NC H725

Establishes the Tobacco Use Prevention Fund in the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, to prevent youth use of tobacco products, especially e-cigarettes.

Appropriates $17,000,000 annually from the Settlement Reserve Fund to the Tobacco Use Prevention Fund beginning July 1, 2019.

Fund moneys may be used for regional prevention programs, education campaigns, enforcement of tobacco laws, youth tobacco tracking, independent program evaluations, and grants to local health departments and nonprofits that do not receive tobacco industry funding.

Department may use up to 10% of annual appropriations for administrative purposes and must submit annual reports to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and Fiscal Research Division by March 1.

Prohibits fund expenditures for purposes other than those explicitly authorized in the statute and requires grant recipients to comply with evidence-based tobacco prevention guidelines developed by the Department of Health and Human Services.