American Lung Association of Nevada

State of Tobacco Control Report Card
The American Lung Association in Nevada partners with several coalitions and our many strong grassroots supporters statewide to advance strong tobacco control policies. When tourism decreases, Nevada state tax revenues decline. As a result, it becomes more challenging to maintain tobacco control funding, but it becomes easier to advocate for increased taxes on cigarettes/tobacco products.
Unfortunately, lawmakers reduced the Fund for Healthy Nevada tobacco control program funding by $500,000 and added it to the state’s general fund. However, this is not a permanent reduction. State funding could be restored to the previous level of $3.4 million in 2010.

The current state cigarette excise tax remains at 80 cents per pack after an unsuccessful push in 2009 to raise the excise tax by 20 cents; the effort died in committee. Attempts to dismantle or weaken the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act took place during the 2009 Nevada Legislative session as well. Senate bill 372 would have allowed smoking once again in many indoor places of employment. The measure would also have removed the right of local governments’ to pass stronger smokefree laws. Alongside our partners, we fought this legislation and were successful in defeating it.

However, language was added to a bill in conference committee to allow smoking once again in convention facilities when they host meetings or trade shows relating to tobacco or convenience stores. This exemption to the Clean Indoor Air Act was passed, and it went into effect in December 2009.

A survey conducted by the American Cancer Society— Cancer Action Network and Lake Research Partners found that a majority of Nevada voters (72%) support the current 2006 Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act and, by more than a five-to-one margin, say they are more likely to go to a restaurant or bar if it is smokefree.

Also in 2009, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) released a report on the exposure of workers in Las Vegas casinos to potentially dangerous levels of secondhand smoke at work. The report recommended making casinos 100 percent smokefree.

The possibility of a special legislative session called by the governor poses special challenges as we fight to preserve and increase tobacco control program funding. The American Lung Association in Nevada will work with our partners to continue to push for a 20-cent increase in the tobacco excise tax. We expect further attempts to weaken or eliminate the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act by opponents. Despite the economy, we continue to develop the concepts, philosophies, and partnerships to address tobacco health disparities, knowing that tobacco impacts most the health and wealth of those who can afford it the least.

Click here to view Nevada ’s report.

For the full report or to view reports from other areas in the United States, click here.