By: Thierry H.B. No. 3218
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the regulation of e-cigarettes; requiring an
  occupational permit; authorizing fees; authorizing administrative
  penalties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter H, Chapter 161, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Section 161.0873 to read as follows:
         Sec. 161.0873.  SALE OF E-CIGARETTES WITH FLAVORING. A
  person may sell, in accordance with this chapter, an e-cigarette
  that contains a food-grade additive or synthetic flavoring
  substance that adds flavor, provided the additive or substance is
  not prohibited by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
         SECTION 2.  Section 161.0875(a), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A person may not sell or cause to be sold a container
  that contains liquid with nicotine and that is an accessory for an
  e-cigarette unless:
               (1)  the container:
                     (A)  satisfies the child-resistant effectiveness
  standards under 16 C.F.R. Section 1700.15(b)(1) when tested in
  accordance with the method described by 16 C.F.R. Section 1700.20;
  or
                     (B) [(2)  the container] is a cartridge that is
  prefilled and sealed by the manufacturer and is not intended to be
  opened by a consumer;
               (2)  the container contains a tamper-evident feature:
                     (A)  with at least one indicator or barrier to
  entry that, if breached or missing, can reasonably be expected to
  provide visible evidence of tampering to consumers; and
                     (B)  that is designed to remain intact when
  handled in a reasonable manner during the manufacture,
  distribution, and retail display of the container; and
               (3)  the container's label contains a nicotine
  addictiveness warning statement described by 21 C.F.R. Section
  1143.3.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter H, Chapter 161, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Section 161.0877 to read as follows:
         Sec. 161.0877.  SALE OF E-CIGARETTE CONTAINERS. A person
  may not sell or cause to be sold an e-cigarette container that:
               (1)  includes a cartoon-like fictional character that
  mimics characters primarily aimed at entertaining minors;
               (2)  imitates or mimics trademarks or trade dress of
  products that are or have been primarily marketed to minors;
               (3)  includes a symbol or celebrity image that is
  primarily used to market products to minors; or
               (4)  includes an image of an individual who appears to
  be younger than 27 years of age.
         SECTION 4.  Section 161.124, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 161.124.  USE OF ADVERTISING FEE. (a) In this section,
  "e-cigarette" has the meaning assigned by Section 161.081.
         (b)  The comptroller shall deposit the fee collected under
  Section 161.123 to a special account in the state treasury called
  the tobacco and e-cigarette education and enforcement [education]
  fund.
         (c) [(b)]  Money in the account may be appropriated only for
  administration and enforcement of this section, enforcement of law
  relating to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and tobacco products, and the
  education advertising campaign and grant program established under
  Subchapter O[, Chapter 161].
         SECTION 5.  Section 161.452(c), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (c)  A person taking a delivery sale order of e-cigarettes
  shall comply with:
               (1)  the age verification requirements prescribed by
  Section 161.453;
               (2)  the payment requirements prescribed by Section
  161.4535;
               (3)  the disclosure requirements prescribed by Section
  161.454;
               (4) [(3)]  the shipping requirements prescribed by
  Section 161.455;
               (5) [(4)]  the registration and reporting requirements
  prescribed by Section 161.456; and
               (6) [(5)]  each law of this state that generally
  applies to sales of e-cigarettes that occur entirely within this
  state, including a permit requirement under Subchapter Z.
         SECTION 6.  Subchapter R, Chapter 161, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Sections 161.4525 and 161.4535 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 161.4525.  AUTHORIZED INFORMATION. A person taking a
  delivery sale order for e-cigarettes may request the prospective
  purchaser's e-mail address.
         Sec. 161.4535.  PAYMENT REQUIREMENT. A person may not make a
  delivery sale for e-cigarettes unless the person receives full
  payment for the order before the e-cigarettes are mailed or
  shipped. The payment must be in the form of:
               (1)  a check associated with a bank account in the
  prospective purchaser's name; or
               (2)  a credit or debit card issued in the prospective
  purchaser's name. 
         SECTION 7.  Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Subchapter Z to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER Z. PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR E-CIGARETTE MANUFACTURER,
  DISTRIBUTOR, AND RETAILER
         Sec. 161.801.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Distributor" means a person who:
                     (A)  distributes, sells, barters, or exchanges an
  e-cigarette in this state for the purpose of resale; or
                     (B)  purchases an e-cigarette directly from a
  manufacturer or distributor for the purpose of resale in this
  state.
               (2)  "E-cigarette" has the meaning assigned by Section
  161.081.
               (3)  "Manufacturer" means a person located in this
  state who is engaged in manufacturing e-cigarettes.
               (4)  "Retailer" means a person, other than a
  manufacturer or distributor, who in the ordinary course of the
  person's business:
                     (A)  acquires any form of an e-cigarette for the
  purpose of resale to the consumer; and
                     (B)  transfers an e-cigarette to another person
  for money or other consideration.
         Sec. 161.802.  PERMIT REQUIRED. (a) A manufacturer or
  retailer may not sell an e-cigarette in this state unless the
  manufacturer or retailer holds a permit issued by the commission in
  accordance with this subchapter.
         (b)  A distributor may not distribute an e-cigarette in this
  state unless the distributor holds a permit issued by the
  commission in accordance with this subchapter.
         (c)  A person must hold a separate permit for each facility
  or location operated by the person for which a permit is required
  under this section.
         Sec. 161.803.  APPLICATION; FEE. (a) An applicant for a
  manufacturer, distributor, or retailer permit under this
  subchapter shall submit to the commission:
               (1)  an application on a form prescribed by commission
  rule that includes:
                     (A)  the name, telephone number, and address of
  the applicant; and
                     (B)  the name, telephone number, and address of
  the manufacturing facility, distribution facility, or retail
  location, as applicable, in this state and the person responsible
  for the facility or location;
               (2)  a nonrefundable application fee in an amount not
  to exceed:
                     (A)  $1,000 for a manufacturer applicant;
                     (B)  $500 for a distributor applicant; or
                     (C)  $150 for a retailer applicant; and
               (3)  any other information the commission determines is
  necessary.
         (b)  The executive commissioner by rule shall set amounts for
  the application fees under this section. The amounts may not exceed
  the administrative costs incurred by the commission in implementing
  this subchapter. 
         (c)  The commission shall deposit a fee received under this
  section to the credit of the tobacco and e-cigarette education and
  enforcement fund established under Section 161.124.
         Sec. 161.804.  ISSUANCE OR DENIAL. (a) The commission shall
  issue or deny issuance of a permit for an application submitted
  under Section 161.803 not later than the 60th day after the date the
  commission receives the completed application. The commission
  shall issue a permit to an applicant who the commission determines
  satisfies the requirements of this subchapter and rules adopted
  under this subchapter.
         (b)  If the commission denies issuance of a permit under
  Subsection (a), the commission shall provide written reasons for
  the denial to the applicant.
         (c)  An applicant whose initial application is denied may
  reapply without submitting an application fee not later than the
  30th day after the date the initial application is denied.
         Sec. 161.805.  PERMIT EXPIRATION.  A permit issued under
  this subchapter expires on:
               (1)  the fifth anniversary of the date the permit is
  issued for a manufacturer; or
               (2)  the first anniversary of the date the permit is
  issued for a distributor or retailer.
         Sec. 161.806.  TRANSFER. A permit holder may not transfer to
  another person a permit issued under Section 161.804 unless the
  commission approves the transfer. The commission shall approve a
  transfer if the transferee satisfies the requirements of this
  chapter and rules adopted under this chapter.
         Sec. 161.807.  UPDATED INFORMATION. If the information
  provided in the permit application submitted under Section 161.803
  changes, the permit holder shall provide written notice of the
  change in the form and manner prescribed by commission rule not
  later than the 10th business day after the date of the change.
         Sec. 161.808.  RECORD REQUIREMENTS. A permit holder shall
  retain all e-cigarette invoices for at least two years and make the
  invoices available to the commission on request.
         Sec. 161.809.  ENFORCEMENT. (a) The commission may revoke a
  permit of a permit holder who violates this chapter or a rule
  adopted under this chapter relating to e-cigarettes.
         (b)  The commission may impose an administrative penalty
  against:
               (1)  a permit holder who violates this subchapter or a
  rule adopted under this subchapter in an amount not to exceed
  $10,000 for each day a violation continues; or
               (2)  a person who violates Section 161.082 in the
  amount of:
                     (A)  not less than $1,000 for the first violation;
                     (B)  not less than $5,000 for the second
  violation; and
                     (C)  $10,000 for a subsequent violation.
         (c)  The commission shall deposit a penalty collected under
  this section to the credit of the tobacco and e-cigarette education
  and enforcement fund established under Section 161.124.
         SECTION 8.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement this
  Act.
         SECTION 9.  A manufacturer, distributor, or retailer subject
  to Subchapter Z, Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, as added by
  this Act, is not required to comply with that subchapter until
  January 1, 2020.
         SECTION 10.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.