H 4731 General Bill, By Simrill
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 16-17-500, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO UNLAWFULLY SUPPLYING MINORS WITH TOBACCO, CIGARETTES,
 CIGARETTE PAPER, OR A SUBSTITUTE OF THESE ITEMS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A LAW
 ENFORCEMENT AGENCY MAY CONFISCATE AND DESTROY A TOBACCO OR CIGARETTE PRODUCT
 FOUND IN THE POSSESSION OF A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.

   03/02/00  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-8
   03/02/00  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-9

TO AMEND SECTION 16-17-500, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO UNLAWFULLY SUPPLYING MINORS WITH TOBACCO, CIGARETTES, CIGARETTE PAPER, OR A SUBSTITUTE OF THESE ITEMS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY MAY CONFISCATE AND DESTROY A TOBACCO OR CIGARETTE PRODUCT FOUND IN THE POSSESSION OF A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Section 16-17-500 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 445 of 1996, is amended to read:

"Section 16-17-500. (A) It shall be is unlawful for any a person to sell, furnish, give, or provide any a minor under the age of eighteen years with cigarettes, tobacco, cigarette paper, or any a substitute of these items therefor. Any A person violating the provisions of this section, either in person, by agent, or in any other way, shall be is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon indictment and conviction, therefor shall must be punished as follows:

(1) for a first offense, by a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars;

(2) for a second offense, by a fine not exceeding fifty dollars; and

(3) for a third or subsequent offense, by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars or imprisonment for not more than one year nor less than sixty days, or both.

(B) One-half of any a fine imposed shall must be paid to the informer of the offense and the other half to the treasurer of the county in which such the conviction shall be had is obtained.

(C) A law enforcement agency may confiscate and destroy a tobacco or cigarette product found in the possession of a person under eighteen years of age."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.