October 1, 2019

New October Laws

This article was archived from the previous WordPress site. Formatting and media should be close, but may not match the original post perfectly.

As 2019 moves along, we prepare for a number of new laws to take effect starting October 1st. These new laws may have an impact on you, your business, or our community. I therefore encourage you to take a look at the full list of laws that can be found by clicking here.

I have listed some of the more noteworthy legislation below. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or clarifications regarding the implementation of these laws.

An Act Prohibiting the Sale of Cigarettes, Tobacco Products, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems and Vapor Products to Persons Under the Age of Twenty-one
Public Act No. 19-13

Summary – Raises, from 18 to 21, the legal age to purchase cigarettes, other tobacco products, and e-cigarettes, and increases fines for those persons or businesses who sell to anyone under the legal age.

An Act Expanding Eligibility for Tax Relief for Certain Elderly Homeowners

Public Act No. 19-66
Summary – Expands the state’s “Circuit Breaker Program”(Elderly and Disabled Homeowners’ Tax Relief Program) which entitles older adults and individuals with a permanent and total disability to a property tax reduction, to now include owners of real property that is held in trust for the owner. Prior law was silent regarding such trusts.

An Act Increasing the Penalties for the Sale of Fentanyl

Public Act No. 19-38
Summary – Expressly codifies the classification of fentanyl (a synthetic opioid analgesic) as a narcotic substance. By law, the penalties for certain illegal actions involving narcotics are higher than those for certain other non-narcotic controlled substances.

An Act Addressing Opioid Use
Public Act No. 19-191 (See Sec. 1-2, 4-6, 9-11)
Summary – Requires pharmacists to offer consultations to all patients when dispensing a prescription. Also requires prescribing practitioners who prescribe an opioid drug with more than a 12-week supply to establish a treatment agreement with the patient or discuss a care plan for chronic opioid drug use, among other changes.

An Act Concerning School Security
Public Act No. 19-52 (See Sec. 3)
Summary – Requires DESPP to develop criteria to identify qualified school security consultants operating in the state and limit its existing school security consultant’s registry to include only these qualified individuals. By law, DESPP must update this registry annually, make it available to the public upon request, and publish it on the department’s website.