S105 - 2021 Appropriations Act. (SL 2021-180)

Overview: Section 9G.10.(a) of S.L. 2021-180 creates the Youth Electronic Nicotine Dependence Abatement Fund (Fund) within the Division of Public Health (DPH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), as a nonreverting special fund. The Fund consists of monies received by the State as a beneficiary of the final consent judgment resolving the case, State of North Carolina, ex rel. Joshua H. Stein, Attorney General v. Juul Labs, Inc. (JLI Case), and all interest and investment earnings received on monies in the Fund.

Section 9G.10.(b) of the act appropriates from the Fund to DPH $13 million in nonrecurring funds for the 2021-2022 fiscal year to be used and allocated as follows:

• $2 million to the Department of Justice to cover the costs of litigation.
• $4.4 million for tobacco cessation media campaigns, resources, and programs to help both youth and young adults who have become addicted to nicotine using e-cigarettes and other tobacco/nicotine products quit.
• $3.3 million for evidence-based media and education campaigns to prevent the initiation of tobacco use.
• $1.1 million for data monitoring to track tobacco/nicotine use and exposure among youth and young adults and populations at risk and for independent evaluation of the reach and effectiveness of the State's tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
• $2.2 million for staff, projects, and systems to educate partners and stakeholders about evidence-based policy, systems, and environmental change to help youth quit tobacco/nicotine products and prevent initiation of tobacco/nicotine products; and to track compliance with the conduct provisions set forth in Part III of the final consent judgment resolving the JLI Case.

Section 9G.10.(c) of the act directs DHHS to report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and the Fiscal Research Division on the expenditures made from the Fund during the preceding fiscal year annually on September 1.

This section became effective July 1, 2021.