CO SB188

Creates a tobacco settlement defense account within the tobacco litigation settlement cash fund for the Department of Law to defend the state in lawsuits related to tobacco master settlement agreements and related Colorado laws.

Authorizes the Department of Revenue to use funds from the tobacco settlement defense account to investigate and respond to settlement agreement manufacturing and distribution reporting irregularities.

Reduces the Children's Basic Health Plan Trust allocation from 27 percent to 25 percent of annual settlement moneys beginning in fiscal year 2016-17.

Allocates 2 percent of total annual settlement moneys to the tobacco settlement defense account beginning in fiscal year 2016-17.

Appropriates $69,453 to the Department of Revenue for fiscal year 2015-16 to support administration and coordination of tobacco settlement-related activities, including one additional full-time employee.