Findings; sense of Congress

(a)

Findings

Congress makes the following findings: (1)According to the Food and Drug Administration, because electronic cigarettes have not been fully studied, consumers currently do not know— (A)the potential risks of electronic cigarettes when used as intended; (B)how much nicotine or other potentially harmful chemicals are being inhaled during use; or (C)if there are any benefits associated with using these products. (2)Most electronic cigarettes contain widely varying levels of nicotine, which is a highly addictive drug that impacts the cardiovascular system and can be lethal when delivered in high doses. (3)According to the Surgeon General, adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of nicotine and adolescent exposure to nicotine may have lasting adverse consequences for brain development. (4)Use of electronic cigarettes has risen in youth according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that was released in September 2013, which found that in one year, from 2011 to 2012, the percentage of middle and high school students who had ever used electronic cigarettes more than doubled. (5)Electronic cigarette use may lead children to become addicted to nicotine and could be a gateway to various tobacco products. (6)Marketing of electronic cigarettes to youth is occurring in the form of advertising using cartoons and sponsorships of events popular with youth such as concerts and sporting events. (b)

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that the Federal Trade Commission should prohibit the advertising, promoting, and marketing in commerce of electronic cigarettes to children as an unfair or deceptive act or practice, in order to protect the health of the youth of the United States.

Prohibition on marketing of electronic cigarettes to children

(a)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

Child

The term child means an individual who is under the age of 18 years. (2)

Commerce

The term commerce has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 44). (3)

Electronic cigarette

The term electronic cigarette means a battery-operated product designed to deliver nicotine, flavor, or other chemicals and that turns chemicals, such as nicotine, into an aerosol that is inhaled by the user. (b)

Prohibition

No person may advertise, promote, or market in commerce an electronic cigarette in a manner that the person knows or should know will have the effect of increasing the use of an electronic cigarette by a child. (c)

Enforcement by Federal Trade Commission

(1)

Unfair or deceptive act or practice

A violation of subsection (b) shall be treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice described under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)). (2)

Powers of Commission

(A)

In general

The Federal Trade Commission shall enforce this section in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of this section. (B)

Privileges and immunities

Any person who violates this section shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and immunities provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.). (C)

Rulemaking

The Federal Trade Commission may promulgate standards and rules to carry out this section in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code. (d)

Enforcement by States

(1)

In general

In any case in which the attorney general of a State has reason to believe that an interest of the residents of the State has been or is threatened or adversely affected by the engagement of any person subject to subsection (b) in a practice that violates such subsection, the attorney general of the State may, as parens patriae, bring a civil action on behalf of the residents of the State in an appropriate district court of the United States— (A)to enjoin further violation of such subsection by such person; (B)to compel compliance with such subsection; (C)to obtain damages, restitution, or other compensation on behalf of such residents; (D)to obtain such other relief as the court considers appropriate; or (E)to obtain civil penalties in the amount determined under paragraph (2). (2)

Civil penalties

(A)

Calculation

For purposes of imposing a civil penalty under paragraph (1)(E) with respect to a person who violates subsection (b), the amount determined under this paragraph is the amount calculated by multiplying the number of days that the person is not in compliance with subsection (b) by an amount not greater than $16,000. (B)

Adjustment for inflation

Beginning on the date on which the Bureau of Labor Statistics first publishes the Consumer Price Index after the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the amounts specified in subparagraph (A) shall be increased by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index published on that date from the Consumer Price Index published the previous year. (3)

Rights of Federal Trade Commission

(A)

Notice to Federal Trade Commission

(i)

In general

Except as provided in clause (iii), the attorney general of a State shall notify the Federal Trade Commission in writing that the attorney general intends to bring a civil action under paragraph (1) not later than 10 days before initiating the civil action. (ii)

Contents

The notification required by clause (i) with respect to a civil action shall include a copy of the complaint to be filed to initiate the civil action. (iii)

Exception

If it is not feasible for the attorney general of a State to provide the notification required by clause (i) before initiating a civil action under paragraph (1), the attorney general shall notify the Federal Trade Commission immediately upon instituting the civil action. (B)

Intervention by Federal Trade Commission

The Federal Trade Commission may— (i)intervene in any civil action brought by the attorney general of a State under paragraph (1); and (ii)upon intervening— (I)be heard on all matters arising in the civil action; and (II)file petitions for appeal of a decision in the civil action. (4)

Investigatory powers

Nothing in this subsection may be construed to prevent the attorney general of a State from exercising the powers conferred on the attorney general by the laws of the State to conduct investigations, to administer oaths or affirmations, or to compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of documentary or other evidence. (5)

Preemptive action by Federal Trade Commission

If the Federal Trade Commission institutes a civil action or an administrative action with respect to a violation of subsection (b), the attorney general of a State may not, during the pendency of such action, bring a civil action under paragraph (1) against any defendant named in the complaint of the Commission for the violation with respect to which the Commission instituted such action. (6)

Venue; service of process

(A)

Venue

Any action brought under paragraph (1) may be brought in— (i)the district court of the United States that meets applicable requirements relating to venue under section 1391 of title 28, United States Code; or (ii)another court of competent jurisdiction. (B)

Service of process

In an action brought under paragraph (1), process may be served in any district in which the defendant— (i)is an inhabitant; or (ii)may be found. (7)

Actions by other State officials

(A)

In general

In addition to civil actions brought by attorneys general under paragraph (1), any other officer of a State who is authorized by the State to do so may bring a civil action under paragraph (1), subject to the same requirements and limitations that apply under this subsection to civil actions brought by attorneys general. (B)

Savings provision

Nothing in this subsection may be construed to prohibit an authorized official of a State from initiating or continuing any proceeding in a court of the State for a violation of any civil or criminal law of the State. (e)

Construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or diminish the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to regulate the marketing of electronic cigarettes, including the marketing of electronic cigarettes to children. (f)

Relation to State law

This section shall not be construed as superseding, altering, or affecting any provision of law of a State, except to the extent that such provision of law is inconsistent with the provisions of this section, and then only to the extent of the inconsistency.