House Bill No. introduced by R. Marshall aims to revise the allocation of tobacco settlement proceeds in Montana. The bill amends Section 17-6-606 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to change the percentage of tobacco settlement proceeds allocated to various programs. Specifically, it reduces the percentage allocated for statewide tobacco disease prevention programs from 32% to 17%, while increasing the percentage designated for matching funds for the Children's Health Insurance Program from 17% to 32%. Additionally, the bill specifies that these funds must be deposited into a state special revenue account as provided for in 53-4-1115.

The bill also outlines the purpose of the allocated funds, which include discouraging tobacco use among children, assisting adults in quitting, and providing support for the Children's Health Insurance Program. It mandates that the Department of Public Health and Human Services manage the tobacco disease prevention programs and adopt relevant rules. Furthermore, any funds not appropriated within two years of deposit must be transferred to a trust fund. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 17-6-606
HB0494_1(1): 17-6-606
HB0494_1: 17-6-606