1 | 1 | | 89R9290 JTZ-F |
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2 | 2 | | By: Lujan H.B. No. 3787 |
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3 | 3 | | |
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4 | 4 | | |
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5 | 5 | | |
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6 | 6 | | |
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7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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9 | 9 | | relating to the sale and distribution of counterfeit or unsafe |
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10 | 10 | | lighters; imposing a civil penalty. |
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11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 9, Health and Safety Code, is |
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13 | 13 | | amended by adding Chapter 798 to read as follows: |
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14 | 14 | | CHAPTER 798. COUNTERFEIT AND UNSAFE LIGHTERS |
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15 | 15 | | Sec. 798.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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16 | 16 | | (1) "Counterfeit lighter" means a lighter made as an |
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17 | 17 | | imitation of a brand name lighter in violation of the intellectual |
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18 | 18 | | property laws of this state or of the United States. |
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19 | 19 | | (2) "Lighter" means any device that: |
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20 | 20 | | (A) operates using an electrical current or |
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21 | 21 | | striking mechanism and any type of hydrocarbon fuel, such as |
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22 | 22 | | benzene, butane, or naphtha; and |
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23 | 23 | | (B) produces a small flame for the purpose of |
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24 | 24 | | igniting a cigarette, cigar, pipe, fireplace, charcoal or gas |
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25 | 25 | | grill, or other apparatus. |
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26 | 26 | | (3) "Unsafe lighter" means: |
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27 | 27 | | (A) any disposable or refillable lighter that is |
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28 | 28 | | not in compliance with each applicable provision of the American |
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29 | 29 | | Society for Testing and Materials Standard F400-20, "Standard |
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30 | 30 | | Consumer Safety Specification for Lighters," as it existed on |
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31 | 31 | | January 1, 2025; or |
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32 | 32 | | (B) any grill or utility lighter that is not in |
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33 | 33 | | compliance with each applicable provision of the American Society |
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34 | 34 | | for Testing and Materials Standard F2201-20, "Standard Consumer |
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35 | 35 | | Safety Specification for Utility Lighters," as it existed on |
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36 | 36 | | January 1, 2025. |
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37 | 37 | | Sec. 798.002. PROHIBITED SALE AND DISTRIBUTION OF |
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38 | 38 | | COUNTERFEIT LIGHTERS AND UNSAFE LIGHTERS. A person may not sell, |
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39 | 39 | | distribute, or offer for sale in this state any counterfeit lighter |
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40 | 40 | | or unsafe lighter, including by: |
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41 | 41 | | (1) providing free samples; or |
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42 | 42 | | (2) engaging in wholesale, retail, in-person, or |
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43 | 43 | | online sales. |
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44 | 44 | | Sec. 798.003. EXCEPTION FOR INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION AND |
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45 | 45 | | STORAGE OF LIGHTERS. This chapter does not prohibit: |
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46 | 46 | | (1) interstate transportation of counterfeit lighters |
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47 | 47 | | or unsafe lighters through this state; or |
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48 | 48 | | (2) the storage of counterfeit lighters or unsafe |
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49 | 49 | | lighters in a distribution center or warehouse located in this |
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50 | 50 | | state, provided the distribution center or warehouse is closed to |
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51 | 51 | | the public and does not sell or distribute the lighters to persons |
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52 | 52 | | in this state. |
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53 | 53 | | Sec. 798.004. RULES. The state fire marshal shall adopt |
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54 | 54 | | rules to administer this chapter. |
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55 | 55 | | Sec. 798.005. INSPECTION. The state fire marshal may |
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56 | 56 | | inspect the records and lighters in the possession of a person who |
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57 | 57 | | manufactures, stores, or sells the lighters to verify compliance |
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58 | 58 | | with this chapter. |
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59 | 59 | | Sec. 798.006. CIVIL PENALTY; INJUNCTION. (a) A person who |
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60 | 60 | | knowingly violates this chapter or a rule adopted under this |
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61 | 61 | | chapter is subject to a civil penalty as follows: |
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62 | 62 | | (1) for a manufacturer, wholesale dealer, or agent who |
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63 | 63 | | knowingly sells or offers to sell a counterfeit lighter or unsafe |
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64 | 64 | | lighter in violation of this chapter, a civil penalty not to exceed |
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65 | 65 | | $100 for each counterfeit or unsafe lighter sold or offered for |
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66 | 66 | | sale, but not more than $100,000 for all violations occurring |
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67 | 67 | | within a 30-day period; |
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68 | 68 | | (2) for a retailer who knowingly sells or offers to |
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69 | 69 | | sell a counterfeit lighter or unsafe lighter in violation of this |
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70 | 70 | | chapter, a civil penalty not to exceed $100 for each counterfeit or |
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71 | 71 | | unsafe lighter sold or offered for sale, but not more than $25,000 |
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72 | 72 | | for all violations occurring within a 30-day period; and |
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73 | 73 | | (3) for a person who otherwise violates this chapter |
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74 | 74 | | or a rule or order adopted under this chapter, a civil penalty not |
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75 | 75 | | to exceed $1,000 for the first violation or $5,000 for each |
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76 | 76 | | subsequent violation. |
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77 | 77 | | (b) If it appears a person has violated, is violating, or is |
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78 | 78 | | threatening to violate this chapter or a rule or order adopted under |
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79 | 79 | | this chapter, the attorney general, as determined by the attorney |
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80 | 80 | | general or on request of the state fire marshal, may bring a civil |
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81 | 81 | | action in a district court for: |
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82 | 82 | | (1) injunctive relief to restrain the person from |
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83 | 83 | | continuing the violation or threat of violation; |
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84 | 84 | | (2) the assessment of a civil penalty; or |
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85 | 85 | | (3) both injunctive relief and a civil penalty. |
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86 | 86 | | SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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87 | 87 | | of this Act, the state fire marshal shall adopt rules necessary to |
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88 | 88 | | implement the changes in law made by this Act. |
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89 | 89 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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