2021 -- S 0766

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO TAXATION -- LITTLE CIGAR TAX

     Introduced By: Senator Joshua Miller

     Date Introduced: April 01, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. The use of tobacco and nicotine products by Rhode Island youth is a serious

health and addiction problem. Cigarette use has greatly declined among Rhode Island youth, to

eight percent (8%), but as the National Youth Tobacco Survey reports, in 2014 overall use of

tobacco among youth rose, exposing dangerous new trends. Clever marketing by the tobacco

industry, pushing little cigars, hookahs, e-cigarettes, and flavored vaping products, has put millions

of young people at risk of lifelong lethal nicotine addiction. The general assembly finds that each

year, five hundred (500) children under the age of eighteen (18) in Rhode Island become daily

smokers. There are sixteen thousand (16,000) children currently alive in Rhode Island today who

will ultimately die prematurely from smoking. The department of health reports that while eight

percent (8%) of Rhode Island high school students currently smoke cigarettes, eleven percent

(11%) of Rhode Island public high school students currently smoke cigars, cigarillos, or little

cigars. Rhode Island's annual health care costs due to smoking are six hundred thirty-nine million

six hundred four thousand two hundred twenty-four dollars ($639,604,224).

     SECTION 2. Section 44-20-13.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-20 entitled "Cigarette

and Other Tobacco Products Tax" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     44-20-13.2. Tax imposed on other tobacco products, smokeless tobacco, cigars, and

pipe tobacco products.

     (a) A tax is imposed on all other tobacco products, smokeless tobacco, cigars, except little

cigars as specified in chapter 20.2 of this title, and pipe tobacco products sold, or held for sale in

the state by any person, the payment of the tax to be accomplished according to a mechanism

established by the administrator, division of taxation, department of revenue. The tax imposed by

this section shall be as follows:

     (1) At the rate of eighty percent (80%) of the wholesale cost of other tobacco products,

cigars, except little cigars as specified in chapter 20.2 of this title, pipe tobacco products, and

smokeless tobacco other than snuff.

     (2) Notwithstanding the eighty percent (80%) rate in subsection (a) above, in the case of

cigars, the tax shall not exceed fifty cents ($.50) for each cigar.

     (3) At the rate of one dollar ($1.00) per ounce of snuff, and a proportionate tax at the like

rate on all fractional parts of an ounce thereof. Such tax shall be computed based on the net weight

as listed by the manufacturer; provided, however, that any product listed by the manufacturer as

having a net weight of less than 1.2 ounces shall be taxed as if the product has a net weight of 1.2

ounces.

     (b) Any dealer having in his or her possession any other tobacco products with respect to

the storage or use of which a tax is imposed by this section shall, within five (5) days after coming

into possession of the other tobacco products in this state, file a return with the tax administrator in

a form prescribed by the tax administrator. The return shall be accompanied by a payment of the

amount of the tax shown on the form to be due. Records required under this section shall be

preserved on the premises described in the relevant license in such a manner as to ensure

permanency and accessibility for inspection at reasonable hours by authorized personnel of the

administrator.

     (c) The proceeds collected are paid into the general fund.

     SECTION 3. Sections 44-20.2-1 and 44-20.2-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-20.2

entitled "Little Cigar Tax" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     44-20.2-1. Definitions.

     Whenever used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:

     (1) "Administrator" means the tax administrator;

     (2) "Dealer" means any person whether located within or outside of this state, who sells or

distributes little cigars to a consumer in this state;

     (3) "Distributor" means any person:

     (i) Whether located within or outside of this state, other than a dealer, who sells or

distributes little cigars within or into this state. Such term shall not include any little cigar

manufacturer, export warehouse proprietor, or importer with a valid permit under 26 U.S.C. § 5712,

if such person sells or distributes little cigars in this state only to licensed distributors, or to an

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export warehouse proprietor or another manufacturer with a valid permit under 26 U.S.C. § 5712;

     (ii) Selling little cigars directly to consumers in this state by means of at least twenty-five

(25) little cigar vending machines.

     (4) "Importer" means any person who imports into the United States, either directly or

indirectly, a finished little cigar for sale or distribution;

     (5) "Licensed" when used with reference to a manufacturer, importer, distributor or dealer,

means only those persons who hold a valid and current license issued under § 44-20-2 for the type

of business being engaged in. When the term "licensed" is used before a list of entities, such as

"licensed manufacturer, importer, wholesale dealer, or retailer dealer," such term shall be deemed

to apply to each entity in such list;

     (6) "Little cigars" means and includes any roll, made wholly or in part of tobacco,

irrespective of size or shape and irrespective of whether the tobacco is flavored, adulterated or

mixed with any other ingredient, where such roll has a wrapper or cover made of tobacco wrapped

in leaf tobacco or any substance containing tobacco paper or any other material and where such roll

has an integrated filter, except where such wrapper is wholly or in greater part made of tobacco and

where such roll has an integrated filter and weighs over four (4) four and one-half (4.5) pounds per

thousand (1,000);

     (7) "Manufacturer" means any person who manufactures, fabricates, assembles, processes,

or labels a finished little cigar;

     (8) "Person" means any individual, firm, fiduciary, partnership, corporation, trust, or

association, however formed;

     (9) "Place of business" means and includes any place where little cigars are sold or where

little cigars are stored or kept for the purpose of sale or consumption, including any vessel, vehicle,

airplane, train, or vending machine;

     (10) "Sale" or "Sell" includes and applies to gifts, exchanges, and barter;

     (11) "Snuff" means any finely cut, ground, or powdered tobacco that is not intended to be

smoked;

     (12) "Stamp" means the impression, device, stamp, label, or print manufactured, printed,

or made as prescribed by the administrator to be affixed to packages of little cigars, as evidence of

the payment of the tax provided by this chapter or to indicate that the little cigars are intended for

a sale or distribution in this state that is exempt from state tax under the provisions of state law and

also includes impressions made by metering machines authorized to be used under the provisions

of this chapter.

     44-20.2-2. Tax imposed on little cigars sold.

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     (a) The tax imposed on little cigars shall be imposed in the same manner as the tax on

cigarettes in § 44-20-12 and shall otherwise be imposed in accordance with the provisions of §§

44-20-2 -- 44-20-55.

     (b) All little cigars shall be sold in packs of twenty (20) or more.

     (c) Twenty-five percent (25%) of the tax revenue generated from the tax imposed on little

cigars shall be applied towards smoking cessation programs and services administered by the

tobacco control program at the department of health.

     SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO TAXATION -- LITTLE CIGAR TAX

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     This act would remove little cigars from the tax imposed on other tobacco products,

smokeless tobacco, cigars, and pipe tobacco products and would require that the tax imposed on

little cigars be imposed in the same manner as the tax imposed on cigarettes, that twenty-five

percent (25%) of such tax revenue would be applied to smoking cessation programs, and require

that little cigars be sold in packs of twenty (20) or more.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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