PA Governor Signs Tobacco Settlement Bill

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge has signed House Bill 2, which provides for the distribution of 12 percent of the tobacco settlement funds the state will receive to establish tobacco prevention and tobacco treatment programs on a local and statewide basis.

The state’s share of the total settlement amount is around $3.5 billion, and the bill therefore would make $42 million available for the needed programs. Pennsylvania spends an estimated $4 billion a year on tobacco related illnesses.