NC S503

Establishes the Tobacco Use Prevention Fund within the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Chronic Disease and Injury Section to prevent use of new and emerging tobacco products, especially electronic cigarettes, among youth and people of childbearing age.

Appropriates $17,000,000 annually from the Settlement Reserve Fund to the Tobacco Use Prevention Fund for activities including local health department grants, evidence-based media campaigns, military readiness programs, community college grants, tobacco use tracking, technical assistance, and independent program evaluations.

Permits the Department of Health and Human Services to use up to 10% of annual appropriations for administrative purposes and requires annual reporting to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and the Fiscal Research Division.

Restricts Fund expenditures to community education and training, media and education campaigns on health risks of tobacco use, military readiness initiatives, campus tobacco-free programs, surveillance tracking, technical assistance, and program evaluation.

Takes effect July 1, 2021.