On June 26, 2001, Act 77 of 2001 was signed into law. Chapter 7 of the Tobacco Settlement Act outlined the requirements for prevention and cessation activities. The Act established a tobacco use prevention and cessation program within the Department of Health. A total of 12% of the funding was directed for prevention and cessation. Seventy percent of these funds must be provided to primary contractors to establish community-based comprehensive tobacco control programs. The Act required the Department to divide the Commonwealth into no more than 67 service areas and foster collaboration among geographic regions within the Commonwealth. The Department may enter into contracts not to exceed three years with at least one and no more than two primary contractors in each service area. The remaining funds (30%) are to be used for statewide efforts consistent with the priorities of the Act.

The Act defined a primary contractor as a person located in the Commonwealth that develops, implements or monitors tobacco use prevention and cessation programs in a service area and defines a service provider as a person located in the Commonwealth that is selected by the primary contractor to receive a grant to provide tobacco use prevention and cessation programs.

Tobacco use prevention and cessation components are outlined as follows:

1. Statewide, community and school programs designed to reduce tobacco use
2. Chronic disease programs to reduce the burden of tobacco-related diseases, including prevention and early detection
3. Enforcement of applicable laws related to tobacco access
4. Efforts designed to counter tobacco influences and increase health-related message
5. Tobacco cessation programs, with a priority for serving the uninsured and low-income populations
6. Monitoring program accountability by requiring the evaluation and documentation of, or conducting research regarding the effectiveness of the program and program results
7. Administration and management to facilitate the coordination of state and local programs

The Act prohibits a tobacco company or an agent or subsidiary of a tobacco company from being awarded a contract or grant as a statewide contractor, primary contractor, or service provider.

Act 77 established the Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Advisory Committee. This committee is comprised of the Secretary of Health; four members appointed by the Secretary; one member appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate and one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. Members have authority to make recommendations to the Secretary of Health on the Department’s program priorities, on the delivery of cessation services by approved healthcare practitioners, and on the evaluation procedures used for approving primary contractors and service providers.

The Department’s goals support Healthy People 2010 objectives established for the nation’s health. They are:

• Reduce consumption of tobacco products in Pennsylvania youth and adults to less than 12% by the year 2010
• Change community norms through state-advised, community-driven systems that create environments where it is uncommon to see, use or be negatively impacted by tobacco products and tobacco smoke pollution

The Department has also identified the following priority populations:

• Youth
• Pregnant women and women of childbearing years
• Disparate populations including ethnic and racial minorities and persons with low socio-economic status

Resources are in the hands of local communities and statewide programs are established. The collaborative efforts developed through this process are actively affecting youth and adult tobacco use.