Advocates Push for HB 187 Vaping Prevention at the Capitol
Advocates working to decrease cancer in Kentucky rallied at the Kentucky State Capitol on Feb. 11, urging lawmakers to support a bill that allocates the remaining Juul settlement money for evidence-based youth vaping prevention and cessation programs. The bill awaits its first committee hearing.
Doug Hogan, government relations director for the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network, highlighted that despite the bad weather, volunteers participated in Cancer Action Day at the Capitol and met with nearly 30 lawmakers to advocate for House Bill 187.
A Personal Perspective on Prevention
Jennifer True, a volunteer with ACS CAN, shared her perspective with Kentucky Health News. As a breast cancer survivor and former caretaker of a loved one with cancer, she emphasized her commitment to volunteering with ACS CAN to tell her story and promote prevention.
“Today, we are here talking about the Juul settlement money and making sure that that goes toward education for our youth in Kentucky so that they don’t ever start vaping,” she said.
Vaping and Smoking Rates Among Kentucky Youth
In Kentucky, 5% of high school students smoke and almost 20% use e-cigarettes, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
Details of HB 187 Vaping Prevention
Rep. Robert Duvall, R-Bowling Green, sponsored HB 187, which seeks to establish the Vaping Settlement Trust Fund. This fund would redirect all future Juul settlement dollars from the state’s General Fund to support youth vaping prevention and cessation efforts through the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program of the Department for Public Health.
Origins of the Juul Settlement
The Juul settlement money comes from a multi-state lawsuit over Juul’s marketing practices toward youth, totaling nearly $435 million, divided among 33 states and Puerto Rico. Kentucky received $14 million from the settlement to be delivered over several years.
If HB 187 passes, the remaining $7.2 million of Kentucky’s settlement money over six years would go into the newly established trust fund, ensuring its exclusive use for youth vaping prevention and cessation.
Legislative Support and Challenges
This year’s bill has four co-sponsors, including Republican Reps. Daniel Fister of Versailles, Mark Hart of Falmouth, Kim King of Harrodsburg and Walker Thomas of Hopkinsville.
The bill currently resides in the House Appropriations & Revenue Committee, but has not yet had a hearing. Two similar bills were introduced during the last legislative session, but were dead on arrival.
Potential Impact on the State Budget
Duvall said he had “had some conversations” with the chairman of the House A&R Committee about the bill.
“I haven’t been given a definite answer at this point whether or not it’s going to be taken up, but I continue to make my case that this is an important legislation and it’s for for a great cause,” he said.
He also recognized that the passage of this bill would mean there would be money coming out of the General Fund, but said doing so would ultimately save the state money.
“It’s going to save us a lot more in the long run when you look at health issues that are going to arise from this,” he said. “So I think it’s a cost savings to invest in prevention and cessation.”
The Cost of Smoking in Kentucky
Kentucky’s annual health care costs directly caused by smoking is $2.23 billion, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
Broad Support from Health Organizations on HB 187 Vaping Prevention
The bill also has the support of 16 health, medical provider, patient and advocacy organizations that sent a letter dated Feb. 11 to legislators in support of HB 187.
Including ACS CAN, the other organizations are the American Heart Association, Kentucky, American Lung Association, Kentucky, Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, Breathe Easy NKY Coalition, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, Kentucky Hospital Association, Kentucky Medical Association, Kentucky Pharmacists Association, Kentucky Primary Care Association, Kentucky Voices for Health, Kentucky Youth Advocates, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, UK Markey Cancer Center and UofL Brown Cancer Center.
“Investing JUUL settlement dollars in youth prevention, instead of depositing the annual payments in the state general fund, is a crucial first step for Kentucky to protect the next generation from a lifetime of addiction,” says the letter, in part. “Research shows that the more states spend on comprehensive tobacco control programs, the greater the reductions in smoking. The longer states invest in such programs, the greater and quicker the impact.”
Optimism for HB 187’s Passage
Duvall said he is optimistic that HB 187 will pass, noting that he has had “really good” feedback from his peers, saying they like the idea of this money being used for prevention.
“Everybody knows that it’s a problem and it’s a growing problem,” he said. “So it’s not going to get better unless we do something about it. I think this is probably the best way we can . . . help prevent these kids from starting, and also help them (stop). Because, you know, there’s a myth out there that this is safe. That’s a false sense of security, that this is safe, and we know that’s not correct.”
Kentucky Health News is an independent news service of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, based in the School of Journalism and Media at the University of Kentucky, with support from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky.
