Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Colleen Chawla, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Heather Forshey, Director, Environmental Health Services
Subject: Implementation of County Ordinance Code Ch. 4.98, Strengthening Tobacco Retailer Requirements, Since Its Adoption in May 2023
RECOMMENDATION:
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Receive the report regarding implementation of County Ordinance Code Chapter 4.98.
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BACKGROUND:
In 1998, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors enacted Chapter 4.98 of the County Ordinance Code, establishing one of California's earliest Tobacco Retailer Permit Programs. On May 23, 2023, this Board updated the Tobacco Retailer Permit Ordinance to promote compliance with recent changes to State tobacco control laws, implement new retailer requirements and restrictions set by this Board, protect the health of San Mateo County residents, and encourage regulatory alignment by cities. Under the County's updated Tobacco Retailer Permit Ordinance, the Environmental Health Services Division (EHS) of San Mateo County Health is designated as the enforcement authority.
The following are some key provisions of the updated ordinance:
* It restricts the location of new retailers may be located: no new Tobacco Retailer Permit will be issued to a location within 1,000 feet of a Youth-Populated Area or within 500 feet of a location already occupied by another tobacco retailer. "Youth-Populated Areas" include college campuses.
* It increases fines to up to five hundred dollars ($500) for the first violation of the ordinance and up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) for all subsequent violations within a sixty (60) month period.
* It requires that a permit be suspended if a business is found to have sold tobacco products to persons under the age of 21.
* It requires two inspections per year of each tobacco retailer to monitor compliance with applicable laws.
* It states that the County wi...
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