Researcher: JO Page 1 4/4/23
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6730
AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH'S
RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE TOBACCO AND HEALTH
TRUST FUND.
SUMMARY
This bill makes various changes affecting the Tobacco and Health
Trust Fund.
It updates the statutory purposes for fund disbursements to include
the reduction of tobacco and nicotine use in all forms, including e-
cigarettes and vapor products, rather than just tobacco as under current
law. Among other things, it requires that funding be directed to
programs that use evidence-based best practices for various objectives,
such as state and community interventions and surveillance and
evaluation.
It also requires the Tobacco and Health Trust Fund board, in
recommending annual fund disbursements, to give priority to
comprehensive tobacco and nicotine control programs for specified
purposes, such as (1) preventing first use of these products by youth and
young adults and (2) identifying and eliminating tobacco and nicotine-
related disparities.
Among other changes affecting the board, the bill specifies that board
vacancies occurring other than by a term’s expiration must be filled in
the same way as the original appointment for the remainder of the term.
The bill also makes technical and conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2023
TOBACCO AND HEALTH T RUST FUND
Fund Purposes 2023HB-06730-R000406-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JO Page 2 4/4/23
The bill updates the statutory purposes for fund disbursements to
include the reduction of tobacco and nicotine use in all forms, including
combustible, non-combustible, electronic, and synthetic products.
It requires that funding be directed to support and encourage tobacco
and nicotine use prevention, education, and cessation programs that use
evidence-based best practices for the following:
1. state and community interventions;
2. communication methods to spread health information to a wide
audience;
3. cessation interventions;
4. surveillance and evaluation; and
5. infrastructure, administration, and management.
Under current law, funding must be directed to (1) support and
encourage programs to reduce tobacco abuse through prevention,
education, and cessation; (2) support and encourage program
development for substance abuse reduction; and (3) develop and
implement programs to meet the state’s unmet physical and mental
health needs.
Annual Disbursements
Under current law, the Tobacco and Health Trust Fund board, in
recommending annual fund disbursements, must give priority to
tobacco and substance abuse programs that serve minors, pregnant
women, and parents of young children.
The bill instead requires the board to give priority to comprehensive
tobacco and nicotine control programs for the following purposes:
1. preventing first use of these products by youth and young adults,
2. smoking cessation directed at adults and youth,
3. eliminating exposure to secondhand smoke and aerosol, and 2023HB-06730-R000406-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JO Page 3 4/4/23
4. identifying and eliminating tobacco and nicotine-related
disparities.
As under current law, the board must also consider the availability
of private matching funds.
Board Vacancies
By law, board members serve three-year terms. The bill specifically
requires board members to continue to serve until their successors are
appointed or designated. Under the bill, if a vacancy occurs other than
by a term’s expiration, it must be filled in the same manner as the
original appointment for the remainder of the term.
Biennial Report
Existing law requires the board to submit a biennial report to the
Appropriations and Public Health committees on the trust fund,
including (1) all fund disbursements and expenditures, (2) an evaluation
of the performance and impact of each program that gets funding, and
(3) an accounting of any unexpended funds.
Current law also requires the report to include the criteria and
application process used to select fund recipients. The bill specifies that
this must include measurable outcome and evaluation criteria.
Funding Sources
The bill specifically allows the trust fund to apply for and accept
assignments or transfers from public or private funding sources to carry
out its purposes. The law already allows the fund to apply for and accept
gifts, grants, or donations from these funding sources.
BACKGROUND
Related Bill
sHB 6914, favorably reported by the Public Health Committee, (1)
contains identical provisions on the Tobacco and Health Trust Fund’s
board and statutory purpose and (2) starting in FY 24, increases, from
$12 million to $22.7 million, the annual disbursement from the Tobacco
Settlement Fund to the Tobacco and Health Trust Fund. 2023HB-06730-R000406-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JO Page 4 4/4/23
COMMITTEE ACTION
Public Health Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 37 Nay 0 (03/20/2023)