How the Hawaii tobacco prevention and control trust fund works

(a) There is established the Hawaii tobacco prevention and control trust fund as a separate fund of a nonprofit entity having a board of directors and qualifying under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, into which shall be deposited moneys received as provided under section 328L-2(b)(2). The director of health with the concurrence of the governor, shall select, in accordance with law, the entity based upon the proven record of accomplishment of the entity in administering a similar trust fund. (b) Notwithstanding that the Hawaii tobacco prevention and control trust fund is established within a private entity, the department of budget and finance shall have oversight authority over the fund and may make periodic financial audits of the fund; provided that the director of finance may contract with a certified public accountancy firm for this purpose. The director of health with the concurrence of the governor in their sole discretion may rescind the selection of the entity. If the selection of the entity [is] rescinded, moneys in the trust fund shall revert back to the State and shall be deemed to be trust moneys. (c) The entity selected under subsection (a), for each fiscal year, may expend up to fifty per cent of the total market value of the Hawaii tobacco prevention and control trust fund on the preceding June 30, for tobacco prevention and control, including but not limited to, reducing cigarette smoking and tobacco use among youth and adults through education and enforcement activities, and controlling and preventing chronic diseases where tobacco is a risk factor. (d) The Hawaii tobacco prevention and control trust fund may receive appropriations, contributions, grants, endowments, or gifts in cash or otherwise from any source, including the State, corporations or other businesses, foundations, government, individuals, and other interested parties; provided that any appropriations made by the State shall not supplant or diminish the funding of existing tobacco prevention and control programs or any health related programs funded in whole or in part by the State. (e) The assets of the Hawaii tobacco prevention and control trust fund shall consist of: (1) Moneys appropriated under section 328L-2(b)(2); (2) Moneys appropriated to the Hawaii tobacco prevention and control trust fund by the state, county, or federal government; (3) Private contributions of cash or property; and (4) Income and capital gains earned by the trust fund. (f) The aggregate principal sum deposited in the Hawaii tobacco prevention and control trust fund shall be invested by the entity selected under subsection (a) in a manner intended to maximize the rate of return on investment of the trust fund consistent with the objective of preserving the trust fund's principal. (g) If the entity selected under subsection (a) is dissolved, the director of health, with the concurrence of the governor, shall select a successor entity. If the Hawaii tobacco prevention and control trust fund is terminated, the moneys remaining in the trust fund shall revert back to the State and shall be deemed to be trust moneys. (h) The administration of the Hawaii tobacco prevention and control trust fund shall be advised by the tobacco prevention and control advisory board created under section 328L-6.