§ 19-12-113 - Establishment and administration of prevention and cessation programs. - Arkansas Statutes

19-12-113. Establishment and administration of prevention and cessation programs.

(a) It is the intent of this chapter that the Department of Health should establish the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program described in this section, and to administer such programs in accordance with law. The program described in this section shall be administered pursuant to a strategic plan encompassing the elements of a mission statement, defined program(s), and program goals with measurable objectives and strategies to be implemented over a specific timeframe. Evaluation of each program shall include performance based measures for accountability which will measure specific health related results.

(b) The Department of Health shall be responsible for developing, integrating, and monitoring tobacco prevention and cessation programs funded under this chapter and shall provide administrative oversight and management, including, but not limited to implementing performance based measures. The Department of Health shall have authority to award grants and allocate money appropriated to implement the tobacco prevention and cessation program mandated under this chapter. The Department of Health may contract with those entities necessary to fully implement the tobacco prevention and cessation initiatives mandated under this chapter. Within thirty (30) days of receipt of moneys into the Prevention and Cessation Program Account, fifteen percent (15%) of those moneys shall be deposited into a special account within the prevention and cessation account at the Department of Health to be expended for tobacco prevention and cessation in minority communities as directed by the Director of the Department of Health in consultation with the Chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, the President of the Arkansas Medical, Dental and Pharmaceutical Association, and the League of United Latin American Citizens.

(c) The Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program shall be comprised of components approved by the State Board of Health. The program components selected by the board shall include:

(1) community prevention programs that reduce youth tobacco use;

(2) local school programs for education and prevention in grades kindergarten through twelve (K-12) that should include school nurses, where appropriate;

(3) enforcement of youth tobacco control laws;

(4) state-wide programs with youth involvement to increase local coalition activities;

(5) tobacco cessation programs;

(6) tobacco-related disease prevention programs;

(7) a comprehensive public awareness and health promotion campaign;

(8) grants and contracts funded pursuant to this chapter for monitoring and evaluation, as well as data gathering; and

(9) other programs as deemed necessary by the board.

(d) There is hereby created an Advisory Committee to the State Board of Health, to be known as the "Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Advisory Committee". It shall be the duty and responsibility of the Committee to advise and assist the board in carrying out the provisions of this chapter. The Advisory Committee's authority shall be limited to an advisory function to the board. The Advisory Committee may, in consultation with the Department of Health, make recommendations to the board on the strategic plans for the prevention, cessation, and awareness elements of the comprehensive Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program. The Advisory Committee may also make recommendations to the board on the strategic vision and guiding principles of the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program.

(e) The Advisory Committee shall be governed as follows:

(1) The Advisory Committee shall consist of eighteen (18) members; one (1) member to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and one (1) member to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and sixteen (16) members to be appointed by the Governor. The Committee members appointed by the Governor shall be selected from a list of at least three (3) names submitted by each of the following designated groups to the Governor, and shall consist of the following: one (1) member appointed to represent the Arkansas Medical Society; one (1) member shall represent the Arkansas Hospital Association; one (1) member shall represent the American Cancer Society; one (1) member shall represent the American Heart Association; one (1) member shall represent the American Lung Association; one (1) member shall represent the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Arkansas; one (1) member shall represent Arkansans for Drug Free Youth; one (1) member shall represent the Department of Education; one (1) member shall represent the Arkansas Minority Health Commission; one (1) member shall represent the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement; one (1) member shall represent the Arkansas Association of Area Agencies on Aging; one (1) member shall represent the Arkansas Nurses Association; one (1) member shall represent the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, one (1) member shall represent the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; one member shall represent the League of United Latin American Citizens; and one (1) member shall represent the Arkansas Medical, Dental and Pharmaceutical Association. The Executive Committee of Arkansas Students Working Against Tobacco shall serve as youth advisors to this Advisory Committee. All members of this committee shall be residents of the State of Arkansas.

(2) The Advisory Committee will initially have four (4) members who will serve one (1) year terms; four (4) members who will serve two (2) year terms; five (5) members who will serve three (3) year terms; and five (5) members who will serve four (4) years. Members of the Advisory Committee shall draw lots to determine the length of the initial term. Subsequently appointed members shall be appointed for four (4) year terms and no member can serve more than two (2) consecutive full four (4) year terms. The terms shall commence on October 1st of each year.

(3) Members of the Advisory Committee shall not be entitled to compensation for their services, but may receive expense reimbursement in accordance with 25-16-902, to be paid from funds appropriated for this program to the Department of Health.

(4) Members appointed to the Advisory Committee and the organizations they represent shall make full disclosure of the member's participation on the Committee when applying for any grant or contract funded by this chapter.

(5) All members appointed to the Advisory Committee shall make full and public disclosure of any past or present association to the tobacco industry.

(6) The Advisory Committee shall, within ninety (90) days of appointment, hold a meeting and elect from its membership a chair for a term set by the Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee shall adopt bylaws.

(7) The Advisory Committee shall meet at least quarterly, however, special meetings may be called at any time at the pleasure of the State Board of Health or pursuant to the bylaws adopted by the Advisory Committee.

(f) The board is authorized to review the recommendations of the Advisory Committee. The board shall adopt and promulgate rules, standards and guidelines as necessary to implement the program in consultation with the Department of Health.

(g) The Department of Health in implementing this Program shall establish such performance based accountability procedures and requirements as are consistent with law.

(h) Each of the programs adopted pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to the monitoring and evaluation procedures described in 19-12-118.