This bill revises the allocation of tobacco settlement proceeds in Montana, specifically amending Section 17-6-606 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA). The bill establishes that 32% of the total yearly tobacco settlement proceeds received after June 30, 2003, will be deposited into a state special revenue account dedicated to funding statewide tobacco disease prevention programs. These programs aim to discourage tobacco use among children, assist adults in quitting, and provide funding for the children's health insurance program. Additionally, the bill changes the allocation of funds, specifying that 17% of the proceeds will be used for matching funds to secure federal funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program.

The bill also includes provisions for the management of these funds, stating that any funds not appropriated within two years must be transferred to a trust fund. The legislature is tasked with appropriating money from the state special revenue accounts for tobacco disease prevention programs and related initiatives. Furthermore, the bill introduces a new section that establishes an effective date of July 1, 2025, for the changes outlined in the legislation.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 17-6-606