S-1669.1  _______________________________________________

 

                         SENATE BILL 5891

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

 

By Senators Swanson, Thibaudeau and Kohl

 

Read first time 02/18/97.  Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Establishing tobacco prevention programs for youth.


    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.

 

    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 two and one-half mills 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 program to discourage young people from smoking. The program may include grants to public schools.

 

    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 state treasury.  All receipts from the tax in section 2 of this act must be deposited into the account.  Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation.  Expenditures from the account may be used only for the purposes of section 3 of this act.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5.  This act takes effect October 1, 1997.

 

    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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