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 state
auditor that the law has not reduced the loss of tax revenue due
to the illegal sale of untaxed cigarettes.  (SD1)


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        788
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           S.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                     A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO TAXATION.



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 under section 245-2 through the use of
 
 8 stamps.
 
 9      (b)  The department shall furnish stamps for sale.
 
10      §245-B  Sales through financial institutions; rules.  The
 
11 department may enter into agreements to permit the sale of stamps
 
12 by designated financial institutions located within the State.  A
 
13 list of financial institutions designated to sell stamps shall be
 
14 made available at the department.  The department may adopt rules
 
15 as necessary for this purpose pursuant to chapter 91.
 
16      §245-C  Designs, specifications, and denominations of
 
17 stamps; affixation; cancellation.  Stamps shall be of designs,
 
18 specifications, and denominations that may be prescribed by the
 
19 department.  The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter
 

 
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 1 91, on the method and manner in which stamps are to be affixed to
 
 2 packages of cigarettes, and may provide for the cancellation of
 
 3 stamps.
 
 4      §245-D  Affixation prior to distribution.(a)  Beginning
 
 5 April 15, 2000, a licensee, or designee of a licensee, may apply
 
 6 to the department for stamps as provided in this section.
 
 7      (b)  Beginning May 1, 2000, a licensee or the authorized
 
 8 agent or designee of a licensee, shall affix a stamp to each
 
 9 individual package of cigarettes, prior to 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
 

 


 

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 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      per cent to pay for the cost to
 
16 the State of providing the stamps; provided that the department
 
17 may adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 91, to modify the state
 
18 stamp fee to reflect the actual costs incurred by the State in
 
19 providing the stamps.
 
20      (b)  Licensees may include in the price of cigarettes to
 
21 which there is affixed the stamp required under this part, a
 
22 distributor's stamp fee of      per cent of the denominated value
 
23 of the stamp, to cover the stamp fee paid to the State as well as
 

 
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 1 other costs incurred by licensees in affixing the stamp; provided
 
 2 that the department may adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 91, to
 
 3 modify the distributor's fee to reflect the actual costs incurred
 
 4 by licensees to acquire and affix the stamps.
 
 5      (c)  Payment for stamps shall be made at the time of
 
 6 purchase; provided that the department may adopt rules pursuant
 
 7 to chapter 91 to permit a licensee to defer payments therefor as
 
 8 provided for in section 245-I.
 
 9      §245-I  Application to fix maximum amount and time of
 
10 deferred-payment purchases; bonding; designation of sales
 
11 locations.(a)  A licensee may apply to the department to set
 
12 the maximum amount of deferred-payment purchases of stamps that
 
13 may remain unpaid by the licensee during the time specified under
 
14 section 245-J.  Upon receipt of the application and any bond
 
15 required pursuant to subsection (b), the department shall set the
 
16 amount for deferred-payment purchases.
 
17      (b)  The department of taxation may require that a licensee
 
18 who submits an application for deferred-payment purchases of
 
19 stamps post a bond in an amount of up to one hundred per cent of
 
20 the maximum amount of allowed deferred-payment purchases as a
 
21 condition of approval of the application by the department.
 
22      §245-J  Time for payment of deferred-payment purchases;
 
23 manner of payment.  Amounts owing for stamps purchased on the
 

 
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 1 deferred-payment basis in any calendar month shall be due and
 
 2 payable on or before the last day of the following calendar
 
 3 month.  Payment shall be made by a remittance payable to the
 
 4 department.
 
 5      §245-K  Suspension of privilege to purchase on deferred-
 
 6 payment basis or reduction of amount of permissible purchases.
 
 7 The department may suspend, without prior notice, a licensee's
 
 8 privilege to purchase stamps on the deferred-payment basis, or
 
 9 may reduce the amount of deferred-payment purchases allowed the
 
10 licensee, if:
 
11      (1)  The licensee fails to promptly pay for stamps when
 
12           payment is due;
 
13      (2)  The bond or bonds required of the licensee are
 
14           canceled, become void, impaired, or unenforceable for
 
15           any reason; or
 
16      (3)  In the opinion of the department, collection of any
 
17           amounts unpaid or due from the licensee under this
 
18           chapter is jeopardized.
 
19      §245-L  Penalty for failure to make timely payment.  A
 
20 licensee who fails to pay any amount owing for the purchase of
 
21 stamps within the time required shall pay a penalty of ten per
 
22 cent of the amount due in addition to the amount due plus
 
23 interest at the rate specified in section 231-39, from the date
 

 
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 1 on which the amount became due and payable until the date of
 
 2 payment.
 
 3      §245-M  Unused stamps.  The department shall adopt rules
 
 4 pursuant to chapter 91 for a refund or credit to a licensee in
 
 5 the amount of the denominated values of any unused stamps.
 
 6      §245-N  Cigarettes and tobacco products shipped outside the
 
 7 state for sale or use outside state; refund or credit of taxes.
 
 8 (a)  The department, shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to
 
 9 refund or credit to a licensee the tobacco tax imposed on
 
10 cigarettes and tobacco products pursuant to this chapter, paid on
 
11 the distribution of cigarettes or tobacco products that are
 
12 shipped to a point outside the State for subsequent sale or use
 
13 outside the State.
 
14      (b)  This section shall not apply to cigarettes or tobacco
 
15 products that are distributed in this State to consumers and
 
16 which are subsequently taken outside the State.
 
17      §245-O  Monthly report on distributions of cigarettes and
 
18 tobacco products, and purchases of stamps.(a)  On or before the
 
19 last day of each month, every licensee shall file, on forms
 
20 prescribed by the department, a report of the licensee's
 
21 distributions of cigarettes and purchases of stamps during the
 
22 preceding month, and any other information that the department
 
23 may require to carry out this section.
 

 
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 1      (b)  On or before the last day of each month, every licensee
 
 2 shall file, on forms prescribed by the department, a report of
 
 3 the licensee's distributions of tobacco products and the
 
 4 wholesale costs of tobacco products during the preceding month,
 
 5 and any other information that the department may require to
 
 6 carry out this section.
 
 7      §245-P  Counterfeiting stamps.  Any person who:
 
 8      (1)  Falsely or fraudulently makes, forges, alters, reuses,
 
 9           or counterfeits, any stamp provided for or authorized
 
10           under this part;
 
11      (2)  Causes or procures to be falsely or fraudulently made,
 
12           forged, altered, reused, or counterfeited, any stamp;
 
13           or
 
14      (3)  Knowingly and wilfully utters, publishes, passes, or
 
15           tenders as genuine, any false, forged, altered, reused,
 
16           or counterfeited stamp,
 
17 is guilty of a class B felony and shall be imprisoned for not
 
18 less than one year and not more than ten years, and may be fined
 
19 not more than $50,000, or both.
 
20      §245-Q  Sale or purchase of packages of cigarettes without
 
21 stamps; fines and penalties.(a)  Beginning September 1, 2000, a
 
22 person who knowingly possesses, keeps, stores, acquires,
 
23 transports, or retains for the purpose of sale, or sells or
 

 
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 1 offers to sell, three thousand or more cigarettes with an
 
 2 aggregate wholesale price of $250 or more, to which there are not
 
 3 affixed the stamps required under this part, regardless of the
 
 4 source of, or method of obtaining the cigarettes, shall be guilty
 
 5 of a class C felony, and upon conviction thereof, shall be fined
 
 6 not more than $10,000, and may be imprisoned not less than one
 
 7 year and not more than five years, or both; provided that a
 
 8 corporation shall be fined not more than $50,000.
 
 9      (b)  Beginning September 1, 2000, a person who knowingly
 
10 possesses, keeps, stores, acquires, transports, or retains for
 
11 the purpose of sale, or sells or offers to sell, one thousand two
 
12 hundred or more, but not more than two thousand nine hundred
 
13 ninety-nine, cigarettes with an aggregate wholesale value of $100
 
14 or more, but less than $250, to which there are not affixed the
 
15 stamps required by this part, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
 
16 punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment of
 
17 not more than one year, or both; provided that a corporation
 
18 shall be fined not more than $25,000.
 
19      (c)  Beginning September 1, 2000, a person who knowingly
 
20 violates a provision of this part for which a criminal punishment
 
21 is not otherwise provided is guilty of a misdemeanor, and may be
 
22 fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than one year,
 
23 or both.
 

 
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 1      §245-R  Vending unstamped cigarettes; offense; punishment.
 
 2 Beginning September 1, 2000, a person in possession or control
 
 3 of, or having access to, a cigarette vending machine, who
 
 4 knowingly or wilfully places for sale in the vending machine any
 
 5 cigarettes not contained in packages to which are affixed Hawaii
 
 6 tax stamps, shall be guilty of a class C felony, and upon
 
 7 conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $10,000, and may
 
 8 be imprisoned not less than one year and not more than ten years,
 
 9 or both; provided that a corporation shall be fined not more than
 
10 $50,000.
 
11      §245-S  Enforcement; injunction; disposition of fines.(a)
 
12 Enforcement of this part shall be under the concurrent
 
13 jurisdiction of the county liquor commissions, attorney general,
 
14 prosecuting attorney, and police department of each county.
 
15      (b)  Notwithstanding the existence of other remedies at law,
 
16 the attorney general or prosecuting attorney may apply for, and
 
17 the court may grant, a temporary or permanent injunction
 
18 restraining any person from violating or continuing to violate
 
19 this part.  The injunction shall be issued without bond.
 
20      (c)  Where a county police department, working with either
 
21 the attorney general or prosecuting attorney, initiates and
 
22 conducts an investigation resulting in the imposition and
 
23 collection of a criminal fine pursuant to this part, one hundred
 

 
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 1 per cent of the fine shall be equally distributed between the
 
 2 police department whose officers or employees initiated and
 
 3 conducted the investigation, and either the office of the
 
 4 attorney general or of the prosecuting attorney, whichever
 
 5 obtained the underlying conviction.
 
 6      §245-T  Liquor commission hearing, counterfeiting stamps,
 
 7 or selling, purchasing, or vending unstamped cigarettes.(a)
 
 8 The liquor commission or liquor control adjudication board may
 
 9 assess and collect a fine against, or reprimand any person who
 
10 counterfeits stamps, or sells, purchases, or vends unstamped
 
11 cigarettes in violation of this part or of any rule or regulation
 
12 applicable thereto.  Any reprimand or fine imposed by the
 
13 commission or board pursuant to this section shall be in addition
 
14 to any other fine that may be imposed by law.  The fine assessed
 
15 and collected pursuant to this section shall not exceed the sum
 
16 of $2,000 for each violation.
 
17      (b)  In every case where proceedings under this section in
 
18 which a fine may be imposed are conducted, the person subject to
 
19 those proceedings shall be entitled to notice and hearing in
 
20 conformity with chapter 91.  The person shall be entitled to be
 
21 heard in person or through counsel, and shall be given a full and
 
22 fair opportunity to present facts showing that the alleged cause
 
23 or causes for the proposed action do not exist, or to show any
 

 
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 1 other reason why no fine should be imposed.  Testimony taken at
 
 2 the hearing shall be under oath and recorded stenographically, or
 
 3 by machine.  The parties shall not be bound by strict rules of
 
 4 evidence.  At the request of the person subject to the
 
 5 proceedings, certified copies of any transcript and of any other
 
 6 record made of, or at the hearing, shall be provided upon payment
 
 7 by the requester of the costs of providing the certified copies.
 
 8      (c)  The notice required by this section shall be served in
 
 9 the following manner:
 
10      (1)  Written notice of the violation shall be given to the
 
11           person charged with the violation within a reasonable
 
12           period of time after the alleged violation is
 
13           discovered, and the person charged shall be requested
 
14           to acknowledge receipt of the notice;
 
15      (2)  If the person charged cannot be found after diligent
 
16           search, notice may be served by leaving a certified
 
17           copy of the written notice at the person's dwelling
 
18           house or usual place of abode with any person of
 
19           suitable age and discretion residing therein;
 
20      (3)  If the person charged cannot be found after diligent
 
21           search, and service cannot be made, then service may be
 
22           made by mailing a certified copy of the written notice
 
23           by way of the United States post office certified mail,
 

 
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 1           postage prepaid, and addressed to the person at the
 
 2           person's last known residence address; and
 
 3      (4)  Where a partnership, corporation, unincorporated
 
 4           association, or limited liability company is charged,
 
 5           service may be made upon any partner, officer, or
 
 6           member thereof.
 
 7      §245-U  Seizure and confiscation of unstamped cigarettes.
 
 8 The county liquor commissions, attorney general, prosecuting
 
 9 attorney, and the police department of each of the counties may
 
10 seize and confiscate any cigarette, package of cigarettes, or
 
11 carton of cigarettes which is possessed, kept, stored, acquired,
 
12 transported, or retained for the purpose of sale, or sold or
 
13 offered for sale in violation of this part, subject to the
 
14 requirements of chapters 281 and 712A.
 
15      §245-V  Arrest; abetters.  The owner, keeper, and any person
 
16 having custody of any cigarette, package of cigarettes, or carton
 
17 of cigarettes seized as provided in section 245-U, may be
 
18 arrested without necessity of warrant and brought before the
 
19 district court of the circuit in which the seizure occurred.  If
 
20 the owner or keeper of the cigarette, package of cigarettes, or
 
21 carton of cigarettes seized is unknown to the police officer
 
22 making the seizure, or if no person is found in apparent
 
23 possession or custody of the same, the police officer may arrest
 

 
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 1 and bring before the court the owner or occupant of the building,
 
 2 place, or premises, or the driver, operator, owner, or other
 
 3 person in charge of the conveyance in which the cigarette,
 
 4 package of cigarettes, or carton of cigarettes is found, if such
 
 5 person is known or can be ascertained.  Any person who has
 
 6 knowingly engaged in, aided, assisted, or abetted the obtaining,
 
 7 keeping, or sale of any cigarette, package of cigarettes, or
 
 8 carton of cigarettes seized as provided in section 245-U, or has
 
 9 been privy thereto, or has knowingly permitted the use of any
 
10 place, building, premises, or conveyance for such unlawful
 
11 purpose, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and be punished as
 
12 provided in section 245-Q(c).
 
13      §245-W  Forfeitures; disposition.(a)  Any cigarette,
 
14 package of cigarettes, or carton of cigarettes unlawfully
 
15 possessed, kept, stored, acquired, transported, or retained for
 
16 the purpose of sale, or sold or offered for sale, in violation of
 
17 this part, may be ordered forfeited pursuant to chapters 281 and
 
18 712A by an appropriate administrative or judicial proceeding. 
 
19      (b)  Any cigarette, package of cigarettes, or carton of
 
20 cigarettes forfeited pursuant to this section shall be sold to a
 
21 licensed wholesaler or dealer.
 
22      (c)  All proceeds from the sale of any cigarette, package of
 
23 cigarettes, or carton of cigarettes forfeited as provided in this
 

 
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 1 section, after payment of expenses of administration and sale,
 
 2 shall be distributed equally between:
 
 3      (1)  Either the county police department or county liquor
 
 4           commission whose officers or investigators and
 
 5           employees initiated and conducted an investigation
 
 6           resulting in the forfeiture and sale of cigarettes
 
 7           pursuant to this section; and
 
 8      (2)  The attorney general or prosecuting attorney who
 
 9           instituted the action producing the forfeiture.
 
10      (d)  Money distributed to the county liquor commissions,
 
11 county police departments, attorney general, or prosecuting
 
12 attorney shall be used for law enforcement purposes, and shall
 
13 complement but not supplant the funds regularly appropriated for
 
14 such purposes.
 
15      §245-X  Appeals.  A claimant of a cigarette, package of
 
16 cigarettes, or carton of cigarettes forfeited pursuant to section
 
17 245-W, may appeal the forfeiture in the same manner as appeals
 
18 are allowed in other cases governed by chapters 281 and 712A.  If
 
19 the claimant fails to appear, or to diligently prosecute the
 
20 appeal, or fails to secure a reversal of the judgment in the
 
21 appellate court, the judgment appealed from shall be carried out.
 
22      §245-Y  Claims.  If the owner or possessor of any cigarette,
 
23 package of cigarettes, or carton of cigarettes seized under this
 

 
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 1 section appears and makes claim to the same, the owner or
 
 2 possessor shall file with the court before whom the proceedings
 
 3 are pending, a claim in writing, setting forth the claimant's
 
 4 interest therein, and the reason why the the items claimed should
 
 5 not be adjudged forfeited.  The claimant shall also give bond in
 
 6 favor of the State, sufficient in amount and sureties, approved
 
 7 by the court, and conditioned that such claim will be diligently
 
 8 prosecuted and that if decided against the claimant, the claimant
 
 9 shall pay the costs of the proceedings conducted to resolve the
 
10 claim.  If the judgment is against the claimant, the cigarette,
 
11 package of cigarettes, carton of cigarettes, and all containers
 
12 thereof shall be adjudged forfeited and shall be disposed of as
 
13 provided in this part.  Judgment shall be rendered against the
 
14 claimant for all costs of the proceedings conducted to resolve
 
15 the claimant's claim.
 
16      §245-Z  Prosecutions not to exclude other remedies affecting
 
17 goods.  The criminal penalties and administrative fines
 
18 authorized under this part, shall be in addition to any
 
19 forfeitures imposed pursuant to section 245-W."
 
20      SECTION 2.  Section 245-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
21 amended by adding eight new definitions to be appropriately
 
22 inserted and to read as follows:
 
23      ""Attorney general" means the attorney general or deputy
 

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

 
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 1 activities in the State an:
 
 2      (1)  Excise tax equal to[:
 
 3           (A)  4.00 cents for each cigarette sold, used or
 
 4                possessed by the wholesaler or dealer, after
 
 5                August 31, 1997; and
 
 6           (B)] 5.00 cents for each cigarette sold, used, or
 
 7                possessed by a [wholesaler or dealer] licensee,
 
 8                after June 30, 1998,
 
 9           whether or not sold at wholesale, or if not sold then
 
10           at the same rate upon the use by the wholesaler or
 
11           dealer; and
 
12      (2)  Excise tax equal to forty per cent of the wholesale
 
13           price of each article or item of tobacco products sold
 
14           by the [wholesaler or dealer,] licensee, whether or not
 
15           sold at wholesale, or if not sold then at the same rate
 
16           upon the use by the [wholesaler or dealer] licensee.
 
17      Where the tax imposed has been paid on cigarettes or tobacco
 
18 products which thereafter become the subject of a casualty loss
 
19 deduction allowable under chapter 235, the tax paid shall be
 
20 refunded or credited to the account of the [wholesaler or
 
21 dealer.] licensee.  In applying the tax[,] to tobacco products,
 
22 the tax shall be applied against the latest of the activities of
 
23 selling, using, or possessing.  The tax shall be imposed at the
 

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

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

 
Page 20                                                    788
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 1 department [of taxation] the taxes imposed by this chapter,
 
 2 required to be shown by the return[.], including the unpaid
 
 3 amount of taxes imposed by this chapter.
 
 4      Penalties and interest shall be added to and become a part
 
 5 of the taxes, when and as provided by section 231-39."
 
 6      SECTION 6.  Section 245-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 7 amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
 
 8      "(a)  Every [wholesaler and dealer] licensee shall keep a
 
 9 record of [every]:
 
10      (1)  Every sale or use of cigarettes and tobacco products by
 
11           the [wholesaler or dealer, the] licensee;
 
12      (2)  The number and wholesale price of cigarettes[, and
 
13           the];
 
14      (3)  The wholesale price of tobacco products, sold,
 
15           possessed, or used[, and of the];
 
16      (4)  The taxes payable [thereon,] on tobacco products sold,
 
17           possessed, or used, if any[,]; and
 
18      (5)  The amounts of stamps purchased and used,
 
19 in such form as the department [of taxation] may prescribe.  The
 
20 records shall be offered for inspection and examination at any
 
21 time upon demand by the department and shall be preserved for a
 
22 period of five years, except that the department, in writing, may
 
23 consent to their destruction within the five-year period or may
 

 
Page 21                                                    788
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 1 require that they be kept longer.  The department, by rule, may
 
 2 require the licensee to keep such other records as it may deem
 
 3 necessary for the proper enforcement of this chapter."
 
 4      SECTION 7.  Section 245-15, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 5 amended to read as follows:
 
 6      "§245-15  Disposition of revenues.  All moneys collected
 
 7 pursuant to this chapter shall be paid into the state treasury as
 
 8 state realizations to be kept and accounted for as provided by
 
 9 law[.], except for the amounts designated by:
 
10      (1)  Sections 245-S and 245-W, for distribution to the
 
11           county liquor commissions, the county police
 
12           departments, or the prosecuting attorney; and
 
13      (2)  Section 245-3(c) to be paid to the county liquor
 
14           commissions."
 
15      SECTION 8.  Section 281-17, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
16 amended to read as follows:
 
17      "§281-17  Jurisdiction and powers.  The liquor commission,
 
18 within its own county, shall have the sole jurisdiction, power,
 
19 authority, and discretion, subject only to this chapter[:] and
 
20 chapter 245:
 
21      (1)  To grant, refuse, suspend, and revoke any licenses for
 
22           the manufacture, importation, and sale of liquors;
 
23      (2)  To take appropriate action against a person who,
 

 
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 1           directly or indirectly, manufactures or sells any
 
 2           liquor without being authorized pursuant to this
 
 3           chapter; provided that in counties which have
 
 4           established by charter a liquor control adjudication
 
 5           board, the board shall have the jurisdiction, power,
 
 6           authority, and discretion to hear and determine
 
 7           administrative complaints of the director regarding
 
 8           violations of the liquor laws of the State or of the
 
 9           rules of the liquor commission, and impose penalties
 
10           for violations thereof as may be provided by law;
 
11      (3)  To take appropriate action against a person who
 
12           counterfeits stamps, or sells, purchases, or vends
 
13           unstamped cigarette packages in violation of chapter
 
14           245 or any rule thereof;
 
15     [(3)] (4)  To control, supervise, and regulate the
 
16           manufacture, importation, and sale of liquors by
 
17           investigation, enforcement, and education; provided
 
18           that any educational program shall be limited to
 
19           licensees and their employees and shall be financed
 
20           through the money collected from the assessment of
 
21           fines against licensees;
 
22     [(4)] (5)  From time to time to make, amend, and repeal such
 
23           rules, not inconsistent with this chapter, as in the
 

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

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

 
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 1           matter pertaining to their business;
 
 2    [(10)] (11)  To investigate violations of this chapter,
 
 3           chapter 244D, and chapter 245 and, notwithstanding any
 
 4           law to the contrary, violations of the applicable
 
 5           department of health's allowable noise levels, through
 
 6           its investigators or otherwise, to include covert
 
 7           operations, and to report violations to the prosecuting
 
 8           officer for prosecution and, where appropriate, the
 
 9           director of taxation to hear and determine complaints
 
10           against any licensee;
 
11    [(11)] (12)  To prescribe, by rule, the terms, conditions, and
 
12           circumstances under which persons or any class of
 
13           persons may be employed by holders of licenses;
 
14    [(12)] (13)  To prescribe, by rule, the term of any license or
 
15           solicitor's and representative's permit authorized by
 
16           this chapter, the annual or prorated amount, the manner
 
17           of payment of fees for the licenses and permits, and
 
18           the amount of filing fees; and
 
19    [(13)] (14)  To prescribe, by rule, the circumstances and
 
20           penalty for the unauthorized manufacturing of selling
 
21           of any liquor.
 
22    Subject only to this chapter, the commission or board and each
 
23 member thereof shall have the same powers respecting the
 

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

 
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 1 and referred to in this Act, the revisor of statutes shall
 
 2 substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in
 
 3 designating the new sections in this Act.
 
 4    SECTION 12.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed.
 
 5 New statutory material is underscored.
 
 6    SECTION 13.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval;
 
 7 provided that on June 30, 2005, this Act shall be repealed and
 
 8 sections 245-1, 245-3, 245-5, 245-6, 245-8, 245-15, and 281-17,
 
 9 Hawaii Revised Statutes, are reenacted in the form in which they
 
10 read on the day before the approval of this Act upon a finding by
 
11 the legislative auditor that this Act has not had the effect of
 
12 reducing the loss of cigarette tax revenue to the State from the
 
13 illegal sale of untaxed cigarettes.