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2008 SESSION
SB 544 Master Settlement Agreement; makes several changes to enhance criminal enforcement activities.
Introduced by: Robert Hurt | all patrons ... notes | add to my profiles
SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:
Master Settlement Agreement; criminal enforcement activities; penalty. Makes several changes to enhance criminal enforcement activities. The bill provides that any tobacco product manufacturer, stamping agent, or importer of cigarettes, or any officer, employee, or agent of any such entity, who knowingly makes any materially false statement in reports, documents, and tax returns required to be filed or kept under the Master Settlement Agreement or other substantive law shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. The Attorney General is authorized to prosecute such cases. The bill also requires persons to file cigarette delivery sales information with the Attorney General in addition to the current requirement that such information be filed with the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. The bill adds criminal penalties for failure to file the required information, under current law all penalties are civil. The Attorney General is authorized to assess the civil penalties and prosecute criminal violations. In addition, the bill includes within the definition of "racketeering activity" the filing of false reports under the Tobacco Product Manufacturers Act, of false reports of cigarette delivery sales, and of false tobacco tax reports. The effective date of the bill is contingent on the appropriation of funds in the 2008 or a subsequent general appropriation act.
FULL TEXT
- 01/09/08 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/08 082382806 pdf | impact statements
- 02/11/08 Senate: Printed as engrossed 082382806-E pdf | impact statements
AMENDMENTS
HISTORY
- 01/09/08 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/08 082382806
- 01/09/08 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- 02/06/08 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment (12-Y 0-N 1-A)
- 02/08/08 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)
- 02/11/08 Senate: Read second time
- 02/11/08 Senate: Reading of amendment waived
- 02/11/08 Senate: Committee amendment agreed to
- 02/11/08 Senate: Engrossed by Senate as amended SB544E
- 02/11/08 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)
- 02/11/08 Senate: Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 1-A)
- 02/11/08 Senate: Communicated to House
- 02/11/08 Senate: Printed as engrossed 082382806-E
- 02/12/08 House: Placed on Calendar
- 02/12/08 House: Read first time
- 02/12/08 House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- 02/15/08 House: Assigned Courts sub: Criminal
- 02/27/08 House: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment (18-Y 0-N)
- 02/27/08 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
- 02/29/08 House: Tabled in Appropriations by voice vote