Pennsylvania’s tobacco settlement share is estimated at $11
billion from 2000 until 2025. All of the money is allocated towards health-related
areas, such as uncompensated care, cessation and prevention, research, and
healthcare assistance.
The allocation for the 2001-2002 budget year to the Tobacco Prevention and
Cessation program was $41.4 million dollars (12 percent of Pennsylvania’s
annual allocation). Of that allocation, $26.5 million will lapse due to
a budget shortfall, leaving $14.88 million for the remainder of 2001-2002.
For the 2002-2003, the budget allocates $52 million.
The Pennsylvania General Assembly recently increased the excise tax from
31 cents to $1.00 to also balance the budget. Expected revenue from tobacco
sales should total $590.70 million. The excise tax does not apply to smokeless
tobacco, pipe tobacco or cigars. Currently, Pennsylvania does not tax any
of these products.
Finally, Pennsylvania passed preemption to local tobacco regulation. Currently,
Pennsylvania’s Clean Indoor Air law preempts local communities from
passing smoke-free ordinances, except for Philadelphia. A Philadelphia city
council member is planning to promote legislation enabling the city of Philadelphia
to be 100 percent smoke-free, following the lead of New York City.
In addition to preemption, the same bill places restrictions on the placement
of tobacco vending machines and tobacco products in retail establishments;
increases criminal penalties for retailers and others who provide minors
with access to tobacco products; imposes civil penalties on retailers who
are habitual offenders; creates incentives for proactive retailers; establishes
penalties for minors who attempt to purchase tobacco products such as revocation
of driver’s license; and increases enforcement authority and efforts.
Getting Involved in the Coalition:
All local tobacco control coalitions and organizations are invited
to become members of the Pennsylvania Alliance to Control Tobacco (PACT).
There is no charge for our services, educational materials or events.
The staff of PACT would like to visit you to provide more information on
our coalition and learn more about your public policy goals and what we
can do to help you reach them. To request a visit by our staff, please complete
a visit request form located on our website (www.pactonline.org) or contact
us at (717) 541-5864. PACT’s website also includes an on-line membership
directory; fact sheets on topics such as clean indoor air, preemption, and
tobacco and youth; newsletters and in the near future, a statewide smokefree
restaurant guide.
PACT sponsors a series of events for Pennsylvania coalitions, including
an annual Statewide Summit at which speakers from across the country provide
education on effective local advocacy and grassroots tobacco control public
policy initiatives. These annual conferences will be offered at no cost
to representatives of local coalitions and organizations across the state.
In addition, PACT publishes a newsletter on tobacco control issues, offers
statewide educational video conferences on specific tobacco control policy
issues, and sponsors regional workgroups - or “mini-conferences”
- throughout the state, focusing on issues determined by its members.
Contact the Coalition’s Staff:
Nathan Mains – Project Director
George Crawford – Grassroots/Diversity Manager
Teresa Gonzalez – Grassroots Coordinator
Don Schumaker – Communications Manager
Roxanne Scala Tuinstra – Policy Manager
Phone: 717-541-5864 or Fax: 717-541-8828
Upcoming Scheduled Events:
April 3, 2003 – Statewide Summit at Toftrees Resort in State College,
PA
Project Director: Nathan Mains
Coalition: Pennsylvania Alliance to Control Tobacco (PACT)
Lead Agency: American Lung Association of Pennsylvania
Address: 3001 Old Gettysburg Rd
Camphill, 17011
Email: nmain@alapa.org
Website: http://www.pactonline.org
The links on this page will take you off the SmokeLess
State's Web site. SmokeLess States does not assume responsibility for the
content of other web sites.
