Department of Health Services
April 14, 2010
The Honorable, The Legislature:
The Department of Health Services is pleased to submit this 2009 Annual Report to the Governor and the Legislature on our tobacco cessation efforts. The report is required by s.
255.15 (4).
Tobacco kills 8,000 Wisconsin citizens every year and costs the state nearly $4 billion in annual health care expenses and lost worker productivity. The Department's Tobacco Prevention and Control Program (TPCP) is responsible for investing in evidence-based strategies within a comprehensive framework to effectively reduce tobacco use and exposure.
Wisconsin continued its success during 2009 in preventing youth tobacco use and promoting tobacco addiction treatment, the elimination of tobacco-related disparities and exposure to secondhand smoke. Highlights include:
• Youth access to tobacco products has declined substantially from 24.6% of establishments selling to minors in 2000 to 5.7% selling to youth in 2009.
• In 2008, the smoking rate among adults in Wisconsin was 19.8%; over 853,584 people. This rate compares to the national adult smoking rate of 19.8% for 2007.
• In 2008, 29.4% of the population having less than a high school education were smokers, compared to 10.6% for college graduates.
• For the population of pregnant women, the following were smokers in 2008: 15% White, 15% Black, 38% Native American, 5% Hispanic and 5% Laotian/Hmong. Annually, over 7,200 Wisconsin residents die from smoking related illnesses, with an additional 850 deaths of non-smokers from secondhand smoke.
• 24,112 individuals called the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line (1-800-QUIT-NOW) in 2009. Quit Line callers receive free counseling and a two-week supply of no-cost nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). The UW Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention (UW-CTRI) administers the program through funding from TPCP.
• In May 2009, Wisconsin passed legislation which prohibited smoking in most indoor workplaces, institutions, lodging areas, restaurants, taverns, and other facilities, and in some outside areas. Wisconsin's smoke-free air law goes into effect on July 5th, 2010.
• On September 1, 2009, an additional cigarette tax increase of .75 went into effect. Wisconsin ranks 6th in cigarette taxes in the U.S. at $2.52.
Tobacco use is a treatable addiction that kills more people each year in Wisconsin than alcohol, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), car crashes, illegal drug use, murder and suicide combined. Every dollar invested in the state's comprehensive tobacco control program yields dividends in health care savings. The Department and its partners will continue to work to reduce the burden of tobacco in Wisconsin.
Sincerely,
karen e. timberlake
Secretary
__________________
Pursuant to Senate Rule 17 (5), Senator Kapanke added as a coauthor of
Senate Bill
304
.
__________________
Relating to the regulation of traveling sales crews.
Submitted by Department of Workforce Development .
Report received from Agency, April 13, 2010.
Referred to committee on Health, Health Insurance, Privacy, Property Tax Relief, and Revenue,
April 14, 2010
.
Relating to payments for copies of discovery material provided to staff and private attorneys appointed to represent state public defender clients in legal proceedings.
Submitted by State Public Defender.
S714
Report received from Agency, April 13, 2010.
Referred to committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing,
April 14, 2010.
__________________
By Patrick E. Fuller, chief clerk.
Mr. President:
I am directed to inform you that the Assembly has passed and asks concurrence in:
Assembly Bill 335
Assembly Bill 343
Assembly Bill 526
Assembly Bill 561
Assembly Bill 563
Assembly Bill 564
Assembly Bill 565
Assembly Bill 566
Assembly Bill 580
Assembly Bill 623
Assembly Bill 638
Assembly Bill 699
Assembly Bill 703
Assembly Bill 733
Assembly Bill 749
Assembly Bill 756
Assembly Bill 757
Assembly Bill 768
Assembly Bill 852
Assembly Bill 857
Assembly Bill 864
Amended and concurred in as amended:
Senate Bill 399 (Assembly Amendment 1 Adopted)
Concurred in:
Senate Bill 17
Senate Bill 87
Senate Bill 267
Senate Bill 291
Senate Bill 423
Senate Bill 452
Senate Bill 477
Senate Bill 492
Senate Bill 506
Senate Bill 515
Senate Bill 522
Senate Substitute Amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 139
__________________
Assembly Bill
335
Relating to: the consumption of alcohol beverages in public places.
By Representatives Lothian, Mursau, Spanbauer and Townsend; cosponsored by Senators Kedzie and Taylor.
Read first time and referred to committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources.
Assembly Bill
343
Relating to: expanding the secretary of revenue's authority to waive or reduce interest or penalties.
By Representatives Sherman, Berceau, Jorgensen, Nerison, Schneider, Toles, Turner, A. Williams and Dexter; cosponsored by Senators Taylor, Grothman, Lehman, Miller and Schultz.
Read first time and referred to committee on Health, Health Insurance, Privacy, Property Tax Relief, and Revenue.
Assembly Bill
526
Relating to: requiring informed consent before administration of psychotropic medication to a nursing home resident who has degenerative brain disorder.
By Representatives Meyer, Pasch, Gunderson, A. Ott, Nerison and Wood; cosponsored by Senator Holperin
.
Read first time and referred to committee on Public Health, Senior Issues, Long-Term Care, and Job Creation.
Assembly Bill
561
Relating to: eliminating the notary requirement for assessor certification renewal (suggested as remedial legislation by the Department of Revenue).
By Law Revision Committee.
