LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session April 10, 2001 TO: Honorable Patricia Gray, Chair, House Committee on Public Health FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB2767 by Delisi (Relating to the notice regarding sales of cigarettes and tobacco products given by a retailer to its employees.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** The bill would amend Chapter 161 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products. Under current law, it is a Class C misdemeanor for a seller of cigarettes or tobacco products to intentionally fail to display a warning sign stating that purchasing such products by minors and selling such products to minors is illegal. Under this bill, any failure, intentional or not, to display the sign would become a Class C misdemeanor. The bill would require retailers (instead of "permit holders," as in current law) selling cigarettes and tobacco products to notify their employees about state laws concerning the purchase and sale of those products. Under current law, sellers are required to secure signed forms from employees indicating their notification by the employer of the law regarding minors and tobacco products; and they have 72 hours to show the Comptroller, or an agent of the Comptroller, these signed forms when demanded. This bill would extend the period to seven days. The bill would take effect September 1, 2001. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 501 Texas Department of Health LBB Staff: JK, HD, SD