allow the state to seek removal of such items from the 131 |
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| 205 | 205 | | market. 132 |
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| 206 | 206 | | (2) The Attorney General is hereby authorized to adopt 133 |
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| 207 | 207 | | rules creating a directory listing nicotine dispensing devices 134 |
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| 208 | 208 | | that are attractive to minors. 135 |
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| 209 | 209 | | (3) A nicotine dispensing device is deemed attractive to 136 |
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| 210 | 210 | | minors, and the Attorney General shall include it in the 137 |
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| 211 | 211 | | directory, if the nicotine dispensing device has features that 138 |
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| 212 | 212 | | are significantly appealing to minors as compared to the 139 |
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| 213 | 213 | | legitimate benefits those features offer to lawful users of the 140 |
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| 214 | 214 | | product. In applying this standard, the Attorney General and 141 |
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| 215 | 215 | | reviewing courts shall consider the following: 142 |
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| 216 | 216 | | (a) Surveys or other data sources i ndicating that a 143 |
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| 217 | 217 | | nicotine dispensing device is being used by minors at a higher 144 |
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| 218 | 218 | | rate than other nicotine dispensing devices. 145 |
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| 219 | 219 | | (b) Complaints, reports, or other information related to 146 |
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| 220 | 220 | | the use of a nicotine dispensing device by minors from other 147 |
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| 221 | 221 | | minors, parents, teachers, school employees, school boards, law 148 |
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| 222 | 222 | | enforcement officers, retailers, and other industry related 149 |
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| 223 | 223 | | officials as compared to other nicotine dispensing devices. 150 |
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| 231 | 231 | | Page 7 of 15 |
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| 232 | 232 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 233 | 233 | | |
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| 234 | 234 | | |
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| 235 | 235 | | |
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| 236 | 236 | | (c) The extent to which the nicotine dispensing device: 151 |
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| 237 | 237 | | 1. Is designed to be at tractive to minors, such as through 152 |
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| 238 | 238 | | the use of bright colors or cartoon characters. 153 |
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| 239 | 239 | | 2. Is designed so that it is easy for minors to use and to 154 |
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| 240 | 240 | | conceal. 155 |
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| 241 | 241 | | 3. Uses or resembles the trade dress of a branded food 156 |
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| 242 | 242 | | product, consumer food product, or logo of a food product. 157 |
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| 243 | 243 | | 4. Is marketed in a manner that uniquely appeals to 158 |
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| 244 | 244 | | minors. 159 |
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| 245 | 245 | | 5. Uses actual copyrights, service marks, or trademarks or 160 |
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| 246 | 246 | | fake or actual copyrights, service marks, or trademarks that 161 |
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| 247 | 247 | | resemble consumer or food products popular with minors, 162 |
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| 248 | 248 | | including the names of candy or cereal products. 163 |
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| 249 | 249 | | (d) Any reports of physical harm to minors from using the 164 |
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| 250 | 250 | | nicotine dispensing device or evidence that the nicotine 165 |
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| 251 | 251 | | dispensing device presents unique risks to minors. 166 |
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| 252 | 252 | | (e) Whether the manufacturer of the nic otine dispensing 167 |
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| 253 | 253 | | device submitted a timely filed premarket tobacco product 168 |
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| 254 | 254 | | application for the nicotine dispensing device pursuant to 21 169 |
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| 255 | 255 | | U.S.C. s. 387j. 170 |
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| 256 | 256 | | (4) In making the determination in subsection (3), the 171 |
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| 257 | 257 | | Attorney General shall consider a decision of the FDA regarding 172 |
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| 258 | 258 | | the nicotine dispensing device, if the decision is final and not 173 |
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| 259 | 259 | | subject to a stay, by a court or the agency, or subject to a 174 |
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| 260 | 260 | | timely petition for supervisory review, and the extent to which 175 |
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| 268 | 268 | | Page 8 of 15 |
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| 269 | 269 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 270 | 270 | | |
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| 271 | 271 | | |
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| 272 | 272 | | |
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| 273 | 273 | | the FDA's decision was predicated, in whole or p art, on the 176 |
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| 274 | 274 | | risks to minors outweighing other benefits of the nicotine 177 |
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| 275 | 275 | | dispensing device. 178 |
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| 276 | 276 | | (5) Rulemaking under this section shall be in accordance 179 |
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| 277 | 277 | | with the procedural requirements of chapter 120, including the 180 |
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| 278 | 278 | | emergency rule provisions found in s. 120.54 , except that s. 181 |
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| 279 | 279 | | 120.54(7) does not apply. 182 |
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| 280 | 280 | | (6) A determination by the Attorney General under 183 |
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| 281 | 281 | | subsections (2) and (3) to include a nicotine dispensing device 184 |
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| 282 | 282 | | in the directory is subject to review under chapter 120. 185 |
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| 283 | 283 | | (7) This section does not apply to a n icotine dispensing 186 |
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| 284 | 284 | | device that has received a marketing granted order under 21 187 |
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| 285 | 285 | | U.S.C. s. 387j. 188 |
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| 286 | 286 | | (8) This section shall only apply to, and a nicotine 189 |
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| 287 | 287 | | dispensing device shall only be subject to this section when, a 190 |
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| 288 | 288 | | nicotine dispensing device is either a sin gle-use or disposable 191 |
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| 289 | 289 | | electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, 192 |
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| 290 | 290 | | electronic pipe, or other similar device that is intended to be 193 |
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| 291 | 291 | | discarded after use, or an electronic cigarette, an electronic 194 |
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| 292 | 292 | | cigar, an electronic cigarillo, an electronic pipe, or other 195 |
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| 293 | 293 | | similar device that uses a sealed, prefilled, and disposable 196 |
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| 294 | 294 | | cartridge of nicotine in a solution. This section does not apply 197 |
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| 295 | 295 | | to an electronic cigarette, an electronic cigar, an electronic 198 |
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| 296 | 296 | | cigarillo, an electronic pipe, or other similar dev ice that is 199 |
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| 297 | 297 | | an open system where a consumer fills a vial or other container 200 |
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| 305 | 305 | | Page 9 of 15 |
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| 306 | 306 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 307 | 307 | | |
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| 308 | 308 | | |
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| 309 | 309 | | |
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| 310 | 310 | | with nicotine in a solution. 201 |
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| 311 | 311 | | (9) The Department of Legal Affairs shall develop and 202 |
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| 312 | 312 | | maintain a directory listing all nicotine product manufacturers 203 |
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| 313 | 313 | | that sell nicotine dispensing d evices in this state which the 204 |
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| 314 | 314 | | Attorney General has deemed attractive to minors under 205 |
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| 315 | 315 | | subsections (2) and (3). The department shall make the directory 206 |
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| 316 | 316 | | available January 1, 2025, for public inspection on its website. 207 |
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| 317 | 317 | | The department shall update the director y as necessary. The 208 |
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| 318 | 318 | | department shall establish a process to provide retailers, 209 |
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| 319 | 319 | | distributors, and wholesalers notice of the initial publication 210 |
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| 320 | 320 | | of the directory and any changes made to the directory. 211 |
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| 321 | 321 | | (10) If a nicotine dispensing device is added to the 212 |
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| 322 | 322 | | directory, each retailer and each wholesaler holding nicotine 213 |
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| 323 | 323 | | dispensing devices for eventual sale to a consumer in this state 214 |
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| 324 | 324 | | has 60 days from the day such product is added to the directory 215 |
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| 325 | 325 | | to sell the product or remove the product from its inventory. 216 |
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| 326 | 326 | | After 60 days following the date a product is added to the 217 |
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| 327 | 327 | | directory, the product identified in the directory is contraband 218 |
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| 328 | 328 | | and subject to s. 569.345. 219 |
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| 329 | 329 | | (11)(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c), 220 |
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| 330 | 330 | | beginning March 1, 2025, or on the date that the depar tment 221 |
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| 331 | 331 | | first makes the directory available for public inspection on its 222 |
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| 332 | 332 | | website, whichever is later, a nicotine product manufacturer 223 |
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| 333 | 333 | | that offers for sale in this state a nicotine dispensing device 224 |
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| 334 | 334 | | listed on the directory is subject to a fine of $1,000 per d ay 225 |
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| 342 | 342 | | Page 10 of 15 |
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| 343 | 343 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 344 | 344 | | |
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| 345 | 345 | | |
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| 346 | 346 | | |
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| 347 | 347 | | for each individual nicotine dispensing device offered for sale 226 |
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| 348 | 348 | | in violation of this section until the offending product is 227 |
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| 349 | 349 | | removed from the market or until the offending product is no 228 |
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| 350 | 350 | | longer listed on the directory. 229 |
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| 351 | 351 | | (b) Each retailer shall have 60 days from the date that 230 |
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| 352 | 352 | | the department first makes the directory available for public 231 |
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| 353 | 353 | | inspection on its website to sell products that were in its 232 |
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| 354 | 354 | | inventory before that date or remove those products from 233 |
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| 355 | 355 | | inventory. 234 |
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| 356 | 356 | | (c) Each distributor or wholesaler shall have 60 days from 235 |
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| 357 | 357 | | the date that the department first makes the directory available 236 |
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| 358 | 358 | | for public inspection on its website to remove from inventory 237 |
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| 359 | 359 | | those products intended for eventual retail sale to a consumer 238 |
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| 360 | 360 | | in this state. 239 |
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| 361 | 361 | | Section 3. Section 569.312, Florida Statutes, is created 240 |
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| 362 | 362 | | to read: 241 |
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| 363 | 363 | | 569.312 Shipment of nicotine dispensing devices sold for 242 |
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| 364 | 364 | | retail sale in this state. — 243 |
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| 365 | 365 | | (1) A nicotine product manufacturer, a retail nicotine 244 |
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| 366 | 366 | | products dealer, a wholesaler, or a distributor may not sell, 245 |
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| 367 | 367 | | ship, or otherwise distribute a nicotine dispensing device in 246 |
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| 368 | 368 | | this state for eventual retail sale to a consumer in this state 247 |
|---|
| 369 | 369 | | that is listed on the directory. 248 |
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| 370 | 370 | | (2) Any person who knowingly sells, ships or receives 249 |
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| 371 | 371 | | nicotine dispensing devices in violation of this s ection commits 250 |
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| 379 | 379 | | Page 11 of 15 |
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| 380 | 380 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 381 | 381 | | |
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| 382 | 382 | | |
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| 383 | 383 | | |
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| 384 | 384 | | a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 251 |
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| 385 | 385 | | 775.082 or s. 775.083. 252 |
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| 386 | 386 | | (3) A violation of this part is deemed an unfair and 253 |
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| 387 | 387 | | deceptive trade practice actionable under part II of chapter 501 254 |
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| 388 | 388 | | that can only be enforced by the D epartment of Legal Affairs. If 255 |
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| 389 | 389 | | the department has reason to believe that a person is in 256 |
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| 390 | 390 | | violation of this section, the department may, as the sole 257 |
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| 391 | 391 | | enforcement authority, bring an action against such person for 258 |
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| 392 | 392 | | an unfair or deceptive act or practice. For th e purpose of 259 |
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| 393 | 393 | | bringing an action pursuant to this section, ss. 501.211 and 260 |
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| 394 | 394 | | 501.212 do not apply. In addition to other remedies under part 261 |
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| 395 | 395 | | II of this chapter, the department may collect a civil penalty 262 |
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| 396 | 396 | | of up to $1,000 per nicotine dispensing device sold, shi pped, or 263 |
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| 397 | 397 | | otherwise distributed. 264 |
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| 398 | 398 | | Section 4. Section 569.345, Florida Statutes, is created 265 |
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| 399 | 399 | | to read: 266 |
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| 400 | 400 | | 569.345 Seizure and destruction of contraband nicotine 267 |
|---|
| 401 | 401 | | dispensing devices.—All nicotine dispensing devices sold, 268 |
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| 402 | 402 | | delivered, possessed, or distributed co ntrary to any provision 269 |
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| 403 | 403 | | of this chapter are declared to be contraband, are subject to 270 |
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| 404 | 404 | | seizure and confiscation under the Florida Contraband Forfeiture 271 |
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| 405 | 405 | | Act by any person whose duty it is to enforce this chapter, and 272 |
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| 406 | 406 | | must be disposed of as follows: 273 |
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| 407 | 407 | | (1) A court having jurisdiction shall order such nicotine 274 |
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| 408 | 408 | | dispensing devices forfeited upon a showing that, by a 275 |
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| 416 | 416 | | Page 12 of 15 |
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| 417 | 417 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 418 | 418 | | |
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| 419 | 419 | | |
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| 420 | 420 | | |
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| 421 | 421 | | preponderance of the evidence, such devices were sold, 276 |
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| 422 | 422 | | delivered, possessed, or distributed contrary to any provision 277 |
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| 423 | 423 | | of this chapter. Once any chapte r 120 proceedings related to 278 |
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| 424 | 424 | | such devices have been completed, the court shall order any 279 |
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| 425 | 425 | | seized nicotine dispensing devices destroyed except as provided 280 |
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| 426 | 426 | | by applicable court orders. A record of the place where such 281 |
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| 427 | 427 | | devices were seized, the kinds and quantit ies of such devices 282 |
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| 428 | 428 | | destroyed, and the time, place, and manner of the destruction of 283 |
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| 429 | 429 | | such devices must be kept, and a return under oath reporting the 284 |
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| 430 | 430 | | destruction must be made to the court by the officer who 285 |
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| 431 | 431 | | destroys such devices. 286 |
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| 432 | 432 | | (2) The Department of Le gal Affairs shall keep a full and 287 |
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| 433 | 433 | | complete record of all nicotine dispensing devices seized under 288 |
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| 434 | 434 | | this section showing: 289 |
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| 435 | 435 | | (a) The exact kinds, quantities, and forms of such 290 |
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| 436 | 436 | | nicotine dispensing devices; 291 |
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| 437 | 437 | | (b) The persons from whom such devices were seized a nd to 292 |
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| 438 | 438 | | whom they were delivered; 293 |
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| 439 | 439 | | (c) By whose authority such devices were seized, 294 |
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| 440 | 440 | | delivered, and destroyed; and 295 |
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| 441 | 441 | | (d) The dates of the seizure, disposal, or destruction of 296 |
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| 442 | 442 | | such devices. 297 |
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| 443 | 443 | | 298 |
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| 444 | 444 | | Such record must be open to inspection by all persons charged 299 |
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| 445 | 445 | | with the enforcement of tobacco and nicotine product laws. 300 |
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| 453 | 453 | | Page 13 of 15 |
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| 455 | 455 | | |
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| 456 | 456 | | |
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| 457 | 457 | | |
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| 458 | 458 | | (3) The cost of seizure, confiscation, and destruction of 301 |
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| 459 | 459 | | contraband nicotine dispensing devices is borne by the person 302 |
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| 460 | 460 | | from whom such products are seized. 303 |
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| 461 | 461 | | (4) Except as otherwise provided in this se ction, the 304 |
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| 462 | 462 | | procedures of the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act apply to 305 |
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| 463 | 463 | | this section. 306 |
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| 464 | 464 | | Section 5. Section 569.346, Florida Statutes, is created 307 |
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| 465 | 465 | | to read: 308 |
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| 466 | 466 | | 569.346 Agent for service of process. — 309 |
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| 467 | 467 | | (1) Any nonresident manufacturer of nicotine dispensing 310 |
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| 468 | 468 | | devices which has not registered to do business in this state as 311 |
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| 469 | 469 | | a foreign corporation or business entity shall appoint and 312 |
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| 470 | 470 | | continually engage without interruption the services of an agent 313 |
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| 471 | 471 | | in this state to act as agent for the service of process on whom 314 |
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| 472 | 472 | | all process, and any action or proceeding against it concerning 315 |
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| 473 | 473 | | or arising out of the enforcement of this chapter, may be served 316 |
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| 474 | 474 | | in any manner authorized by law. Such service constitutes legal 317 |
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| 475 | 475 | | and valid service of process on the manufacturer. The 318 |
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| 476 | 476 | | manufacturer shall provide the name, address, telephone number, 319 |
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| 477 | 477 | | and proof of the appointment and availability of such agent to 320 |
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| 478 | 478 | | the division. 321 |
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| 479 | 479 | | (2) The manufacturer shall provide notice to the 322 |
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| 480 | 480 | | Department of Legal Affairs 30 calendar days before termination 323 |
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| 481 | 481 | | of the authority of an agent and shall further provide proof to 324 |
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| 482 | 482 | | the satisfaction of the department of the appointment of a new 325 |
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| 490 | 490 | | Page 14 of 15 |
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| 491 | 491 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 492 | 492 | | |
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| 493 | 493 | | |
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| 494 | 494 | | |
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| 495 | 495 | | agent no less than 5 calendar days before the termination of an 326 |
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| 496 | 496 | | existing agent appointment. In the event an agent terminates an 327 |
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| 497 | 497 | | agency appointment, the manufacturer shall notify the department 328 |
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| 498 | 498 | | of the termination within 5 calendar days and shall include 329 |
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| 499 | 499 | | proof to the satisfaction of the department of the appointment 330 |
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| 500 | 500 | | of a new agent. 331 |
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| 501 | 501 | | (3) Any manufacturer whose nicotine dispensing devices are 332 |
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| 502 | 502 | | sold in this state which has not appointed and engaged the 333 |
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| 503 | 503 | | services of an agent as required by this section shall be deemed 334 |
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| 504 | 504 | | to have appointed the Secretary of State as its agent for 335 |
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| 505 | 505 | | service of process. 336 |
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| 506 | 506 | | Section 6. Subsection (2) of section 569.41, Florida 337 |
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| 507 | 507 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 338 |
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| 508 | 508 | | 569.41 Selling, delivering, bartering, furnishing, or 339 |
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| 509 | 509 | | giving nicotine products to persons under 21 years of age; 340 |
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| 510 | 510 | | criminal penalties; defense. — 341 |
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| 511 | 511 | | (2) Any person who violates subsection (1) commits a 342 |
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| 512 | 512 | | misdemeanor of the second d egree, punishable as provided in s. 343 |
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| 513 | 513 | | 775.082 or s. 775.083. However, any person who violates 344 |
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| 514 | 514 | | subsection (1) for a second or subsequent time within 1 year 345 |
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| 515 | 515 | | after the first violation commits a misdemeanor of the first 346 |
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| 516 | 516 | | degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.0 82 or s. 775.083. Any 347 |
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| 517 | 517 | | person who violates subsection (1) for a third or subsequent 348 |
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| 518 | 518 | | time at any time after the first violation commits a felony of 349 |
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| 519 | 519 | | the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 350 |
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| 527 | 527 | | Page 15 of 15 |
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| 529 | 529 | | |
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| 530 | 530 | | |
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| 531 | 531 | | |
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| 532 | 532 | | 775.083. 351 |
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| 533 | 533 | | Section 7. Subsections (3) and (4) o f section 569.002, 352 |
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| 534 | 534 | | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 353 |
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| 535 | 535 | | 569.002 Definitions. —As used in this part, the term: 354 |
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| 536 | 536 | | (3) "Nicotine product" has the same meaning as provided in 355 |
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| 537 | 537 | | s. 569.31 s. 569.31(4). 356 |
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| 538 | 538 | | (4) "Nicotine dispensing device" has the same meaning as 357 |
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| 539 | 539 | | provided in s. 569.31 s. 569.31(3). 358 |
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| 540 | 540 | | Section 8. This act shall take effect October 1, 2024. 359 |
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