Purpose

Requires the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) to evaluate tobacco use prevention and reduction programs in the Department of Health Services (DHS) and transfers health education account monies to the OAG for the purpose of conducting the evaluations.

Background

In 1994, Arizona voters increased the state’s tax on tobacco products by forty cents. Twenty-three percent of the revenues collected as a result of the increased tax are deposited in the health education account for programs designed to prevent and reduce tobacco use. DHS is authorized to use monies in this account to defray the costs of developing and delivering education programs, including radio, television and print media costs. DHS is also authorized to contract with county health departments, community health centers, Indian tribes, nonprofit organizations and schools for education programs relating to tobacco use prevention and reduction.

In a September 1999 performance audit of the tobacco education and prevention program, the OAG found evaluation efforts since the program’s inception have yielded inconclusive results; however, the report indicated the program was working on several evaluations that may provide more useful information. Other findings regarding the program included: (1) the program expended approximately $900,000 before discontinuing a process evaluation that did not achieve its goals; (2) the program still lacked a baseline on the prevalence of youth smoking; and (3) the cost-effectiveness study provided very limited information.

The OAG recommended the program develop an evaluation strategy, including a comprehensive evaluation plan that corresponds to the program goals. Other recommendations suggested the program improve its communication with local projects and attempt to obtain tobacco-related information from other entities. Lastly, with respect to assessments, the OAG recommended the program to continue to coordinate surveys with other entities. Since that time, the program has implemented evaluations on three separate levels – on the local community by local health departments; on training and curriculum development by Arizona State University; and on the media program by the University of Arizona. In addition, baseline studies on the prevalence of smoking in adults and youths were recently complete.

The strike everything amendment to S.B. 1313 requires the OAG to evaluate the tobacco use prevention and reduction programs, and to report its findings biennially. The strike everything amendment also transfers monies from the health education account beginning in FY 2001-2002 to the OAG to conduct the evaluations.

According to JLBC, 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. The budget recommendation for the tobacco education and prevention program is $34 million in both years of the biennium.

Provisions

1. Requires the OAG to evaluate tobacco use prevention and reduction programs funded by the health education account, and to submit a report of its findings biennially to the Governor and Legislature.

2. Requires the OAG to submit the first report by November 15, 2004. Requires the first report to include data beginning in FY 2001-2002.

3. Requires, beginning on July 1, 2002, DHS to transfer to the OAG three and one-half percent of the preceding year’s distributions to the health education account to conduct the evaluations.

4. Reverts monies that remain at the end of the fiscal year to the health education account.

5. Appropriates $380,000 in FY 2001-2002 from the health education account to the OAG to conduct the evaluations.

6. Provides for a general effective date.

Amendments Adopted by Committee

Adopted the strike-everything amendment.

Senate Action

HEALTH 2/20/01 DPA 7-0-1

JB/ac