Please select (by clicking the appropriate button) the level of relative relevance and importance of these measures to your office. Note: level one is the least important, and level five is most important, for the TRR Initiative to address.

Enforcement / Responsible Retailing (Note: This work group is composed of Attorney General staff only.)

1. Identify methods of addressing the tobacco retailer community to promote voluntary measures to enhance compliance and responsible retailing, and to stimulate cooperation with the public health community.

1 2 3 4 5 N/A

2. Identify models for coordination between offices of AG's and state Synar and FDA compliance activities which can lead directly to changes in retailer practices for non-compliant retailers.

1 2 3 4 5 N/A

3. Identify and promote the adoption of responsible retailing practices, such as those identified in No Sale: Youth, Tobacco and Responsible Retailing (1994); provide technical information and assistance, and identify "best practices" for: training programs; in-house mystery shopper programs; use of scanner technologies; elimination of self-service displays and restriction of access to tobacco products.

1 2 3 4 5 N/A

4. Encourage the formation of regional multi-state tobacco task forces to perform compliance inspections of chain retailers with outlets selling tobacco in the region.. .and, as a result of these inspections, to bring about through voluntary or non-voluntary means changes in retailer training, supervisory and point-of-sales practices.

1 2 3 4 5 N/A

5. Examine the use of consumer protection authority as an enforcement tool to prevent tobacco sales to minors, and of rule-making authority to promote changes in training, supervisory and point-of-sale practices.

1 2 3 4 5 N/A

Additional comments and suggestions for Enforcement / Responsible Retailing work group:

New Legal Theories

1. Identify alternative legal standing to permit enforcement / responsible retailing activities if the office of AG is not permitted to enforce the state sales to minors law, or to act under consumer protection authority. Three approaches which have been identified for further examination are child endangerment laws, public nuisance laws, and enforcing the statutes of other state agencies.

1 2 3 4 5 N/A

2. Examine the use of penalties for minors who possess or attempt to purchase tobacco.

1 2 3 4 5 N/A

3. Consider recommendations to have penalties for underage tobacco purchases / use consistent with penalties for underage alcohol purchases / use. One aspect of this would be to raise the minimum age of legal purchase / sale to 21.

1 2 3 4 5 N/A

4. Explore excise taxes as a public health strategy. Higher excises taxes reduce consumption and also permit funding for public health and public safety programs.

1 2 3 4 5 N/A

5. Examine protections against involuntary exposure to ETS and the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act for individuals with respiratory and other ailments aggravated by ETS exposure.

1 2 3 4 5 N/A

Additional comments and suggestions for the New Legal Theories work group:

Legislation

1. Analyze federal legislation which may emerge from Congress: examine the implications of federal action for state enforcement / responsible retailing, including issues of preemption of state and local tobacco control.

1 2 3 4 5 N/A

2. Identify elements of youth access legislation (not covered by Congressional action, if action is taken): examine aggressive statutes from various states; and establish legislative models for enforcement and responsible retailing.

1 2 3 4 5 N/A

3. Identify components of Global Settlement for adoption by states: if Congress should fail to enact sweeping tobacco control legislation incorporating the principles of the earlier AG agreement, it may be appropriate to propose elements of the global agreement such as "look-back" provisions and cigarette content disclosure for state legislation / regulation.

1 2 3 4 5 N/A

Additional comments and suggestions for the Legislation work group:

Your narne and Title:

Office Affiliation:

Address:

Telephone:

Fax :

E-mail Address:

If you would like to send this form via U.S. mail, please print the completed form and remit to:

Attn: Cheryl Lefman
Tobacco Control Resource Center
Northeastern University
117 Cushing Hall
102 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115

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