Agency waits on action at Statehouse

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - State legislators could adjourn today and one state agency is anxiously waiting to see if it will be spared from cuts.

A provision in Senate Bill 298 would have moved operations of the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Agency under the control of the Indiana State Department of Health.

As of Friday morning, this language was not being considered in any bill. But Tobacco Free Partnership of Tippecanoe County Coordinator Tristan Kirby said she feared it could be added at any time. She said if it goes into effect, it could undermine the agency's efforts to lower smoking rates.

"Currently the State Department of Health currently does not handle any prevention programs so this would be a new area for them. The funds would then go from a restricted-only for Tobacco Prevention and Cessation use to a more general fund where they could be utilized for programs as seen fit by the legislature," Kirby said.

Kirby said the statewide tobacco prevention and cessation efforts are paying off. She said the Center for Disease Control estimated that Indiana's adult smoking rate has dropped from 26 percent to 23 percent since last year.