House of Representatives

SB 1313

health education; audit

Sponsors: Senators Gerard, Nichols, Bowers, et al.

DP	Committee on Health
DPA	Committee on Approp
DP	Caucus and COW	This bill as introduced contains an Appropriation clause.
X	As Transmitted To The Governor

SB 1313 requires the Office of Auditor General (OAG) to biennially evaluate expenditures by the Department of Health Services (DHS) for the prevention or reduction of tobacco use. Appropriates $380,000 in FY 2001-2002 from the health education account in FY 2001-2002 to the OAG to conduct the evaluations. Requires the OAG, instead of DHS, to conduct program evaluations of programs that receive tobacco tax monies.

History

The Tobacco Education and Prevention Program (program) originated in 1994 through the Tobacco Tax and Health Care Act. Through a combination of statewide and local efforts, the program is designed to prevent youth from starting to use tobacco, encouraging and assisting tobacco users to quit and reducing exposure to secondhand smoke.

Funding for the program is provided through federal grants and twenty-three percent of each dollar of tobacco tax money collected. According the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the total funds available in the health education account is $56.2 million in FY 2001-2002 and $48.1 million in FY 2002-2003.

In the 1999, the Office of Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the program and made the following recommendations:

- Improved evaluations are needed to measure program effectiveness

- Program need to improve its guidance of tobacco control efforts

- Program does not monitor administrative costs

The audit stated that evaluations at the state and local levels have not produced an adequate assessment of the program’s tobacco control efforts. Furthermore, the audit found that the program’s attempted evaluations have encountered logistical and design problems.

SB 1313 requires the OAG to monitor the effectiveness of the tobacco tax program through audits and biennial reporting.

Provisions

· Requires the OAG to biennially evaluate health education account expenditures by the Department of Health Services (DHS) for the prevention or reduction of tobacco use.

· Requires the OAG to submit a written report of its findings to the Legislative Leadership, Governor’s office and the Secretary of State. The first report is due November 15, 2004 for FY 2001-2002.

· Transfers to the OAG three and a half percent of the proceeding year’s distribution to the health education account for purpose of conducting evaluations. Appropriates $380,000 in FY 2001-2002 from the health education account to the OAG to conduct evaluations .

· Requires the OAG, instead of DHS, to conduct program evaluations of tobacco tax programs and submit an annual report to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. The OAG shall establish a schedule for periodic reviews of the programs no less than every four years.

· Stipulates that DHS provide data as necessary to complete the evaluations. Transfers the $300,000 fee from the medical needy account for conducting the evaluations from DHS to the OAG.

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45th Legislature

First Regular Session 2 May 8, 2001

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