SB197: Bill Text

In November 1998, Wisconsin and 45 other states entered into the Attorneys General Master Tobacco Settlement (settlement) with the tobacco industry, which requires tobacco companies to make payments to the states in perpetuity. Under the settlement, it is estimated that Wisconsin will receive a total of $5.9 billion through 2025.

This bill directs that the first $50 million received annually under the settlement be deposited into a segregated fund. Under the bill, moneys deposited into the fund may only be used for the costs associated with providing grants to organizations for activities related to smoking cessation and tobacco use reduction.

The bill also creates an independent board composed of the attorney general, two senators and two representatives of the assembly (one from each party in each house); the secretary of health and family services; the superintendent of public instruction; one physician with expertise in oncology, smoking cessation or public health; one student from the University of Wisconsin System; two high school students; five representatives of organizations that have as their primary organizational mission reducing the health or economic consequences of tobacco use or ameliorating the effects of tobacco use and reducing incidence of particular diseases or health conditions associated with tobacco use; one local health officer; and one person who is a minority group member.

The bill requires the board to develop a competitive grant program and to administer the grant program. Under the bill, the board must promulgate rules specifying criteria for receiving a grant, including performance standards for media-based projects for which grants are awarded.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB197, s. 1 Section 1. 15.77 of the statutes is created to read:

SB197,2,6 15.77 Health trust board. (1) There is created a health trust board. The health trust board shall consist of the following members:

SB197,2,7 (a) The attorney general or his or her designee.

SB197,3,4 (b) One majority party senator, one minority party senator, one majority party representative to the assembly and one minority party representative to the assembly, appointed as are the members of standing committees in their respective houses.

SB197,3,5 (c) The secretary of health and family services or his or her designee.

SB197,3,6 (d) The superintendent of public instruction.

SB197,3,8 (e) One physician with expertise in oncology, smoking cessation or public health.

SB197,3,9 (f) One student from the University of Wisconsin System.

SB197,3,11 (g) Two high school students, including at least one minority student, as defined in s. 39.40 (1).

SB197,3,15 (h) Five representatives of organizations that have as their primary organizational mission reducing the health or economic consequences of tobacco use or ameliorating the effects of tobacco use and reducing the incidence of particular diseases or health conditions associated with tobacco use.

SB197,3,16 (i) One local health officer.

SB197,3,17 (j) One person who is a minority group member, as defined in s. 560.036 (1) (f).

SB197,3,21 (2) The members specified in sub. (1) (e) to (j) shall be appointed for 3-year terms, except that if a student member appointed under sub. (1) (f) or (g) loses the status upon which the appointment was based, he or she shall cease to be a member of the health trust board.

SB197,3,24 (3) The board shall meet at least 4 times per year. Ten members constitute a quorum. For the purpose of conducting business and exercising its powers, a majority vote of the board is required.

SB197, s. 2 Section 2. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table - See PDF for table

SB197, s. 3 Section 3. 20.436 of the statutes is created to read:

SB197,4,5 20.436 Health trust board. There is appropriated from the health trust fund to the health trust board for the following programs:

SB197,4,7 (1) Smoking cessation and education. (a) General program operations. The amounts in the schedule for general program operations of the health trust board.

SB197,4,9 (b) Grants. Biennially, the amounts in the schedule for the purposes specified under s. 255.15 (3).

SB197,4,11 (g) Gifts and grants. All moneys received from gifts, grants and donations for the purposes specified under s. 255.15.

SB197, s. 4 Section 4. 25.17 (1) (tt) of the statutes is created to read:

SB197,4,13 25.17 (1) (tt) Health trust fund (s. 25.66);

SB197, s. 5 Section 5. 25.66 of the statutes is created to read:

SB197,4,16 25.66 Health trust fund. (1) Definition. In this section, "board" means the health trust board.

SB197,4,18 (2) Creation. There is created a separate nonlapsible trust fund, known as the health trust fund, to consist of the lesser of the following:

SB197,5,2 (a) The first $50,000,000 of the moneys received annually under the Attorneys General Master Tobacco Settlement Agreement of November 23, 1998.

SB197,5,4 (b) The moneys received annually under the Attorneys General Master Tobacco Settlement Agreement of November 23, 1998.

SB197,5,6 (3) Distribution. Amounts in the fund may be distributed only for the purposes specified in s. 20.436.

SB197, s. 6 Section 6. 230.08 (2) (wy) of the statutes is created to read:

SB197,5,8 230.08 (2) (wy) The executive director and staff of the health trust board.

SB197, s. 7 Section 7. 255.15 of the statutes is created to read:

SB197,5,10 255.15 Health trust board. (1) Definitions. In this section:

SB197,5,11 (a) "Board" means the health trust board under s. 15.77.

SB197,5,13 (b) "Tobacco settlement" means the Attorneys General Master Tobacco Settlement Agreement of November 23, 1998.

SB197,5,14 (2) Duties. The board shall do all of the following:

SB197,5,17 (a) Appoint an executive director within the classified service who shall employ staff within the classified service with appropriate programmatic and technical expertise.

SB197,5,18 (b) Administer the grant program under sub. (3).

SB197,5,22 (c) Promulgate rules establishing criteria for recipients of grants awarded under sub. (3), including performance-based standards for grant recipients that propose to use the grant for media efforts. The board shall ensure that programs or projects conducted under the grants are culturally sensitive.

SB197,5,24 (d) Provide a forum for the discussion, development, and recommendation of public policy alternatives in the field of smoking cessation and prevention.

SB197,6,5 (e) Provide a clearinghouse of information on matters relating to tobacco issues and how they are being met in different places throughout the nation such that both lay and professional groups in the field of government, health care and education may have additional avenues for sharing experiences and interchanging ideas in the formulation of public policy on tobacco.

SB197,6,7 (3) Grants. From the appropriation under s. 20.436 (1) (b), the board may award grants to public and private organizations for any of the following:

SB197,6,8 (a) Tobacco use cessation and education programs.

SB197,6,9 (b) School-based tobacco use prevention programs.

SB197,6,11 (c) Marketing activities that promote tobacco use cessation and that decrease the likelihood of initial tobacco use.

SB197,6,13 (d) Projects designed to reduce tobacco use among minorities and pregnant women.

SB197,6,15 (e) Surveillance and evaluation of the prevalence of tobacco use and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke among youth and adults.

SB197,6,17 (f) Development of public and private policies that restrict access to tobacco products and reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

SB197,6,20 (g) Development of partnerships among businesses or other organizations and communities to address the needs of and to educate specific populations that are targeted by the tobacco industry.

SB197,6,21 (h) Scientific research on tobacco-related cancer prevention.

SB197,6,22 (i) Other activities that address tobacco-related issues.

SB197,7,4 (4) Reports. Not later than July 1, 2001, and annually thereafter, the board shall submit to the governor and to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution under s. 13.172 (2) a report that evaluates the success of the grant program under sub. (3). The report shall specify the number of grants awarded during the immediately preceding fiscal year and the purpose for which each grant was made. The report shall also specify donations and grants accepted by the board under sub. (5).

SB197,7,9 (5) Funds. The board may accept for any of its purposes any donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials and services from any person. The board shall include in the report under sub. (4) any donation or grant accepted by the board under this subsection, including the nature, amount and conditions, if any, of the donation or grant and the identity of the donor.

SB197,7,12 (6) Subcommittees. The board may create subcommittees to assist in its work. If the board creates subcommittees, one of the subcommittees shall address the issue of populations most adversely affected by tobacco.

SB197, s. 9158 Section 9158. Nonstatutory provisions; other.

SB197,7,21 (1) Health trust board. Notwithstanding section 15.77 (2) of the statutes, as created by this act, 4 of the initial members of the health trust board appointed under section 15.77 (1) (e) to (j) of the statutes, as created by this act, shall serve for terms expiring on May 1, 2003; 3 of the initial members of the health trust board appointed under section 15.77 (1) (e) to (j) of the statutes, as created by this act, shall serve for terms expiring on May 1, 2002; and 4 of the initial members of the health trust board appointed under section 15.77 (1) (e) to (j) of the statutes, as created by this act, shall serve for a term expiring on May 1, 2001.

SB197, s. 9458 Section 9458. Effective dates; other.

SB197,7,24 (1) Health trust fund. This act takes effect on the day after publication of the 1999-2001 biennial budget act.

SB197,7,25 (End)