SCS/SB 242 - This act requires all tobacco manufacturers whose cigarettes are sold in Missouri to report and certify to the Department of Revenue and the Attorney General's office by April 30 of each year that they are in compliance with the Tobacco Settlement Model Statute currently in Missouri law. In addition to the certification, manufacturers must also provide a list of "brand families", including the number of units sold for each family for the preceding year, the name and address of any other manufacturer of their brand families in the preceding or current calendar year, and other information to verify compliance with the model statute. Manufacturers must update their lists thirty days prior to any addition to or modification of its brand families through a supplemental certification to the director of the Department of Revenue. In addition to other certification requirements, each manufacturer must be registered to do business in the state or maintain an agent within the state for the purpose of service of process relating to the enforcement of the act. By July 1, 2008, the Director of the Department of Revenue must make available for public inspection or publish on the department's web site a list of all tobacco product manufacturers that have satisfied the certification requirements established in the act.
The director of the Department of Revenue and the attorney general are allowed to provide statistical information on tobacco sales in the state to outside entities to implement and enforce the provisions of the act.
Stamping agents (persons authorized to affix cigarette tax stamps to cigarette packages) are required to submit to the director an e-mail address for the receipt of notifications as required by the act and to submit various reports and documents as required by the department.
Various penalties and actions for failure to comply with the requirements of the act are included.
JASON ZAMKUS