WASHINGTON, March 10 /U.S. Newswire/ -- More than 400 bills aimed at managing and allocating state tobacco settlement funds have been filed in state legislatures across the country. According to a recently released National Conference of State Leg

The survey reports that 44 states have passed or are considering measures that would attempt to prevent or reduce smoking by children. Legislation in at least 12 states designates school-based, community-based or after-school programs as recipients of tobacco settlement funds to implement smoking prevention programs. Vermont has legislation pending that would establish a Tobacco Free Vermont Endowment Fund to be used for smoking cessation and prevention programs. The majority of enacted and pending legislation has focused on the area of health care. Proposals in 41 states would allocate settlement monies for indigent care programs, primary care, expanding insurance coverage to the working poor, SCHIP programs as well as numerous other purposes. A Florida law appropriates $15.6 million to establish a program for high-risk pregnant women who otherwise may not seek prenatal care. "The Master Settlement Agreement between the states and the tobacco companies has created many opportunities for states that they otherwise would not have had," said NCSL's Executive Director William Pound. "State legislatures have responded in a responsible, timely manner to address the need of their respective constituencies." The National Conference of State Legislatures is a bipartisan organization created to serve the legislators and staffs of the nation's 50 states, its commonwealths and territories and the District of Columbia. NCSL provides research, technical assistance and the opportunity for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues. NCSL is also an effective and respected representative for the interests of state governments before Congress and federal agencies. Members of the media may obtain a complimentary copy of the survey by contacting Bill Wyatt at 202-624-8667.

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