Congress 107 - S 3035 - EPICS Act

Sponsor

Cosponsors

Topics

Advertising Agriculture and Food Cigarettes Civil actions and liability Commerce Consumer protection Credit cards Crime and Law Enforcement Data banks Drug abuse Electronic commerce Electronic mail systems Excise tax Facsimile transmission Families Fines (Penalties) Government Operations and Politics Government paperwork Government publicity Health Identification devices Injunctions Internet Interstate commerce Labeling Law Licenses Mail-order business Postal crimes Postal service Recidivists Restrictive trade practices Sales tax Science, Technology, Communications Smokeless tobacco Smoking and youth Social security numbers Social Welfare State laws Taxation Telemarketing Telephone Tobacco Transportation and Public Works Warning labels Web sites

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Votes

Summary

Eliminating Profiteering Through Illegal Cigarette Sales Act or EPICS Act - Prohibits the sale of tobacco products advertised through the Internet or other means to an individual under the legal age when such products are shipped by carrier in or affecting interstate commerce and the seller fails to comply with each of specified procedures. Includes in such procedures receiving a copy of a government-issued document providing the identity, address, and birth date of the buyer and a signed statement of certain confirmations of an order before any such products are so shipped.

Requires tobacco product advertising on the Internet to prominently display a warning label unless cigarettes are being sold to someone in the business of selling tobacco products. Deems violations of provisions of this Act regarding unlawful sales to minors to be unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce under the Federal Trade Commission Act, and imposes criminal penalties.

Authorizes a State attorney general and certain other persons to bring a civil action for injunctive relief to restrain a person from engaging, or continuing to engage, in a violation of provisions regarding unlawful sales to minors.

Requires a person taking a delivery sale of cigarettes to include a certain statement regarding taxes in a conspicuous manner. Imposes penalties for certain offenses in delivering cigarettes, including for failure to abide by excise and sales tax laws of States.

Permits a State attorney general and certain other persons to bring an action in U.S. District Court to prevent and restrain violations of this Act.

Classifies cigarettes as nonmailable.

Modifies penal provisions regarding trafficking in contraband cigarettes.

Actions

Oct 2, 2002

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9852-9854)
Oct 2, 2002

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9852)
Oct 2, 2002

Introduced in Senate

Amendments

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