Delaware News

Delaware Department of Justice announces $31 million tobacco payment

Civil Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Monday, April 20, 2009



Today, the Delaware Department of Justice announced that Delaware has received
its annual payment from the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) between the states and the tobacco
industry. Payments totaling $31,027,740 were received on April 15 and April 17 and have been
deposited into the Delaware Health Fund.

“I am pleased that Delaware continues to receive significant payments from the Master
Settlement Agreement,” stated Chief Deputy Attorney General Richard Gebelein. “Now more than
ever these funds support critical public health programs across our state. We’ll continue to enforce all
provisions of the Agreement to reduce tobacco use, particularly among children.”

Under the MSA, participating tobacco manufacturers make substantial payments to states that
have reached settlements with the industry. The MSA created new restrictions on the advertising,
promotion and marketing of cigarettes, including outright bans on targeting youth and distribution of
merchandise advertising a cigarette brand. It also funds anti-tobacco education. Studies show that the
vast majority of current adult smokers began smoking before the age of 18, and since the MSA took
effect, youth smoking rates have dropped nationwide.

The Delaware Department of Justice administers the state’s participation in the MSA.
The 1999 Delaware Health Act established the Delaware Health Fund, which receives
payments received by the state under the MSA, created the Delaware Health Fund Advisory
Committee to make recommendations for appropriating monies received by the Delaware Health Fund,
and directed how money paid into the fund should be spent. Learn more about how Delaware
appropriates its MSA payments by visiting http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/healthfund/about.html.
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Delaware Department of Justice announces $31 million tobacco payment

Civil Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Monday, April 20, 2009



Today, the Delaware Department of Justice announced that Delaware has received
its annual payment from the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) between the states and the tobacco
industry. Payments totaling $31,027,740 were received on April 15 and April 17 and have been
deposited into the Delaware Health Fund.

“I am pleased that Delaware continues to receive significant payments from the Master
Settlement Agreement,” stated Chief Deputy Attorney General Richard Gebelein. “Now more than
ever these funds support critical public health programs across our state. We’ll continue to enforce all
provisions of the Agreement to reduce tobacco use, particularly among children.”

Under the MSA, participating tobacco manufacturers make substantial payments to states that
have reached settlements with the industry. The MSA created new restrictions on the advertising,
promotion and marketing of cigarettes, including outright bans on targeting youth and distribution of
merchandise advertising a cigarette brand. It also funds anti-tobacco education. Studies show that the
vast majority of current adult smokers began smoking before the age of 18, and since the MSA took
effect, youth smoking rates have dropped nationwide.

The Delaware Department of Justice administers the state’s participation in the MSA.
The 1999 Delaware Health Act established the Delaware Health Fund, which receives
payments received by the state under the MSA, created the Delaware Health Fund Advisory
Committee to make recommendations for appropriating monies received by the Delaware Health Fund,
and directed how money paid into the fund should be spent. Learn more about how Delaware
appropriates its MSA payments by visiting http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/healthfund/about.html.
# # #

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.