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2012 SESSION

12103879D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 21
Offered January 11, 2012
Prefiled January 9, 2012
Directing the Virginia State Crime Commission to study the practice of illegal cigarette trafficking. Report.
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Patron-- Howell
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, it has been well documented that the problem of illegal trafficking and counterfeiting of cigarettes is growing; and

WHEREAS, state and local governments are among the entities most directly impacted by illegal trafficking of cigarettes; and

WHEREAS, the illegal trafficking of cigarettes has major economic impacts; and

WHEREAS, cigarettes are easy to smuggle, easy to buy and easy to ship, making it difficult to stop because it is a legal commodity; and

WHEREAS, the United States Treasury Department has linked illegal tobacco trafficking to organized crime and funding terrorist groups; now therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Virginia State Crime Commission be directed to study the practice of illegal cigarette trafficking.

In conducting the study, the Virginia State Crime Commission shall (i) determine why illegal cigarette trafficking occurs; (ii) identify the methods of illegal trafficking and the strategies used by smugglers; (iii) document the impact, including the financial impact, on Virginia as well as local governments in the Commonwealth; (iv) identify the methods used for counterfeiting cigarettes and cigarette tax stamps; (v) determine the beneficiaries of illegal cigarette trafficking; (vi) review statutory options for potential changes to combat illegal cigarette trafficking; (vii) identify potential uses of information technology to prevent illegal cigarette trafficking; (viii) develop a set of recommendations through policies and potential legislation to combat the practice of illegal cigarette trafficking; and (ix) consider other such related issues as the Virginia State Crime Commission deems appropriate.

Technical assistance shall be provided to the Virginia State Crime Commission by the Division of Legislative Services. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Virginia State Crime Commission for this study, upon request.

The Virginia State Crime Commission shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2012 and the chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Services an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2013 Regular Session of the General Assembly.  The executive summary shall state whether the Virginia State Crime Commission intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.