REPORT TITLE: 
Cigarette Stamp Tax


DESCRIPTION:
Provides that the excise tax on cigarettes shall be imposed and
collected through the use of stamps purchased by wholesalers and
dealers, and affixed to cigarette packages.  Includes provisions
for civil and criminal penalties, and for forfeitures of
cigarettes, to be enforced by the police departments, liquor
commissions, attorney general, and prosecuting attorneys.
Mandates repeal of the law in 2005 upon a finding by the
legislative auditor that the law has not reduced the loss of tax
revenue due to the illegal sale of untaxed cigarettes.  Makes
appropriation to DOT for stamps. (SD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        176
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                     A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO TOBACCO TAX.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  Chapter 245, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended
 
 2 by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read
 
 3 as follows:
 
 4                 "PART   .  STAMPING OF CIGARETTES
 
 5      §245-A  Payment of tax through use of stamps.(a)  The tax
 
 6 imposed under section 245-3 upon the sale or use of cigarettes
 
 7 shall be paid by licensees through the use of stamps.
 
 8      (b)  The department shall furnish stamps for sale.
 
 9      §245-B  Sales through financial institutions; rules.  The
 
10 department may enter into agreements to permit the sale of stamps
 
11 by designated financial institutions located within the State.  A
 
12 list of financial institutions designated to sell stamps shall be
 
13 made available at the department.  The department may adopt rules
 
14 as necessary for this purpose pursuant to chapter 91.
 
15      §245-C  Designs, specifications, and denominations of
 
16 stamps; affixation; cancellation.  Stamps shall be of such
 
17 designs, specifications, and denominations as may be prescribed
 
18 by the department.  The department shall adopt rules pursuant to
 
19 chapter 91, on the method and manner in which stamps are to be
 

 
Page 2                                                     176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1 affixed to packages of cigarettes, and may provide for the
 
 2 cancellation of stamps.
 
 3      §245-D  Affixation prior to distribution.(a)  Beginning
 
 4 April 15, 2000, a licensee, or designee of a licensee, may apply
 
 5 to the department for stamps as provided in this section.
 
 6      (b)  Beginning May 1, 2000, a licensee or the authorized
 
 7 agent or designee of a licensee, shall affix a stamp to the
 
 8 bottom of each individual package of cigarettes, prior to
 
 9 distribution.
 
10      (c)  Beginning September 1, 2000, an individual package of
 
11 cigarettes, not affixed with the stamp required under this
 
12 section, shall not be sold or offered for sale to the general
 
13 public.
 
14      (d)  Beginning September 1, 2000, a cigarette package, not
 
15 affixed with the stamp required under this section, shall not be
 
16 placed or stored in a vending machine. 
 
17      §245-E  Approval of department required for transfer of
 
18 stamps.  Unaffixed stamps shall not be sold, exchanged, or in any
 
19 manner transferred by a licensee to another person without prior
 
20 written approval of the department.  Any person who violates this
 
21 section shall be fined not less than $500 and not more than
 
22 $1,000 for each violation.
 
23      §245-F  Authority to order purchases for wholesaler or
 

 


 

Page 3                                                     176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1 dealer; duration; revocation.  A licensee, in writing, shall
 
 2 authorize those persons who may order purchases of stamps for the
 
 3 licensee at a location where stamps are sold.  The authorization
 
 4 shall continue in effect until written notice of revocation of
 
 5 the authority is delivered at the sales location in the manner
 
 6 prescribed by rules adopted by the department pursuant to chapter
 
 7 91.
 
 8      §245-G  Payment of tax without use of stamps in certain
 
 9 transactions; rules.  The department may provide by rule pursuant
 
10 to chapter 91 that the tax imposed by this chapter with respect
 
11 to cigarettes may be paid without the use of stamps in connection
 
12 with a particular type of transaction.
 
13      §245-H  Price; payment; deferred payment purchases.(a)
 
14 Stamps shall be sold to licensees at their denominated values,
 
15 plus a state stamp fee of 0.2 per cent of the denominated value
 
16 of the stamp (which is equal to $1 per stamp) to pay for the cost
 
17 to the State of providing the stamps; provided that the
 
18 department may adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 91, to modify the
 
19 state stamp fee to reflect the actual costs incurred by the State
 
20 in providing the stamps.
 
21      (b)  Payment for stamps shall be made at the time of
 
22 purchase; provided that the department may adopt rules pursuant
 
23 to chapter 91 to permit a licensee to defer payments therefor as
 

 
Page 4                                                     176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1 provided for in section 245-I.
 
 2      §245-I  Application to fix maximum amount and time of
 
 3 deferred-payment purchases; bonding; designation of sales
 
 4 locations.(a)  A licensee may apply to the department to set
 
 5 the maximum amount of deferred-payment purchases of stamps that
 
 6 may remain unpaid by the licensee during the time specified under
 
 7 section 245-J.  Upon receipt of the application and any bond
 
 8 required pursuant to subsection (b), the department shall set the
 
 9 amount for deferred-payment purchases.
 
10      (b)  The department may require that a licensee who submits
 
11 an application for deferred-payment purchases of stamps post a
 
12 bond in an amount of up to one hundred per cent of the maximum
 
13 amount of allowed deferred-payment purchases as a condition of
 
14 approval of the application by the department.
 
15      §245-J  Time for payment of deferred-payment purchases;
 
16 manner of payment.  Amounts owing for stamps purchased on the
 
17 deferred-payment basis in any calendar month shall be due and
 
18 payable on or before the last day of the following calendar
 
19 month.  Payment shall be made by a remittance payable to the
 
20 department.
 
21      §245-K  Suspension of privilege to purchase on deferred-
 
22 payment basis or reduction of amount of permissible purchases.
 
23 The department may suspend, without prior notice, a licensee's
 

 
Page 5                                                     176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1 privilege to purchase stamps on the deferred-payment basis, or
 
 2 may reduce the amount of deferred-payment purchases allowed the
 
 3 licensee, if:
 
 4      (1)  The licensee fails to promptly pay for stamps when
 
 5           payment is due;
 
 6      (2)  The bond or bonds required of the licensee are
 
 7           canceled, become void, impaired, or unenforceable for
 
 8           any reason; or
 
 9      (3)  In the opinion of the department, collection of any
 
10           amounts unpaid or due from the licensee under this
 
11           chapter is jeopardized.
 
12      §245-L  Penalty for failure to make timely payment.  A
 
13 licensee who fails to pay any amount owing for the purchase of
 
14 stamps within the time required shall pay a penalty of ten per
 
15 cent of the amount due in addition to the amount due plus
 
16 interest at the rate specified in section 231-39, from the date
 
17 on which the amount became due and payable until the date of
 
18 payment.
 
19      §245-M  Unused stamps.  The department shall adopt rules
 
20 pursuant to chapter 91 for a refund or credit to a licensee in
 
21 the amount of the denominated values of any unused stamps.
 
22      §245-N  Cigarettes and tobacco products shipped outside the
 
23 State for sale or use outside the State; refund or credit of
 

 


 

Page 6                                                     176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1 taxes.(a)  The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter
 
 2 91 to provide a tobacco tax refund or credit to a licensee who
 
 3 has paid a tobacco tax on the distribution of cigarettes or
 
 4 tobacco products that are shipped to a point outside the State
 
 5 for subsequent sale or use outside the State.
 
 6      (b)  This section shall not apply to cigarettes or tobacco
 
 7 products that are distributed in this State to consumers and that
 
 8 are subsequently taken outside the State.
 
 9      §245-O  Monthly report on distributions of cigarettes and
 
10 tobacco products, and purchases of stamps.(a)  On or before the
 
11 last day of each month, every licensee shall file, on forms
 
12 prescribed by the department, a report of the licensee's
 
13 distributions of cigarettes and purchases of stamps during the
 
14 preceding month, and any other information that the department
 
15 may require to carry out this section.
 
16      (b)  On or before the last day of each month, every licensee
 
17 shall file, on forms prescribed by the department, a report of
 
18 the licensee's distributions of tobacco products and the
 
19 wholesale costs of tobacco products during the preceding month,
 
20 and any other information that the department may require to
 
21 carry out this section.
 
22      §245-P  Counterfeiting stamps.  Any person who:
 
23      (1)  Falsely or fraudulently makes, forges, alters, reuses,
 

 
Page 7                                                     176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1           or counterfeits any stamp provided for or authorized
 
 2           under this part;
 
 3      (2)  Causes any stamp to be falsely or fraudulently made,
 
 4           forged, altered, reused, or counterfeited; or
 
 5      (3)  Knowingly and wilfully utters, publishes, passes, or
 
 6           tenders as genuine, any false, forged, altered, reused,
 
 7           or counterfeited stamp,
 
 8 is guilty of a class B felony and shall be imprisoned for not
 
 9 less than one year and not more than ten years, and may be fined
 
10 not more than $50,000, or both.
 
11      §245-Q  Sale or purchase of packages of cigarettes without
 
12 stamps; fines and penalties.(a)  Beginning September 1, 2000, a
 
13 person who knowingly possesses, keeps, stores, acquires,
 
14 transports, or retains for the purpose of sale, or sells or
 
15 offers to sell, three thousand or more cigarettes with an
 
16 aggregate wholesale price of $250 or more, to which there are not
 
17 affixed the stamps required under this part, regardless of the
 
18 source of, or method of obtaining the cigarettes, is guilty of a
 
19 class C felony, and upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not
 
20 more than $10,000, and may be imprisoned not less than one year
 
21 and not more than five years, or both; provided that a
 
22 corporation shall be fined not more than $50,000.
 
23      (b)  Beginning September 1, 2000, a person who knowingly
 

 
Page 8                                                     176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1 possesses, keeps, stores, acquires, transports, or retains for
 
 2 the purpose of sale, or sells or offers to sell, one thousand two
 
 3 hundred or more, but not more than two thousand nine hundred
 
 4 ninety-nine, cigarettes with an aggregate wholesale value of $100
 
 5 or more, but less than $250, to which there are not affixed the
 
 6 stamps required under this part, regardless of the source of, or
 
 7 method of obtaining the cigarettes, is guilty of a misdemeanor,
 
 8 and upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $5,000,
 
 9 and may be imprisoned not more than one year, or both; provided
 
10 that a corporation shall be fined not more than $25,000.
 
11      (c)  Beginning September 1, 2000, a person who knowingly
 
12 violates a provision of this part for which a criminal punishment
 
13 is not otherwise provided is guilty of a misdemeanor, and may be
 
14 fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than one year,
 
15 or both.
 
16      §245-R  Vending unstamped cigarettes; offense; punishment.
 
17 Beginning September 1, 2000, a person in possession or control
 
18 of, or having access to, a cigarette vending machine, who
 
19 knowingly or wilfully places for sale in the vending machine any
 
20 cigarettes not contained in packages to which are affixed Hawaii
 
21 tax stamps, shall be guilty of a class C felony, and upon
 
22 conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $10,000, and may
 
23 be imprisoned not less than one year and not more than ten years,
 

 
Page 9                                                     176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1 or both; provided that a corporation shall be fined not more than
 
 2 $50,000.
 
 3      §245-S  Enforcement; injunction; disposition of fines.(a)
 
 4 Enforcement of this part shall be under the concurrent
 
 5 jurisdiction of the county liquor commissions, attorney general,
 
 6 prosecuting attorney, and police department of each county.
 
 7      (b)  Notwithstanding the existence of other remedies at law,
 
 8 the attorney general or prosecuting attorney may apply for, and
 
 9 the court may grant, a temporary or permanent injunction
 
10 restraining any person from violating or continuing to violate
 
11 this part.  The injunction shall be issued without bond.
 
12      (c)  Where a county police department, working with either
 
13 the attorney general or prosecuting attorney, initiates and
 
14 conducts an investigation resulting in the imposition and
 
15 collection of a criminal fine pursuant to this part, one hundred
 
16 per cent of the fine shall be equally distributed between the
 
17 police department whose officers or employees initiated and
 
18 conducted the investigation, and either the office of the
 
19 attorney general or of the prosecuting attorney, whichever
 
20 obtained the underlying conviction.
 
21      §245-T  Liquor commission hearing, counterfeiting stamps,
 
22 or selling, purchasing, or vending unstamped cigarettes.(a)
 
23 The liquor commission or liquor control adjudication board may
 

 
Page 10                                                    176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1 assess and collect a fine against, or reprimand any person who
 
 2 counterfeits Hawaii tax stamps, or sells, purchases, or vends
 
 3 unstamped cigarettes in violation of this part or of any rule
 
 4 applicable thereto.  Any reprimand or fine imposed by the
 
 5 commission or board pursuant to this section shall be in addition
 
 6 to any other fine that may be imposed by law.  The fine assessed
 
 7 and collected pursuant to this section shall not exceed the sum
 
 8 of $2,000 for each violation.
 
 9      (b)  In every case where proceedings under this section in
 
10 which a fine may be imposed are conducted, the person subject to
 
11 those proceedings shall be entitled to notice and hearing in
 
12 conformity with chapter 91.  The person shall be entitled to be
 
13 heard in person or through counsel, and shall be given a full and
 
14 fair opportunity to present facts showing that the alleged cause
 
15 or causes for the proposed action do not exist, or to show any
 
16 other reason why no fine should be imposed.  Testimony taken at
 
17 the hearing shall be under oath and recorded stenographically, or
 
18 by machine.  The parties shall not be bound by strict rules of
 
19 evidence.  At the request of the person subject to the
 
20 proceedings, certified copies of any transcript and of any other
 
21 record made of, or at the hearing, shall be provided upon payment
 
22 by the requester of the costs of providing the certified copies.
 
23      (c)  The notice required by this section shall be served in
 

 
Page 11                                                    176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1 the following manner:
 
 2      (1)  Written notice of the violation shall be given to the
 
 3           person charged with the violation within a reasonable
 
 4           period of time after the alleged violation is
 
 5           discovered, and the person charged shall be requested
 
 6           to acknowledge receipt of the notice;
 
 7      (2)  If the person charged cannot be found after diligent
 
 8           search, notice may be served by leaving a certified
 
 9           copy of the written notice at the person's dwelling
 
10           house or usual place of abode with any person of
 
11           suitable age and discretion residing therein;
 
12      (3)  If the person charged cannot be found after diligent
 
13           search, and service cannot be made, then service may be
 
14           made by mailing a certified copy of the written notice
 
15           by way of the United States post office certified mail,
 
16           postage prepaid, and addressed to the person at the
 
17           person's last known residence address; and
 
18      (4)  Where a partnership, corporation, unincorporated
 
19           association, or limited liability company is charged,
 
20           service may be made upon any partner, officer, or
 
21           member thereof.
 
22      §245-U  Seizure and confiscation of unstamped cigarettes.
 
23 The county liquor commissions, attorney general, prosecuting
 

 
Page 12                                                    176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1 attorney, and the police department of each of the counties may
 
 2 seize and confiscate any cigarette, package of cigarettes, or
 
 3 carton of cigarettes which is possessed, kept, stored, acquired,
 
 4 transported, or retained for the purpose of sale, or sold or
 
 5 offered for sale in violation of this part, subject to the
 
 6 requirements of chapter 281.
 
 7      §245-V  Arrest; abetters.  The owner, keeper, and any person
 
 8 having custody of any cigarette, package of cigarettes, or carton
 
 9 of cigarettes seized as provided in section 245-U, may be
 
10 arrested without necessity of warrant and brought before the
 
11 district court of the circuit in which the seizure occurred.  If
 
12 the owner or keeper of the cigarette, package of cigarettes, or
 
13 carton of cigarettes seized is unknown to the police officer
 
14 making the seizure, or if no person is found in apparent
 
15 possession or custody of them, the police officer may arrest and
 
16 bring before the court the owner or occupant of the building,
 
17 place, or premises, or the driver, operator, owner, or other
 
18 person in charge of the conveyance in which the cigarette,
 
19 package of cigarettes, or carton of cigarettes is found, if such
 
20 person is known or can be ascertained.  Any person who has
 
21 knowingly engaged in, aided, assisted, or abetted the obtaining,
 
22 keeping, or sale of any cigarette, package of cigarettes, or
 
23 carton of cigarettes seized as provided in section 245-U, or has
 

 
Page 13                                                    176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1 been privy thereto, or has knowingly permitted the use of any
 
 2 place, building, premises, or conveyance for such unlawful
 
 3 purpose, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and be punished as
 
 4 provided in section 245-Q(c).
 
 5      §245-W  Forfeitures; disposition.(a)  Any cigarette,
 
 6 package of cigarettes, or carton of cigarettes unlawfully
 
 7 possessed, kept, stored, acquired, transported, or retained for
 
 8 the purpose of sale, or sold or offered for sale, in violation of
 
 9 this part, may be ordered forfeited pursuant to chapter 281 by an
 
10 appropriate administrative or judicial proceeding. 
 
11      (b)  Any cigarette, package of cigarettes, or carton of
 
12 cigarettes forfeited pursuant to this section shall be sold to a
 
13 licensed wholesaler or dealer.
 
14      (c)  All proceeds from the sale of any cigarette, package of
 
15 cigarettes, or carton of cigarettes forfeited as provided in this
 
16 section, after payment of expenses of administration and sale,
 
17 shall be distributed equally between:
 
18      (1)  Either the county police department or county liquor
 
19           commission whose officers or investigators and
 
20           employees initiated and conducted an investigation
 
21           resulting in the forfeiture and sale of cigarettes
 
22           pursuant to this section; and
 
23      (2)  The attorney general or prosecuting attorney who
 

 
Page 14                                                    176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1           instituted the action producing the forfeiture.
 
 2      (d)  Money distributed to the county liquor commissions,
 
 3 county police departments, attorney general, or prosecuting
 
 4 attorney shall be used for law enforcement purposes, and shall
 
 5 complement but not supplant the funds regularly appropriated for
 
 6 such purposes.
 
 7      §245-X  Appeals.  A claimant of a cigarette, package of
 
 8 cigarettes, or carton of cigarettes forfeited pursuant to section
 
 9 245-W, may appeal the forfeiture in the same manner as appeals
 
10 are allowed in other cases governed by chapter 281.  If the
 
11 claimant fails to appear, or to diligently prosecute the appeal,
 
12 or fails to secure a reversal of the judgment in the appellate
 
13 court, the judgment appealed from shall be carried out.
 
14      §245-Y  Claims.  If the owner or possessor of any cigarette,
 
15 package of cigarettes, or carton of cigarettes seized under this
 
16 section appears and makes claim to the item, the owner or
 
17 possessor shall file with the court before whom the proceedings
 
18 are pending, a claim in writing, setting forth the claimant's
 
19 interest therein, and the reason why the items claimed should not
 
20 be forfeited.  The claimant shall also give bond in favor of the
 
21 State, sufficient in amount and sureties, as required by the
 
22 court, and conditioned so that if the claim is diligently
 
23 prosecuted and decided against the claimant, the claimant shall
 

 
Page 15                                                    176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1 pay the costs of the proceedings conducted to resolve the claim.
 
 2 If the judgment is against the claimant, the cigarette, package
 
 3 of cigarettes, carton of cigarettes, and all containers thereof
 
 4 shall be forfeited and shall be disposed of as provided in
 
 5 section 245-W.
 
 6      §245-Z  Prosecutions not to exclude other remedies affecting
 
 7 goods.  The criminal penalties and administrative fines
 
 8 authorized under this part shall be in addition to any
 
 9 forfeitures imposed pursuant to section 245-W.
 
10      §245-AA  Treatment of certain unstamped cigarettes.(a)
 
11 Beginning September 1, 2000, all persons in possession or control
 
12 of unstamped cigarettes shall destroy the unstamped cigarettes or
 
13 return the unstamped cigarettes to the manufacturers.
 
14      (b)  Failure to comply with subsection (a) shall subject the
 
15 violator to criminal penalties or administrative fines, or both,
 
16 under sections 245-Q, 245-R, 245-T, 245-U, 245-V, and 245-W."
 
17      SECTION 2.  Section 245-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
18 amended by adding eight new definitions to be appropriately
 
19 inserted and to read as follows:
 
20      ""Attorney general" means the attorney general or deputy
 
21 attorneys general of the State of Hawaii.
 
22      "Department" means the department of taxation.
 
23      "License" means any license granted under this chapter.
 

 
Page 16                                                    176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1      "Licensee" means a holder of a license granted under this
 
 2 chapter.
 
 3      "Liquor commission" means the liquor commission of each
 
 4 county.
 
 5      "Liquor control adjudication board" or "board" means a board
 
 6 established by county charter, within a county, that shall have
 
 7 the jurisdiction to hear and determine complaints or violations
 
 8 of chapter 281 and to impose penalties as may be provided in
 
 9 chapter 281.
 
10      "Prosecuting attorney" means the prosecuting attorney or
 
11 deputy prosecuting attorneys of the various counties.
 
12      "Stamp" means a stamp printed, manufactured, or made by
 
13 authority of the department, as provided in this chapter, which
 
14 is issued, sold, or circulated by the department, and by the use
 
15 of which the tax levied under this chapter is paid."
 
16      SECTION 3.  Section 245-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
17 amended to read as follows:
 
18      "§245-3  Taxes[; limitations].(a)  Every [wholesaler or
 
19 dealer,] licensee, in addition to any other taxes provided by
 
20 law, shall pay for the privilege of conducting business and other
 
21 activities in the State an:
 
22      (1)  Excise tax equal to[:
 
23           (A)  4.00 cents for each cigarette sold, used, or
 

 
Page 17                                                    176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1                possessed by the wholesaler or dealer, after
 
 2                August 31, 1997; and
 
 3           (B)] 5.00 cents for each cigarette sold, used, or
 
 4                possessed by a [wholesaler or dealer] licensee
 
 5                after June 30, 1998,
 
 6           whether or not sold at wholesale, or if not sold then
 
 7           at the same rate upon the use by the wholesaler or
 
 8           dealer; and
 
 9      (2)  Excise tax equal to forty per cent of the wholesale
 
10           price of each article or item of tobacco products sold
 
11           by the [wholesaler or dealer,] licensee, whether or not
 
12           sold at wholesale, or if not sold then at the same rate
 
13           upon the use by the [wholesaler or dealer] licensee.
 
14      Where the tax imposed has been paid on cigarettes or tobacco
 
15 products which thereafter become the subject of a casualty loss
 
16 deduction allowable under chapter 235, the tax paid shall be
 
17 refunded or credited to the account of the [wholesaler or
 
18 dealer.] licensee.   In applying the tax[,] to tobacco products,
 
19 the tax shall be applied against the latest of the activities of
 
20 selling, using, or possessing.  The tax shall be imposed at the
 
21 time of the last of the following activities to occur:  the sale;
 
22 the use; or the possession of [cigarettes or] tobacco products.
 
23 The tax shall be applied to cigarettes through the use of stamps.
 

 
Page 18                                                    176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1      (b)  The taxes, however, are subject to the following
 
 2 limitations:
 
 3      (1)  The measure of the taxes shall not include any
 
 4           cigarettes or tobacco products exempted, and so long as
 
 5           the same are exempted, from the imposition of taxes by
 
 6           the Constitution or laws of the United States; and
 
 7      (2)  The taxes shall be paid only once in respect of the
 
 8           same cigarettes or tobacco product.  This limitation
 
 9           shall not prohibit the imposition of the excise tax on
 
10           receipts from sales of tobacco products under
 
11           subsection (a)(2); provided that the amount subject to
 
12           the tax on each sale shall not include amounts
 
13           previously taxed under this chapter.
 
14      (c)       cents of the cigarette tax assessed after May 1,
 
15 2000, shall be paid to the county liquor commissions as follows:
 
16           (1)       per cent shall be paid to the liquor
 
17                commission for the city and county of Honolulu;
 
18           (2)       per cent shall be paid to the liquor
 
19                commission for the county of Hawaii;
 
20           (3)       per cent shall be paid to the liquor
 
21                commission for the county of Maui; and
 
22           (4)      per cent shall be paid to the liquor
 
23                commission for the county of Kauai."
 

 
Page 19                                                    176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1      SECTION 4.  Section 245-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 2 amended to read as follows:
 
 3      "§245-5  Returns.  Every licensee, on or before the last day
 
 4 of each month, shall file with the department [of taxation] a
 
 5 return showing the cigarettes and tobacco products sold,
 
 6 possessed, or used by the licensee during the preceding calendar
 
 7 month and of the taxes chargeable against the taxpayer in
 
 8 accordance with this chapter.  The form of the return shall be
 
 9 prescribed by the department and shall [contain such information,
 
10 including] include a separate statement of the number and
 
11 wholesale price of cigarettes, the amount of stamps purchased and
 
12 used, and the wholesale price of tobacco products, sold,
 
13 possessed, or used, [as it] and any other information that the
 
14 department may deem necessary for the proper administration of
 
15 this chapter."
 
16      SECTION 5.  Section 245-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
17 amended to read as follows:
 
18      "§245-6  Payment of taxes; penalties.  At the time of the
 
19 filing of the return required under section 245-5 and within the
 
20 time prescribed therefor, each licensee shall pay to the
 
21 department [of taxation] the taxes imposed by this chapter,
 
22 required to be shown by the return[.], including the unpaid
 
23 amount of taxes imposed by this chapter.
 

 
Page 20                                                    176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1      Penalties and interest shall be added to and become a part
 
 2 of the taxes, when and as provided by section 231-39."
 
 3      SECTION 6.  Section 245-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 4 amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
 
 5      "(a)  Every [wholesaler and dealer] licensee shall keep a
 
 6 record of [every]:
 
 7      (1)  Every sale or use of cigarettes and tobacco products by
 
 8           the [wholesaler or dealer, the] licensee;
 
 9      (2)  The number and wholesale price of cigarettes[, and
 
10           the];
 
11      (3)  The wholesale price of tobacco products, sold,
 
12           possessed, or used[, and of the];
 
13      (4)  The taxes payable [thereon,] on tobacco products sold,
 
14           possessed, or used, if any[,]; and
 
15      (5)  The amount of stamps purchased and used,
 
16 in such form as the department [of taxation] may prescribe.  The
 
17 records shall be offered for inspection and examination at any
 
18 time upon demand by the department and shall be preserved for a
 
19 period of five years, except that the department, in writing, may
 
20 consent to their destruction within the five-year period or may
 
21 require that they be kept longer.  The department, by rule, may
 
22 require the licensee to keep such other records as it may deem
 
23 necessary for the proper enforcement of this chapter."
 

 
Page 21                                                    176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1      SECTION 7.  Section 245-15, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 2 amended to read as follows:
 
 3      "§245-15  Disposition of revenues.  All moneys collected
 
 4 pursuant to this chapter shall be paid into the state treasury as
 
 5 state realizations to be kept and accounted for as provided by
 
 6 law[.], except for the amounts designated by:
 
 7      (1)  Sections 245-S, 245-T, and 245-W, for distribution to
 
 8           the county liquor commissions, the county police
 
 9           departments, or the prosecuting attorney; and
 
10      (2)  Section 245-3(c) to be paid to the county liquor
 
11           commissions."
 
12      SECTION 8.  Section 281-17, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
13 amended to read as follows:
 
14      "§281-17  Jurisdiction and powers.  The liquor commission,
 
15 within its own county, shall have the sole jurisdiction, power,
 
16 authority, and discretion, subject only to this chapter[:] and
 
17 chapter 245:
 
18      (1)  To grant, refuse, suspend, and revoke any licenses for
 
19           the manufacture, importation, and sale of liquors;
 
20      (2)  To take appropriate action against a person who,
 
21           directly or indirectly, manufactures or sells any
 
22           liquor without being authorized pursuant to this
 
23           chapter; provided that in counties which have
 

 
Page 22                                                    176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1           established by charter a liquor control adjudication
 
 2           board, the board shall have the jurisdiction, power,
 
 3           authority, and discretion to hear and determine
 
 4           administrative complaints of the director regarding
 
 5           violations of the liquor laws of the State or of the
 
 6           rules of the liquor commission, and impose penalties
 
 7           [[]for[]] violations thereof as may be provided by law;
 
 8      (3)  To take appropriate action against a person who
 
 9           counterfeits stamps, or sells, purchases, or vends
 
10           unstamped cigarette packages in violation of chapter
 
11           245 or any rule thereof;
 
12     [(3)] (4)  To control, supervise, and regulate the
 
13           manufacture, importation, and sale of liquors by
 
14           investigation, enforcement, and education; provided
 
15           that any educational program shall be limited to
 
16           licensees and their employees and shall be financed
 
17           through the money collected from the assessment of
 
18           fines against licensees;
 
19     [(4)] (5)  From time to time to make, amend, and repeal such
 
20           rules, not inconsistent with this chapter, as in the
 
21           judgment of the commission seem appropriate for
 
22           carrying out this chapter and for the efficient
 
23           administration thereof, and the proper conduct of the
 

 
Page 23                                                    176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1           business of all licensees, including every matter or
 
 2           thing required to be done or which may be done with the
 
 3           approval or consent or by order or under the direction
 
 4           or supervision of or as prescribed by the commission;
 
 5           which rules, when adopted as provided in chapter 91
 
 6           shall have the force and effect of law;
 
 7     [(5)] (6)  Subject to chapters 76 and 77, to appoint and
 
 8           remove an administrator, who may also be appointed an
 
 9           investigator and who shall be responsible for the
 
10           operations and activities of the staff.  The
 
11           administrator may hire and remove hearing officers,
 
12           investigators, and clerical or other assistants as its
 
13           business may from time to time require, to prescribe
 
14           their duties, and fix their compensation; to engage the
 
15           services of experts and persons engaged in the practice
 
16           of a profession, if deemed expedient.  Every
 
17           investigator, within the scope of the investigator's
 
18           duties, shall have the powers of a police officer.  No
 
19           employee of any commission, aside from exercising the
 
20           right to vote, shall support, advocate, or aid in the
 
21           election or defeat of any candidate for public office,
 
22           and upon satisfactory proof of such prohibited activity
 
23           the offender shall be summarily dismissed;
 

 
Page 24                                                    176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1     [(6)] (7)  To limit the number of licenses of any class or
 
 2           kind within the county, or the number of licenses of
 
 3           any class or kind to do business in any given locality,
 
 4           when in the judgment of the commission such limitations
 
 5           are in the public interest;
 
 6     [(7)] (8)  To prescribe the nature of the proof to be
 
 7           furnished, the notices to be given, and the conditions
 
 8           to be met or observed in case of the issuance of a
 
 9           duplicate license in place of one alleged to have been
 
10           lost or destroyed, including a requirement of any
 
11           indemnity deemed appropriate to the case;
 
12     [(8)] (9)  To fix the hours between which licensed premises
 
13           of any class or classes may regularly be open for the
 
14           transaction of business, which shall be uniform
 
15           throughout the county as to each class respectively;
 
16     [(9)] (10)  To prescribe all forms to be used for the
 
17           purposes of this chapter not otherwise provided for in
 
18           this chapter[,] or in chapter 245, and the character
 
19           and manner of keeping of books, records, and accounts
 
20           to be kept by chapter 281 or 245 licensees in any
 
21           matter pertaining to their business;
 
22    [(10)] (11)  To investigate violations of this chapter,
 
23           chapter 244D, and chapter 245 and, notwithstanding any
 

 
Page 25                                                    176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1           law to the contrary, violations of the applicable
 
 2           department of health's allowable noise levels, through
 
 3           its investigators or otherwise, to include covert
 
 4           operations, and to report violations to the prosecuting
 
 5           officer for prosecution and, where appropriate, the
 
 6           director of taxation to hear and determine complaints
 
 7           against any licensee;
 
 8    [(11)] (12)  To prescribe, by rule, the terms, conditions, and
 
 9           circumstances under which persons or any class of
 
10           persons may be employed by holders of licenses;
 
11    [(12)] (13)  To prescribe, by rule, the term of any license or
 
12           solicitor's and representative's permit authorized by
 
13           this chapter, the annual or prorated amount, the manner
 
14           of payment of fees for the licenses and permits, and
 
15           the amount of filing fees; and
 
16    [(13)] (14)  To prescribe, by rule, the circumstances and
 
17           penalty for the unauthorized manufacturing or selling
 
18           of any liquor.
 
19      Subject only to this chapter, the commission or board and
 
20 each member thereof shall have the same powers respecting the
 
21 administering of oaths, compelling the attendance of witnesses
 
22 and the production of documentary evidence, and examining the
 
23 witnesses as are possessed by a circuit court, except that the
 

 
Page 26                                                    176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1 commission or board and each member thereof shall not be bound by
 
 2 the strict legal rules of evidence.  In addition, the commission
 
 3 or board shall have the power to require the production of, and
 
 4 to examine any books, papers, and records of any [licensee]
 
 5 person licensed under this chapter or chapter 245, which may
 
 6 pertain to the licensee's business under the license or which may
 
 7 pertain to a matter at a hearing before the commission or board
 
 8 or to an investigation by the commission or board.
 
 9      The exercise by the commission or board of the power,
 
10 authority, and discretion vested in it pursuant to this chapter
 
11 shall be final and shall not be reviewable by or appealable to
 
12 any court or tribunal, except as otherwise provided in this
 
13 chapter or chapter 91."
 
14      SECTION 9.  Chapter 245, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended
 
15 by designating sections 245-1 to 245-15 as part I and inserting a
 
16 title before section 245-1 to read as follows:
 
17                   "PART I.  GENERAL PROVISIONS"
 
18      SECTION 10.  This Act does not affect the rights and duties
 
19 that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that
 
20 were begun, before its effective date.
 
21      SECTION 11.  In codifying the new part added to chapter 245,
 
22 Hawaii Revised Statutes, by section 1 of this Act, and referred
 
23 to in this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute
 

 
Page 27                                                    176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1 appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating
 
 2 the new sections in this Act.
 
 3      SECTION 12.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
 4 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $35,000, or so much
 
 5 thereof as may be necessary, for fiscal year 1999-2000, for
 
 6 start-up costs for implementing the cigarette stamp tax system,
 
 7 including a one year supply of stamps and stamp cylinder.
 
 8      The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Department of
 
 9 Taxation for purposes of this Act.
 
10      SECTION 13.  The director of taxation shall conduct a study
 
11 to determine if this Act has the effect of reducing the loss of
 
12 cigarette tax revenue to the State from the sale of untaxed
 
13 cigarettes.  The director shall report findings and
 
14 recommendations to the legislature no later than twenty days
 
15 prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2005 or an
 
16 earlier session if circumstances warrant an earlier report in the
 
17 discretion of the director.
 
18      SECTION 14.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed.
 
19 New statutory material is underscored.
 
20      SECTION 15.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval;
 
21 provided that section 12 shall take effect on July 1, 1999;
 
22 provided further that this Act shall be repealed on June 30,
 
23 2005, and sections 245-1, 245-3, 245-5, 245-6, 245-8, 245-15, and
 

 
Page 28                                                    176
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1 281-17, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form
 
 2 in which they read on the day before the approval of this Act.