State anti-smoking agency faces elimination

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana legislators are considering a proposal that would eliminate the state's anti-smoking agency and transfer its duties to the State Department of Health.

State Budget Director Chris Ruhl has told legislators that abolishing the Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation board could save between $1.1 million and $1.5 million in overhead and administration.

Ruhl says that smoking is the only health issue with its own state agency and oversight. He also questioned the board's effectiveness, although new state figures show that the Indiana adult smoking rate was 23.1 percent for 2009 -- down from 26.9 percent when the board was created in 2000.

Kevin O'Flaherty of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids says funding for anti-smoking efforts wasn't maintained when stand-alone agencies were eliminated in other states.