SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 48
(By Senator Walker)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance provide
an oversight committee during the organization and
implementation of the state's Tobacco Education Program by
the Department of Health and Human Resources.
Whereas, West Virginia has one of the highest tobacco-use
rates in the nation, with an alarming forty-two percent of its
high school students using tobacco; and
Whereas, The citizens of the state pay $656 million per year
in health care costs directly associated with tobacco usage; and
Whereas, On November 23, 1998, the tobacco product
manufacturers entered into a settlement agreement with the state,
which released those manufacturers from past, present and
specific future claims against them in return for payments over
the next twenty-five years which are expected to amount to nearly
$1.8 billion; and
Whereas, The Governor and the Legislature have dedicated a
portion of the settlement for the purpose of educating the public
about the health risks associated with tobacco usage and for the
creation of the Tobacco Education Program designed to reduce and
stop the use of tobacco by the citizens of this state, particularly by teenagers; and
Whereas, It is important that the design and implementation
phases of the state's prevention program receive legislative
oversight; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance provide an oversight committee for the
Tobacco Education Program based, to the extent both reasonable
and appropriate, on the "best practices" guidelines of the
Centers for Disease Control; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance appoint an oversight committee, composed of equal
representation for the Senate and House of Delegates, appointed
by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Delegates, respectively, along with a representative from the
Department of Health and Human Resources, the Department of
Education, Alcohol Beverage Control Commissioner, higher
education, the Coalition for Tobacco-Free West Virginia, the
American Heart Association, the American Lung Association and the
American Cancer Society; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report, periodically, with respect to the Tobacco Education Program's progress, including, but not limited to,
interagency coordination, implementation, milestones, financing
strategies and citizen advocacy groups' input; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2001,
on its findings, conclusions and recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct
this oversight, to prepare a report and to draft legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.