H-1141.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1723

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives Cole, Cody, Ogden, Blalock, Cooper, Murray, Dunshee, Wood, Mason, Keiser and Chopp

Read first time 02/06/97.  Referred to Committee on Finance.

Establishing tobacco prevention programs for youth.

    AN ACT Relating to tobacco prevention programs for youth; adding a new section to chapter 82.24 RCW; creating a new section; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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.

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 RCW 70.155.120.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  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.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 1997.

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