| Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: |
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| | Sec. 1. 22 MRSA c. 102, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 560, Pt. D, §2, is | amended by repealing the chapter headnote and enacting in its | place the following: |
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| TOBACCO AND HEALTH PROTECTION |
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| | Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §273 is enacted to read: |
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| §273.__Tobacco Settlement Dedicated Fund |
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| | The Tobacco Settlement Dedicated Fund, referred to in this | section as the "fund," is established to receive all revenue from | any settlement of pending or potential legal action against | tobacco manufacturers brought by the State. |
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| | 1.__Uses.__Revenue to the fund may be used only for the | purposes listed in this subsection: |
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| A.__Smoking cessation public education, seminars, treatment | clinics and costs; |
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| B.__Expansion of the elderly low-cost drug program under | section 254 to cover health care expenses for smoking- | related illness and disease; |
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| C.__Health care coverage for persons who are unable to | afford coverage; and |
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| D.__Payment of health care costs for persons who use tobacco | products. |
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| | 2.__Dedicated fund.__The fund is a special, dedicated, | nonlapsing fund and any interest generated by the fund is | credited to the fund.__The department shall administer the fund. |
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| | 3.__Limitation.__Expenditure of funds is limited to 3/4 of the | revenue deposited into the fund each year.__Funds in excess of | the 3/4 limitation may be approved for expenditure by vote of 3/4 | of the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives. |
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| | This bill creates the Tobacco Settlement Dedicated Fund to | receive revenue from the settlement of litigation between the | State and the tobacco manufacturers. The fund may be used for |
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