SENATE BILL No. 1538

 

 

September 24, 2008, Introduced by Senators SCHAUER and BARCIA and referred to the Committee on Health Policy.

 

 

 

     A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled

 

"Public health code,"

 

(MCL 333.1101 to 333.25211) by adding section 17766g.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 17766g. (1) A person who possesses nonprescription cough

 

or cold medicine that contains dextromethorphan for retail sale

 

pursuant to a license issued under the general sales tax act, 1933

 

PA 167, MCL 205.51 to 205.78, shall not sell that product to an

 

individual under 18 years of age. This section does not apply to a

 

prescription cough and cold medicine that contains

 

dextromethorphan. As used in this section, "dextromethorphan" means

 

dextrorotatory isomer of 3-methoxy-n-methylmorphinan and its salts.

 

     (2) It is an affirmative defense to a citation issued under

 

subsection (1) that the defendant had in force at the time of the


 

citation and continues to have in force a written policy for

 

employees to prevent the sale of nonprescription cough or cold

 

medicine that contains dextromethorphan to persons under 18 years

 

of age and that the defendant enforced and continues to enforce the

 

policy. A defendant who proposes to offer evidence of the

 

affirmative defense described in this subsection shall file and

 

serve notice of the defense, in writing, upon the court and the

 

prosecuting attorney. The notice shall be served not less than 14

 

days before the hearing date.

 

     (3) A prosecuting attorney who proposes to offer testimony to

 

rebut the affirmative defense described in subsection (2) shall

 

file and serve a notice of rebuttal, in writing, upon the court and

 

the defendant. The notice shall be served not less than 7 days

 

before the hearing date and shall contain the name and address of

 

each rebuttal witness.

 

     (4) A person who violates or aids or abets another in a

 

violation of this section is responsible for a state civil

 

infraction as provided under chapter 88 of the revised judicature

 

act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.8801 to 600.8835, and may be

 

ordered to pay a civil fine as follows:

 

     (a) For the first offense, a civil fine of not more than

 

$1,000.00.

 

     (b) For the second offense, a civil fine of not more than

 

$2,000.00.

 

     (c) For the third or subsequent offense, a civil fine of not

 

more than $5,000.00.