2016 Georgia Code
Title 10 - Commerce and Trade
Chapter 13A - Master Settlement Agreement Enhancements
§ 10-13A-3. Certification of compliance with Master Settlement Agreement; requirements; retention of documentation of sales

(a) Every tobacco product manufacturer whose cigarettes are sold in this state, whether directly or through a distributor, retailer, or similar intermediary or intermediaries, shall execute and deliver in the manner prescribed by the Attorney General a certification to the commissioner and Attorney General, no later than the thirtieth day of April each year, certifying that, as of the date of such certification, such tobacco product manufacturer either is a participating manufacturer or is in full compliance with Chapter 13 of this title, including all annual deposits required by paragraph (2) of Code Section 10-13-3.

(b) Every tobacco product manufacturer shall also certify that:

(1) Such manufacturer or its importer holds a valid permit under 26 U.S.C. Section 5713; and

(2) Such manufacturer is in compliance with all reporting and registration requirements of 15 U.S.C. Sections 376 and 376a.

(c) In addition, participating manufacturer shall include in its certification a list of its brand families. A participating manufacturer shall update such list 30 calendar days prior to any addition to or modification of its brand families by executing and delivering a supplemental certification to the Attorney General and commissioner. A participating manufacturer may not include a brand family in its certification unless the participating manufacturer affirms that the brand family is to be deemed to be its cigarettes for purposes of calculating its payments under the Master Settlement Agreement for the relevant year, in the volume and shares determined pursuant to the Master Settlement Agreement.

(d) A nonparticipating manufacturer shall include in its certification a list of all of its brand families and the number of units sold for each brand family that were sold in this state during the preceding calendar year and a list of all of its brand families that have been sold in this state at any time during the current calendar year. Such lists must indicate any brand family sold in this state during the preceding calendar year that is no longer being sold in this state as of the date of such certification, and identification by name and address of any other manufacturer of such brand families in the preceding or current calendar year. The nonparticipating manufacturer shall update such list 30 calendar days prior to any addition to or modification of its brand families by executing and delivering a supplemental certification to the Attorney General and commissioner. A nonparticipating manufacturer may not include a brand family in its certification unless such nonparticipating manufacturer affirms that the brand family is to be deemed to be its cigarettes for purposes of Chapter 13 of this title. Such certification must also certify:

(1) That such nonparticipating manufacturer is registered to do business in this state and has appointed a resident agent for service of process and provided notice thereof as required by Code Section 10-13A-6;

(2) That such nonparticipating manufacturer has established and continues to maintain a qualified escrow fund as required by Code Section 10-13-3 and has executed a qualified escrow agreement that has been reviewed and approved by the Attorney General and that governs the qualified escrow fund;

(3) That such nonparticipating manufacturer is in full compliance with Chapter 13 of this title, this chapter, Chapter 11 of Title 48, and any regulations promulgated pursuant to such chapters;

(4) The name, address, and telephone number of the financial institution where the nonparticipating manufacturer has established such qualified escrow fund required pursuant to Chapter 13 of this title and all regulations promulgated pursuant to such chapter; the account number of such qualified escrow fund and any subaccount number for this state; the amount such nonparticipating manufacturer placed in such fund for cigarettes sold in this state during the preceding calendar year, the date and amount of each such deposit, and such evidence or verification as may be deemed necessary by the Attorney General to confirm the foregoing; and the amount and date of any withdrawal or transfer of funds the nonparticipating manufacturer made at any time from such fund or from any other qualified escrow fund into which it ever made escrow payments pursuant to Chapter 13 of this title and all regulations promulgated pursuant to such chapter;

(5) That such nonparticipating manufacturer consents to be sued in the courts of the State of Georgia for purposes of the state:

(A) Enforcing this chapter, Chapter 13 of this title, Title 48, and any regulations promulgated pursuant to these provisions; or

(B) Bringing a released claim as defined in paragraph (8) of Code Section 10-13-2;

(6) That such nonparticipating manufacturer has posted the appropriate bond required under Code Section 10-13A-7 and the information needed to establish the existence of such bond; and

(7) In the case of a nonparticipating manufacturer located outside of the United States, the nonparticipating manufacturer shall provide a declaration from each of its importers into the United States of any of its brand families to be sold in this state. The declaration shall be on a form prescribed by the Attorney General and shall state the following:

(A) The importer accepts joint and several liability with the nonparticipating manufacturer for all obligations to place funds into a qualified escrow fund and for payment of all civil penalties and all reasonable costs and expenses of investigation and prosecution, including attorney's fees;

(B) The importer consents to personal jurisdiction in Georgia for the purposes of claims by the state for any obligation to place funds into a qualified escrow fund and for payment of all civil penalties and all reasonable costs and expenses of investigation and prosecution, including attorney's fees; and

(C) The importer has appointed a registered agent for service of process in Georgia according to the same requirements as established in Code Section 10-13A-6 for any nonresident or foreign nonparticipating manufacturer.

Certification in accordance with this subsection shall be deemed to be in compliance with subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of Code Section 10-13-3.

(e) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed as limiting or otherwise affecting the state's right to maintain that a brand family constitutes cigarettes of a different tobacco product manufacturer for purposes of calculating payments under the Master Settlement Agreement or for purposes of Chapter 13 of this title.

(f) Tobacco product manufacturers shall maintain all invoices and documentation of sales and other such information relied upon for such certification for a period of five years, unless otherwise required by law to maintain them for a greater period of time.