69-2708.01.

Stamping agent; responsible for escrow deposits; when; liability; calculation.

(1) A stamping agent shall be responsible for escrow deposits required under subdivision (2) of section 69-2703 in the event it receives notice from the Attorney General that there is a shortfall amount with respect to nonparticipating manufacturer cigarettes stamped by it.

(2) The liability of a stamping agent for escrow deposits shall be calculated as follows: If there is a shortfall amount for a nonparticipating manufacturer for a calendar quarter, each stamping agent that sold cigarettes of that nonparticipating manufacturer during the calendar quarter shall deposit into such escrow account as shall be designated by the state an amount equal to the applicable shortfall amount multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of cigarettes of that nonparticipating manufacturer sold in or into the state by the stamping agent during that calendar quarter and the denominator of which is the total number of cigarettes of that nonparticipating manufacturer sold by all stamping agents in or into the state during that calendar quarter, except that any nonparticipating manufacturer cigarettes sold in or into the state by a stamping agent during the calendar quarter in which the stamping agent collected and deposited the required escrow deposit amount on or before the due date for deposits for that quarter under subdivision (2) of section 69-2703 shall be excluded from both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction. To the extent a stamping agent makes payments with respect to a shortfall amount under this subsection, such stamping agent shall have a claim against the nonparticipating manufacturer for such amount.

(3) A stamping agent shall not be liable for escrow deposits under subsections (1) and (2) of this section if, at the time of purchase of such nonparticipating manufacturer's cigarettes:

(a) The nonparticipating manufacturer is on the directory pursuant to section 69-2706; and

(b) The state denotes on the directory that the nonparticipating manufacturer has posted the appropriate bond required under section 69-2707.01.