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Proposition 99 and the Legislative Mandate for the California Tobacco Control Program

In November 1988, California voters approved the California Tobacco Health Protection Act of 1988, also known as Prop 99. This referendum increased the state cigarette tax by 25 cents per pack and added an equivalent amount on other tobacco products. The new revenues were earmarked for programs to reduce smoking, to provide health care services to indigents, to support tobacco-related research, and to fund resource programs for the environment. The money is deposited by using the following formula: 20 percent is deposited in the Health Education Account (HEA); 35 percent in the Hospital Services Account; 10 percent in the Physician Services Account; 5 percent in the Research Account; 5 percent in the Public Resources Account; and 25 percent in the Unallocated Account (Revenue and Taxation Code 30124).

The HEA funds both community and school-based health education programs to prevent and reduce tobacco use and is jointly administered by the Department of Health Services/Tobacco Control Section (DHS/TCS) and the California Department of Education (CDE). Currently, DHS/TCS receives approximately two-thirds of the funding and CDE receives approximately one-third of the funding available in the HEA. DHS/TCS is responsible for supporting a statewide tobacco control program, one of the largest public health interventions of its kind ever initiated, nationally or internationally. DHS/TCS provides funding for 61 Local Lead Agencies (LLA), competitively selected community-based organizations, a statewide media campaign, and an extensive evaluation of the entire California Tobacco Control Program (CTCP). CDE administers school-based funding to grades 4-8 based on an allocation method and to high schools through a competitive grant program.

The enabling legislation for Prop 99 includes Assembly Bill (AB) 75 (Chapter 1331, Statutes of 1989), AB 99 (Chapter 278, Statutes of 1991), AB 816 (Chapter 195, Statutes of 1994), AB 3487 (Chapter 199, Statutes of 1996), Senate Bill (SB) 99 (Chapter 1170, Statutes of 1991), SB 960 (Chapter 1328, Statutes of 1989), SB 493 (Chapter 194, Statutes of 1995); the annual State Budget; H&S Code, Sections 104350-104480, 104500-104545; and the Revenue and Taxation Code, Sections 30121-30130. The enabling legislation, the various codes, and the annual State Budget, provide legislative and funding authority for programs administered by DHS/TCS to:

• Conduct health education interventions and behavior change programs at the state level, in the community and in other non-school settings.
• Apply the most current research and findings.
• Give priority to programs that demonstrate an understanding of the role community norm change has in influencing behavioral change regarding tobacco use.