2022 -- H 7805

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LC005294

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- SALE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS IN

PHARMACIES

     

     Introduced By: Representative Justine A. Caldwell

     Date Introduced: March 03, 2022

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 97

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PROHIBITIONS OF SALE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS IN PHARMACIES

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     23-97-1. Legislative findings.

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     The general assembly hereby finds and declares:

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     (1) The State of Rhode Island recognizes that the use of tobacco products has devastating

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health and economic consequences.

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     (2) Commercial tobacco use is the foremost preventable cause of premature death in the

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United States. It causes five hundred thousand (500,000) deaths annually and has been responsible

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for twenty million eight hundred thousand (20,800,000) premature deaths in the U.S. since the first

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Surgeon General’s report on smoking in 1964.

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     (3) Tobacco product use leads to more than three hundred billion dollars

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($300,000,000,000) in health care and lost worker productivity costs each year.

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     (4) Young people are particularly susceptible to the addictive properties of tobacco

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products, and youth that begin using tobacco products are particularly likely to become lifelong

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users.

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     (5) An estimated five million six hundred thousand (5,600,000) of today’s American youth

 

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aged zero (0) to seventeen (17) are projected to die prematurely from a commercial tobacco-related

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illness if prevalence rates do not change.

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     (6) Two million (2,000,000) smokers last purchased their cigarettes from a pharmacy.

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     (7) One in twenty (20) customers who were filling prescriptions for chronic illnesses,

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worsened by smoking, also purchased cigarettes.

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     (8) Tobacco products in pharmacies make quitting attempts for current smokers less

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successful.

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     (9) After CVS Health stopped selling tobacco in September 2014, cigarette pack sales

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decreased, and nicotine patch purchases increased in states where the chain had a large retail

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presence.

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     (10) Some large pharmacy chains are the leading sellers of tobacco products to underage

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individuals.

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     (11) Some large-scale pharmacy operations and independent community pharmacies have

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already ceased the sale of tobacco products to align their businesses with the health care role they

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serve in the community.

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     (12) To promote the health, safety and well-being of its residents, all pharmacies and retail

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establishments containing a pharmacy should be prohibited from selling tobacco products in the

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state.

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     (13) Local and state governments have used their authority to prohibit the sale of tobacco

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products in pharmacies to protect communities from tobacco-related harms. As of July 2020, two

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hundred thirty-five (235) municipalities and two (2) states have enacted tobacco-free pharmacy

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policies.

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     23-97-2. Definitions.

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     As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

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     (1) "Distribute" or "distribution" means to furnish, give, provide, sell, or to attempt to do

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so, whether gratuitously or for any type of compensation.

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     (2) "Electronic smoking device" means any device that may be used to deliver any

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aerosolized or vaporized substance to the person inhaling from the device, including, but not limited

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to, an e-cigarette, e-cigar, e-pipe, vape pen or e-hookah. Electronic smoking device includes any

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component, part, or accessory of the device, and also includes any substance intended to be

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aerosolized or vaporized during the use of the device, whether or not the substance contains

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nicotine. Electronic smoking device does not include drugs, devices, or combination products

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authorized for sale by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as those terms are defined in the

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Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. ch. 9 § 301 et seq.

 

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     (3) "Pharmacy" means an establishment licensed as such by the state board of pharmacy,

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pursuant to chapter 19.1 of title 5, where pharmacy may be practiced as well as retail establishments

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containing a pharmacy.

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     (4) "Tobacco product" means:

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     (i) Any product containing, made of, or derived from tobacco or nicotine that is intended

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for human consumption or is likely to be consumed, whether inhaled, absorbed, or ingested by any

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other means, including, but not limited to, a cigarette, a cigar, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff,

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or snus;

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     (ii) Any electronic smoking device and any substances that may be aerosolized or

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vaporized by such device, whether or not the substance contains nicotine; or

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     (iii) Any component, part, or accessory of subsections (4)(i) or (4)(ii) of this section,

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whether or not any of these contain tobacco or nicotine, including, but not limited to, filters, rolling

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papers, blunt or hemp wraps, and pipes. Tobacco product does not include drugs, devices, or

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combination products authorized for sale by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as those terms

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are defined in the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. ch. 9 § 301 et seq..

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     23-97-3. Prohibitions of sale of tobacco products in pharmacies.

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     No pharmacy located in the state shall distribute or attempt to distribute, including selling

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or attempting to sell a tobacco product.

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     23-97-4. Enforcement.

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     (a) This chapter shall be enforced by the department of health.

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     (b) Notice of the provisions of this chapter shall be provided to all applicants for a

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pharmacy license issued pursuant to § 5-19.1-9.

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     (c) Any citizen may register a complaint under this chapter to initiate enforcement by the

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department of health.

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     (d) The department of health shall, while a pharmacy establishment is undergoing

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otherwise mandated inspections, inspect for compliance with this policy.

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     23-97-5. Penalties.

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     Violation of this chapter by a pharmacy shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to two

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thousand ($2,000) dollars per violation. Each day of a violation shall be a separate offense.

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     23-97-6. Public education.

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     The department of health shall engage in a continuing program to explain and clarify the

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purposes and requirements of this chapter to citizens affected by it, and to guide owners, operators,

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and managers of pharmacies regarding compliance with the provisions of this chapter. The program

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may include publication of a brochure for affected businesses and individuals explaining the

 

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provisions of this chapter.

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     23-97-7. Severability.

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     If any provision, clause, sentence, or paragraph of this chapter or the application thereof to

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any person or circumstances shall be held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect the other provisions

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of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application, and to this

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end the provisions of this chapter are declared to be severable.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- SALE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS IN

PHARMACIES

***

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     This act would prohibit the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies and would provide for

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a civil penalty of two thousand dollars ($2,000) for each violation.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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