R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-20-4.1 — License availability

(a) No license under this chapter may be granted, maintained, or renewed if the applicant,
or any combination of persons owning directly or indirectly any interests in the applicant:
(1) Owes five hundred dollars ($500) or more in delinquent taxes;
(2) Is delinquent in any tax filings for one month or more;
(3) Had a license under this chapter revoked by the administrator within the past two
(2) years;
(4) Has been convicted of a crime relating to cigarettes and/or other tobacco products
and/or any electronic nicotine-delivery system products;
(5) Is a cigarette manufacturer or importer that is neither: (i) A participating manufacturer
as defined in subsection II (jj) of the “Master Settlement Agreement” as defined in
§ 23-71-2; nor (ii) In full compliance with chapter 20.2 of this title and § 23-71-3;
(6) Has imported, or caused to be imported, into the United States any cigarette and/or
other tobacco product and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products in violation
of 19 U.S.C. § 1681a or any other state or federal law; or
(7) Has imported, or caused to be imported into the United States, or manufactured for
sale or distribution in the United States any cigarette that does not fully comply
with the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act (15 U.S.C. § 1331 et seq.).
(b)(1) No person shall apply for a new license or permit (as defined in § 44-19-1) or renewal of a license or permit, and no license or permit shall be issued or renewed
for any applicant, or any combination of persons owning directly or indirectly any
interests in the applicant, unless all outstanding fines, fees, or other charges relating
to any license or permit held by the applicant, or any combination of persons owning
directly or indirectly any interests in the applicant, as well as any other tax obligations
of the applicant, or any combination of persons owning directly or indirectly any
interests in the applicant have been paid.
(2) No license or permit shall be issued relating to a business until all prior licenses
or permits relating to that business or to that location have been officially terminated
and all fines, fees, or charges relating to the prior license or permit have been
paid or otherwise resolved or the administrator has found that the person applying
for the new license or permit is not acting as an agent for the prior licensee or
permit holder who is subject to any such related fines, fees, or charges that are
still due. Evidence of such agency status includes, but is not limited to, a direct
familial relationship and/or an employment, contractual, or other formal financial
or business relationship with the prior licensee or permit holder.
(3) No person shall apply for a new license or permit pertaining to a specific location
in order to evade payment of any fines, fees, or other charges relating to a prior
license or permit.
(4) No new license or permit shall be issued for a business at a specific location for
which a license or permit already has been issued unless there is a bona fide, good-faith
change in ownership of the business at that location.
(5) No license or permit shall be issued, renewed, or maintained for any person, including
the owners of the business being licensed or having applied and received a permit,
that has been convicted of violating any criminal law relating to tobacco products,
the payment of taxes, or fraud or has been ordered to pay civil fines of more than
twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for violations of any civil law relating to
tobacco products, the payment of taxes, or fraud.