Bill would repeal state tobacco prevention fund
A measure that would repeal the Hawaii tobacco prevention and control trust fund has passed through the state House and is now before the state Senate for consideration.
As it is currently written, House Bill 1296 instead would allocate $5.7 million in general funds to the state Department of Health in fiscal years 2021-22 and 2022-23 for tobacco prevention and control efforts.
Unencumbered funds remaining in the trust fund as of July 1 would go into the state general fund if the bill becomes law.
The trust fund receives annually a portion of the state’s tobacco settlement special fund and, as its name suggests, is used for tobacco prevention and control efforts.
