An Act relating to restricting sale of cigarettes, to enforcement of certain laws relating to sales of cigarettes, and to smoking education and cessation programs administered by the Department of Health and Social Services.

Updated: March 22, 1999

Section 1: Amends AS 43.70.075 (License endorsement) by adding new subsections which specify that:

• cigarettes be sold in groups of at least 20 and in the manufacturer's original cigarette pack or in a cigarette carton or box;
• cigarettes may not be sold or possessed if: (A) the cigarette package is not properly labeled according the federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act; (B) the cigarette package indicates that the product was meant for export; (C) the cigarette package has been altered in order to conceal the language mentioned in (B).
• The commissioner of commerce and economic development may seize cigarettes not in compliance with this section and destroy them after notice and an opportunity for a hearing has been given.

Section 2: Amends AS 44.29.020(a) (Duties of department) to include a comprehensive smoking education, tobacco use prevention and tobacco control program in the list of state programs administered by the Department of Health and Social Services. Mandates that the program will include certain components, and will be conducted by contract or grant with more than one organization in the state.