2022 -- S 2613

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LC004961

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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 CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- CHILDREN

     Introduced By: Senators McCaffrey, Gallo, and Miller

     Date Introduced: March 10, 2022

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 11-9-21 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-9 entitled "Children" is

hereby amended to read as follows:

     11-9-21. Prohibition of sale of certain dietary supplements to minors.

     (a) It shall be a misdemeanor for any manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer, or other person, to

sell, transfer, or otherwise furnish any of the following to a person under 18 years of age:

     (1) A dietary supplement containing an ephedrine group alkaloid.

     (2) A dietary supplement containing any of the following:

     (A) Androstanedoil.

     (B) Androstanedione.

     (C) Androstenedione.

     (D) Noradrostenediol.

     (E) Norandrostenedione.

     (F) Dehydroepiandrosterone.

     (b) Dietary supplements may only be purchased upon a request made by a customer to the

seller. The seller shall request valid identification from any individual who attempts to purchase a

dietary supplement set forth in subsection (a) if that individual reasonably appears to the seller to

be under 18 years of age.

     (c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), a retail clerk who fails to request identification

pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall not be guilty of a misdemeanor, subject to any civil

penalties, or subject to any disciplinary action or discharge by his or her employer.

     (d) Any retail establishment that sells over-the-counter dietary supplements shall limit

access to such products in a manner designed to prevent the misuse or abuse of such products.

Products shall not be directly accessible by customers, and may only be accessed by a retail clerk.

     (e) Retail establishments shall conspicuously post at each purchase counter a notice

communicating that certain over-the-counter diet pills, or dietary supplements are known to cause

gastrointestinal impairment, tachycardia, hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke, severe liver

injury sometimes requiring transplant or leading to death, organ failure, other serious injury, and

death.

     (f) Whoever violates this section shall be punished by a fine of no more than $2,000.

     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 CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- CHILDREN

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     This act would limit the accessibility of over-the-counter dietary supplements to prevent

the misuse or abuse of such products and provide a conspicuously posted notice at the purchase

counter of the possible side effects of the supplements.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC004961

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