Section 1183 - Vapor products dealer registration and renewal(a) Every person who intends to sell vapor products in this state must receive from the commissioner a certificate of registration prior to engaging in business. Such person must electronically submit a properly completed application for a certificate of registration for each location at which vapor products will be sold in this state, on a form prescribed by the commissioner, and shall be accompanied by a non-refundable application fee of three hundred dollars.(b) A vapor products dealer certificate of registration shall be valid for the calendar year for which it is issued unless earlier suspended or revoked. Upon the expiration of the term stated on the certificate of registration, such certificate shall be null and void. A certificate of registration shall not be assignable or transferable and shall be destroyed immediately upon the vapor products dealer ceasing to do business as specified in such certificate or in the event that such business never commenced.(c) Every vapor product dealer shall publicly display a vapor products dealer certificate of registration in each place of business in this state where vapor products are sold at retail. A vapor products dealer who has no regular place of business shall publicly display such valid certificate on each of its carts, stands, trucks or other merchandising devices through which it sells vapor products.(d)(1) The commissioner shall refuse to issue a certificate of registration to any applicant who does not possess a valid certificate of authority under section eleven hundred thirty-four of this chapter. In addition, the commissioner may refuse to issue a certificate of registration, or suspend, cancel or revoke a certificate of registration issued to any person who: (A) has a past-due liability as that term is defined in section one hundred seventy-one-v of this chapter;(B) has had a certificate of registration under this article or any license or registration provided for in this chapter revoked within one year from the date on which such application was filed;(C) has been convicted of a crime provided for in this chapter within one year from the date on which such application was filed;(D) willfully fails to file a report or return required by this article;(E) willfully files, causes to be filed, gives or causes to be given a report, return, certificate or affidavit required by this article which is false;(F) willfully fails to collect or truthfully account for or pay over any tax imposed by this article; or(G) whose place of business is at the same premises as that of a person whose vapor products dealer registration has been revoked and where such revocation is still in effect, unless the applicant or vapor products dealer provides the commissioner with adequate documentation demonstrating that such applicant or vapor products dealer acquired the premises or business through an arm's length transaction as defined in paragraph (e) of subdivision one of section four hundred eighty-a of this chapter.(2) In addition to the grounds provided in paragraph one of this subdivision, the commissioner shall refuse to issue a certificate of registration and shall cancel or suspend a certificate of registration as directed by an enforcement officer pursuant to article thirteen-F of the public health law. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, an applicant whose application for a certificate of registration is refused or a vapor products dealer whose registration is cancelled or suspended under this paragraph shall have no right to a hearing under this chapter and shall have no right to commence a court action or proceeding or to any other legal recourse against the commissioner with respect to such refusal, suspension or cancellation; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed to deny a vapor products dealer a hearing under article thirteen-F of the public health law or to prohibit vapor products dealers from commencing a court action or proceeding against an enforcement officer as defined in section thirteen hundred ninety-nine- aa of the public health law.(e) If a vapor products dealer is suspended, cancelled or revoked and such vapor products dealer sells vapor products through more than one place of business in this state, the vapor products dealer's certificate of registration issued to that place of business, cart, stand, truck or other merchandising device, where such violation occurred, shall be suspended, revoked or cancelled. Provided, however, upon a vapor products dealer's third suspension, cancellation or revocation within a five-year period for any one or more businesses owned or operated by the vapor products dealer, such suspension, cancellation, or revocation of the vapor products dealer's certificate of registration shall apply to all places of business where he or she sells vapor products in this state.(f) Every holder of a certificate of registration must notify the commissioner of changes to any of the information stated on the certificate or changes to any information contained in the application for the certificate of registration. Such notification must be made on or before the last day of the month in which a change occurs and must be made electronically on a form prescribed by the commissioner.(g) Every vapor products dealer who holds a certificate of registration under this article shall be required to reapply for a certificate of registration for the following calendar year on or before the twentieth day of September and such reapplication shall be subject to the same requirements and conditions, including grounds for refusal, as an initial registration under this article, including but not limited to the payment of the three hundred dollar application fee for each retail location.(h) In addition to any other penalty imposed by this chapter, any vapor products dealer who violates the provisions of this section, (1) for a first violation is liable for a civil fine not less than five thousand dollars but not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars and such certificate of registration may be suspended for a period of not more than six months; and (2) for a second or subsequent violation within three years following a prior violation of this section, is liable for a civil fine not less than ten thousand dollars but not to exceed thirtyfive thousand dollars and such certificate of registration may be suspended for a period of up to thirty-six months; or (3) for a third violation within a period of five years, its vapor products certificate or certificates of registration issued to each place of business owned or operated by the vapor products dealer in this state, shall be revoked for a period of up to five years.Added by New York Laws 2019, ch. 59,Sec. UU-1, eff. 12/1/2019.