Summary: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that Kansas spend $32.1 million a year to have an effective, comprehensive tobacco prevention program.  Kansas currently receives $2.0 million a year for tobacco prevention and cessation, which includes both state and federal funds.  This is 6.2% of the CDC's recommendation and ranks Kansas 42nd among the states in the funding of tobacco prevention programs.  Kansas's spending on tobacco prevention amounts to 1.1% of the estimated $180 million in tobacco-generated revenue the state collects each year from settlement payments and tobacco taxes.

Recent Developments: Kansas' tobacco settlement funds are governed by a law that directs all the state's tobacco settlement payments to a trust fund to support youth programs. The FY2009 budget approved by the Legislature and signed by Governor Kathleen Sebelius (D) provides just $1.0 million for tobacco prevention (of the $58 million directed into the trust fund this year). Since funding continues to be inadequate for a statewide tobacco prevention program based on CDC recommendations, the funding supports countywide prevention programs in selected areas of the state. Kansas is spending minimal amounts on tobacco prevention despite the fact that the state is receiving more tobacco-generated revenue than ever before as a result of a 55-cent cigarette tax increase, bringing it to 79 cents a pack, which was approved in 2002. For FY2009, Kansas will receive $2.0 million in state and federal funds for tobacco prevention programs.