State Legislature Dismantles Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation

Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation has been the source of funding for Smokefree Communities of Vanderburgh County for nearly 10 years.

To summarize, the state budget for the new biennium starting July 1, 2011:

** abolishes ITPC and gives all of the agency’s assets to Indiana State Department of Health; and
** appropriates $8,057,031 per year for tobacco prevention and cessation programs, down from the $10.8 million per year that was appropriated in the last budget for the current biennium that ends June 30th.

Thanks again for everyone’s considerable efforts to SAVE ITPC (and the funding they provided to 64 local community partners and 28 jobs just in Southwestern Indiana) during the final 10 days of session since the proposal was added to the budget bill.

For coalition members, I’m sure many of you have questions about what happens now–I think we all are wondering about that. I would hope and would anticipate that the the opportunity will present itself sometime before too long to hear from ISDH how this transition will be implemented. I’m certain that the ITPC staff will keep us apprised of relevant details as they learn them also. Please be patient as I’m sure they are awaiting more clarity and illumination of the answers to many questions. Feel free to call me if you have questions. I hope to have more information to you by our next coalition meeting scheduled for May 19 at 3:30 p.m. in the Browning Room of Central Library.

Oh, and guess what– say “hi” to your newest partners in tobacco prevention here in Indiana– Indiana’s two horse-racing gambling venues — Hoosier Park Racing and Casino and Indiana Downs.

Not only does the new Indiana budget abolish ITPC and cut tobacco control funding from $10.8million/year to $8million/year, but also the new state budget approved by the Indiana legislature takes the first $3million/yr from the gross adjusted receipts from slot machine wagering at Indiana two horse-racing gambling facilities — Hoosier Park and Indiana Downs [$1.5 million/yr from each of them respectively] — and requires that turned over to the State Treasurer to be deposited into the MSA fund for the purposes of the state’s tobacco use prevention and cessation program.

The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids sent out the following email to the regional office after the announcement.

Friday evening, the legislature abolished the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation program and moved the agency’s responsibility and budget to the Indiana State Department of Health. The nationally respected program will close its doors in June of this year.