Call to Order and Roll Call
The 6th meeting of the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee was held on Wednesday, July 6, 2016, at 10:00 AM, in Room 129 of the Capitol Annex. Senator C.B. Embry Jr., Chair, called the meeting to order, and the secretary called the roll.
Present were:
Members: Senator C.B. Embry Jr., Co-Chair; Representative Wilson Stone, Co-Chair; Senators Carroll Gibson, Dennis Parrett, and Whitney Westerfield; Representatives Mike Denham, Tom McKee, Terry Mills, Jonathan Shell, and James Tipton.
Guests: Warren Beeler, Executive Director, Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy, Bill McCloskey, Director of Financial Services, Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy, and Andrew Waters, Health Promotion Branch Manager, Department for Public Health.
LRC Staff: Lowell Atchley, Kelly Ludwig, and Marielle Manning.
Upon motion made by Senator Parrett and seconded by Representative Mills, the June 1, 2016 minutes were approved upon voice vote and without objection.
Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy
Mr. Warren Beeler, Executive Director, and Mr. Bill McCloskey, Director of Financial Services, Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy, presented the projects receiving the Agricultural Development Board approval at its June 2016 meeting. Those included approved amendments, youth heifer purchase, youth learning area, equipment for an organic farmers market, Harvest Showcase, On-farm investments, Deceased Farm Animal Removal Program, Shared-use equipment, and major statewide or regional projects.
GOAP representatives responded to committee members’ questions about hemp production and the shared-use funding commitments.
Responding to Representative McKee, Mr. Warren Beeler agreed that hemp production and greenhouses are growing and there is much to learn. Representative McKee also mentioned the agriculture agenda at the Southern Legislative Conference.
Responding to Representative Stone’s question, Mr. Warren Beeler explained that State Police require GPS locations for hemp production. Affidavits are required to move hemp, as well.
Responding to Representative Stone’s question on shared-use equipment, GOAP representatives explained the housing of the squeeze shoot for the Daviess County Cattleman’s Association would be supervised by the Cattleman’s Association.
The committee received reports on four regional projects: (1) McLean County 4H, approved by the board for $900 in McLean County funds for the purchase of a heifer for the winner of the Dustin Worthington “I Love Cows” essay contest; (2) McLean County Cooperative Extension, approved by the board for $1,500 in McLean County funds for a youth learning area at the McLean County Ag Festival; (3) MozzaPi LLC, approved by the board for $12,902 in state funds as a 5-year forgivable loan, for capital improvements to an organic farmers market and grain mill in Anchorage, Ky; and (4) The Berry Center, Inc., approved by the board for $5,000 in Henry County funds to support the Henry County Harvest Showcase.
GOAP officials asked for the committee members’ opinion on considering a youth County Agricultural Investment Program (CAIP). Responding to Representative Stone’s question, an entity, like the Cattleman’s Association or 4-H, would oversee the youth CAIP. Representative Denham encouraged the youth CAIP idea.
Representative Stone commented on the Allen County project to build an exhibition building.
Representative Mills commented on the use of FFA in the youth CAIP program and asked a question about marketing efforts towards fixing the problems between vehicle traffic and farm equipment.
GOAP officials responded to Representative Mills’ question and mentioned the re-run promotional ads and “four percent money” available to county extension offices for sponsorships.
Representative Gibson said the car traffic and farm equipment conflict goes both ways. Representative Gibson contacted the Transportation Cabinet. The signs and notices are available, but there is not much use in putting up the signs.
Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program
Mr. Andrew Waters, Health Promotion Branch Manager, Department for Public Health, presented the annual report on the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program.
Responding to Senator Embry’s question, Mr. Waters said that Kentucky is currently ranked second highest in the nation for adult smoking rates.
Responding to Representative Tipton’s question, Mr. Waters explained that the Department for Public Health provides some oversight for local health departments by approving work plans and providing best practices of tobacco control. The department also promotes the 1-800-QUIT line and local cessation classes.
Responding to Representative Denham’s question about the decline in children’s smoking rates, Mr. Waters said the younger generation is more aware of the health effects of smoking and more engaged in a healthy lifestyle, as well as a decline of smoking as the norm in today’s society.
Responding to Representative Stone’s question, Mr. Waters said the graph provided does not account for any state salaries. The miscellaneous expenses are mostly operating costs.
Responding to Representative McKee’s question about smokeless tobacco and electronic cigarettes, Mr. Waters explained that the Department for Public Health tracks smokeless tobacco usage, but it is a relatively low rate; about 7 percent of adults use electronic cigarettes. Mr. Waters noted electronic cigarettes are not a safer alternative.
Representative McKee commented on the age group of 15-18 year olds and their use of smokeless tobacco.
Responding to Representative Mill’s question about marijuana use among high school students, Mr. Waters said the CDC survey should capture that information.
Documents distributed during the meeting are available with meeting materials in the LRC Library. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.