Multi-agency illegal tobacco task force; powers and duties; meetings; annual report

Section 40.

# (a)

There shall be a multi-agency illegal tobacco task force. The task force shall coordinate efforts to combat the distribution of contraband tobacco and tobacco products, as defined in section 6 of chapter 270, including efforts to foster compliance with the law and conduct targeted investigations and enforcement actions against violators. The task force shall be co-chaired by the colonel of state police or a designee and the commissioner of revenue or a designee and shall also consist of: the secretary of public safety and security or a designee; the state treasurer or a designee; the attorney general or a designee; and the commissioner of public health or a designee.

# (b)

The task force shall: (i) facilitate timely information sharing among state agencies in order to advise or refer matters of potential investigative interest; (ii) dedicate not less than an aggregate of 20 personnel from member agencies to carry out enforcement and investigative strategies; (iii) identify where the distribution of contraband tobacco and tobacco products, as defined in section 6 of chapter 270, is most prevalent and target task force members' investigative and enforcement resources against those in violation of this chapter and chapter 62C, including through the formation of joint investigative and enforcement teams; (iv) assess existing investigative and enforcement methods in the commonwealth and in other jurisdictions and develop and recommend strategies to improve those methods; and (v) solicit the cooperation and participation of other relevant enforcement agencies and establish procedures for referring cases to prosecuting authorities as appropriate.

# (c)

The multi-agency illegal tobacco task force shall meet at times and places to be determined by the co-chairs and may establish working groups, meetings, forums or any other activity deemed necessary to carry out its mandate.

# (d)

The task force shall submit a report not later than March 1 of each year on the results of its findings, activities and recommendations from the preceding year with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the chairs of the joint committee on revenue, the chairs of the senate and house committees on ways and means and the chairs of the joint committee on public safety and homeland security. The report shall include, but not be limited to: (i) a description of the task force's efforts and activities during the year; (ii) identification of any administrative or legal barriers, including any barriers to multi-agency action or enforcement efforts; and (iii) proposed legislative or regulatory changes necessary to strengthen operations and enforcement efforts and reduce or eliminate any impediments to those efforts.

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