S-4586.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 6721
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State of Washington 54th Legislature 1996 Regular Session
By Senators Pelz, Moyer, Heavey, Oke, Bauer, Winsley and Hochstatter
Read first time 01/26/96. Referred to Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care.
AN ACT Relating to tobacco prevention programs for youth; adding a new section to chapter 82.24 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 43.70 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the health impact of the use of tobacco products continues to be a major problem in Washington state. The legislature intends to aggressively address this problem through an education program designed to reduce the use of tobacco products by young people and encourage cessation of use by those who already smoke.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 82.24 RCW to read as follows:
(1) In addition to the taxes provided in RCW 82.24.020, there is imposed and shall be collected, an additional tax upon the sale, use, consumption, handling, possession, or distribution of cigarettes, in an amount equal to the rate of one-half of one mill per cigarette.
(2) Revenues collected under this section shall be deposited in the youth tobacco prevention account established in section 4 of this act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 43.70 RCW to read as follows:
The department of health shall implement a counter message advertising campaign that emphasizes no new smokers, targets young people, and promotes reduction of use. The program must include an advertising element that uses diverse types of media and strives to reach all subcultures and subgroups of local communities. The advertising must stress the dangers and problems of tobacco use.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 43.70 RCW to read as follows:
The youth tobacco prevention account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from the tax in section 2 of this act shall be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the purposes of section 3 of this act. Only the secretary or the secretary's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment reduction procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for expenditures.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 1996.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
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