A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT appropriating funds to the department of health and human services, division of public health, tobacco prevention and control branch, to educate and inform adult leaders and youth about the dangers of electronic cigarettes and other new emerging tobacco products.
Whereas, between 2011 and 2015, use of electronic cigarettes among North Carolina high school students increased by eight hundred eighty‑eight percent (888%), from one and seven‑tenths percent (1.7%) to sixteen and eight‑tenths percent (16.8%); and
Whereas, between 2011 and 2013, overall tobacco use increased from twenty‑five and eight‑tenths percent (25.8%) to twenty‑nine and seven‑tenths percent (29.7%) due to the increased use of emerging tobacco products, such as electronic cigarettes, hookah, and flavored little cigars; and
Whereas, despite the decrease in the use of cigarettes among young people, the increased use of emerging tobacco products, such as electronic cigarettes, is beginning to reverse the downward trend of overall tobacco use among young people in North Carolina; and
Whereas, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC), high school students who had reportedly never smoked but used electronic cigarettes at baseline were 2.7 times more likely to progress to using combustible tobacco after one year, as compared to high school students who never used electronic cigarettes; and
Whereas, the CDC reports that adolescents and young adults in the United States who had reportedly never smoked but used electronic cigarettes at baseline were 8.3 times more likely to progress to cigarette smoking after one year, as compared to nonusers of electronic cigarettes; and
Whereas, nicotine poses unique dangers to the developing human body and disrupts brain circuit formation in the developing adolescent brain; and
Whereas; nicotine poisoning can occur among users via ingestion of nicotine liquid, absorption through skin, and inhalation; and
Whereas, electronic cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery products can be modified to accommodate other psychoactive substances, often with little or no detection; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Tobacco Prevention and Control (TPC) Branch, the sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) for the 2016‑2017 fiscal year. The TPC Branch shall use these funds to do all of the following:
(1)	Implement educational programs throughout the State for adult leaders with influence over decisions made by youth concerning health, including pediatricians, family practice physicians, school nurses, and parents, about the dangers of electronic cigarettes and other new emerging tobacco products. Licensed professionals who complete these educational programs may apply to their respective licensing boards for continuing education credits.
(2)	Educate and inform youth about the dangers of electronic cigarettes and other new emerging tobacco products.
(3)	Collect information on knowledge, attitudes, awareness, and behaviors of youth with respect to electronic cigarettes and new emerging tobacco products; and monitor trends in these areas.
(4)	Work with youth to (i) develop messages that empower youth to avoid using electronic cigarettes and other new emerging tobacco products and (ii) build community support for evidence‑based tobacco‑free living policies.
(5)	Create one temporary Project Coordinator position within the TPC Branch to oversee and support the projects and activities authorized by this section.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2016.