HB 1943-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

Revises cigarette regulatory provisions.

Declares that it is unlawful for any person to knowingly manufacture, sell, or possess counterfeit cigarettes. A cigarette is "counterfeit" if: (1) The cigarette or its packaging bears any reproduction or copy of a trademark, service mark, trade name, label, term, design, or work adopted or used by a manufacturer to identify its own cigarettes; and

(2) The cigarette is not manufactured by the owner or holder of that trademark, service mark, trade name, label, term, design, or work, or by any authorized licensee of that person.

Provides that any person who violates the provisions of this act is guilty of a class C felony which is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to ten thousand dollars.

Provides that any person who is convicted of a second or subsequent violation of the provisions of this act is guilty of a class B felony which is punishable by up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to twenty thousand dollars.

Provides that no person may engage in or conduct the business of purchasing, selling, consigning, or distributing cigarettes in this state without a license under chapter 82.24 RCW. A violation of this provision is a class C felony.