§906. General requirements

            A. Every person who sells or is about to engage in the business of selling at retail, at wholesale, or by vending machine, or is about to engage in the business of receiving unstamped and/or non-tax paid tobacco products, vapor products, or alternative nicotine products or who is engaged in the business of receiving stamped cigarettes at wholesale or any or all of the articles taxed in accordance with Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, shall first apply to and obtain from the office a permit for each place of business and each vending machine.

            B. Application for permits shall be on forms provided by the commissioner. The application shall be signed by each person owning the business or having ownership interest therein. If the applicant is a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, or limited liability company, a duly authorized agent, partner, or officer shall sign the application.

            C. The application shall be accompanied by the fees prescribed herein which fees shall be retained by the office to help defray the cost of printing, processing, and issuing the permits, providing server or seller training, and enforcement expenses of the office of alcohol and tobacco control. The office shall not require that annual renewal fees be paid by certified check or money order. A personal check or business check shall be sufficient for payment of the annual renewal fee to obtain a permit by a dealer or vending machine operator. If the personal or business check is denied by the bank for any reason that makes it a nonnegotiable instrument, then the permit that was issued shall be considered revoked until such time as proper payment is made with cash, certified funds, money order, or cashier's check. The maker shall lose the privilege of tendering personal or business checks for renewal of tobacco permits.

            D. The application shall be made on forms secured from the office, and shall, in addition to such other information as the commissioner may require, show the true and correct name of such dealer, the dealer's post office address, the nature of the operation for which the permit is sought, the location of the place of business as to which the permit shall apply and the trade name of the business, if any.

            E. All applications for permits shall be mailed or delivered to the commissioner in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Upon receipt of an application, the commissioner shall stamp the day, month, and year received.

            F. The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to commissaries, canteens, or snack bars located in a correctional facility owned and operated by the state or a parish or municipality.

            G. In the implementation and enforcement of this Chapter the commissioner shall not require an applicant, registrant, or permittee to make public any trade negotiated contract information or business information otherwise protected by law.

            H. Applicants for a stamping agent designation shall certify on a form provided by the commissioner that they will do the following:

            (1) Affix stamps as set forth in R.S. 47:843(D).

            (2) Pay to the state all taxes applicable under R.S. 47:841 et seq. on cigarettes it sells or present documentation demonstrating that such taxes were paid prior to the sale.

            (3) Provide complete and accurate reports as required by this Chapter, R.S. 13:5071 et seq., or R.S. 47:841 et seq. and certify monthly that it has complied with all requirements therein.

            (4) Comply generally with all other provisions set forth in R.S. 47:841 et seq.

            (5) Consent to the jurisdiction of the state to enforce the requirements of this Chapter and waive any claim of sovereign immunity to the contrary.

            (6) Waive all confidentiality laws as necessary to permit the commissioner to create and make available the list described in R.S. 26:921(B) and to share information reported under this Chapter with the taxing or law enforcement authorities of other states.

            I. Applicants for a stamping agent designation located outside of the state shall appoint an agent in the state for service of process in connection with enforcement of the provisions of this Chapter and the provisions of R.S. 13:5061 et seq., and R.S. 47:841 et seq.

            J. An exporter license shall be issued upon the applicant's meeting the following requirements:

            (1) Demonstrates that it holds a valid stamping agent designation.

            (2) Certifies on a form provided by the commissioner that any cigarettes of a manufacturer or brand family not listed on the state directory will be purchased or possessed solely for sale or transfer into another state as permitted by R.S. 47:849.

            (3) Maintains such cigarette inventory pursuant to Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, in a separate and distinct area within its warehouse.

            (4) Waives any confidentiality laws as necessary to permit the commissioner to create and make available a list as provided in R.S. 26:921(C).

            Acts 1997, No. 1370, §2, eff. Oct. 1, 1997; Acts 2003, No. 936, §1; Acts 2012, No. 143, §1; Acts 2013, No. 221, §2; Acts 2019, No. 424, §1, eff. June 20, 2019.