841. Imposition of tax

There is hereby levied a tax upon the sale, use, consumption, handling, or distribution of all cigars, cigarettes, smoking and smokeless tobacco, and vapor products and electronic cigarettes as defined herein, within the state of Louisiana, according to the classification and rates hereinafter set forth:
A. Cigars.
(1) Upon cigars invoiced by the manufacturer at one hundred twenty dollars per thousand or less a tax of eight percent of the invoice price as defined in this Chapter.
(2) Upon cigars invoiced by the manufacturer at more than one hundred twenty dollars per thousand a tax of twenty percent of the invoice price as defined in this Chapter.
B. Cigarettes.
(1) Upon cigarettes, a tax of sixteen twentieths of one cent per cigarette as defined in this Chapter.
(2) In addition to the tax levied in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection there is hereby levied an additional tax of four twentieths of one cent per cigarette.
<Text of paragraph (3) effective until June 30, 2012.  See Termination Note following this section.  See also, Const. Art. VII, § 4.1 as added by Acts 2011, No. 423 >
(3) In addition to the tax levied in Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Subsection, there is hereby levied an additional tax of four-twentieths of one cent per cigarette.
(4) In addition to the tax levied in Paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this Subsection, there is hereby levied an additional tax of seven-twentieths of one cent per cigarette.
(5) In addition to the tax levied in Paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of this Subsection, there is hereby levied an additional tax of five-twentieths of one cent per cigarette.
(6) In addition to the tax levied in Paragraphs (1), (2), (4), and (5) of this Subsection and in Paragraph (3) of this Subsection as continued in effect by Article VII, Section 4.1 of the Constitution of Louisiana , there is hereby levied an additional tax of two and ten-twentieths of one cent per cigarette.
(7) In addition to the tax levied in Paragraphs (1), (2), (4), (5), and (6) of this Subsection and in Paragraph (3) of this Subsection as continued in effect by Article VII, Section 4.1 of the Constitution of Louisiana , there is hereby levied an additional tax of one and two-twentieths of one cent per cigarette.
C. Smoking Tobacco.  Upon smoking tobacco, a tax of thirty-three percent of the invoice price as defined in this Chapter.
D. Rules and regulations.  The collector shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations, which shall have the effect of law, for the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this section, with specific authority as to the filing of inventory report and payment of additional taxes due.  He also may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations establishing or requiring the establishing of an inventory where the dealer fails to timely declare and file the inventory with the collector on the specified date, and for the revaluation of tax stamps in possession of the dealer.
E. Smokeless tobacco.  Upon smokeless tobacco, a tax of twenty percent of the invoice price as defined in this Chapter.
F. Vapor products and electronic cigarettes.  Upon vapor products and electronic cigarettes, a tax of five cents per milliliter of consumable nicotine liquid solution or other material containing nicotine that is depleted as a vapor product is used.
G. (1) The Tobacco Regulation Enforcement Fund, hereinafter referred to as the “fund”, is hereby established in the state treasury as a special fund to provide support for enforcement activities of the office of alcohol and tobacco control.  The source of monies for the fund shall be a portion of the avails of the state tax on cigarettes as provided herein.
(2) After compliance with the requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund, and after a sufficient amount is allocated from that fund to pay all of the obligations secured by the full faith and credit of the state which become due and payable within any fiscal year, the state treasurer shall annually deposit into the fund an amount equal to the avails of one-quarter of one-twentieth of one cent per cigarette from the tax on cigarettes imposed pursuant to this Section.  Monies in the fund shall be subject to appropriation by the legislature and then only to the office of alcohol and tobacco control for purposes of tobacco regulation enforcement.  All unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund shall be invested by the state treasurer in the same manner as monies in the state general fund, and all earnings on investment of the fund shall be deposited into the fund.