1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the impact of taxes on tobacco use and their role in tobacco and nicotine cessation programs.

2 Membership and Compensation.

I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:

(a) Four members of the house of representatives, with at least one each from the majority and minority parties, 2 of whom shall be members of the ways and means committee, one of whom shall be a member of the health, human services, and elderly affairs committee, and one of whom shall be a member of the commerce and consumer affairs committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.

III. The committee may seek input and advice from experts as the committee deems relevant to its study, including state and national level anti-smoking organizations, vaping and tobacco retailers, the New Hampshire Retail Association, the New Hampshire Hospital Association, the department of justice, and the department of revenue administration.

3 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Three members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

4 Duties. The committee shall study:

I. The tax rate for tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, for the delivery of nicotine, as compared to our regional competitors and the nation as a whole.

II. The role of taxes on tobacco and nicotine as a prevention and cessation tool for tobacco and nicotine use.

III. The effectiveness of New Hampshire's prevention and cessation programs.

IV. The purposes and performance of the tobacco settlement fund.

V. Coverage and access to services to help residents quit tobacco through cessation programs.

VI. The income losses to New Hampshire businesses due to online tobacco and nicotine sales to New Hampshire residents, and any potential for recovery of tobacco tax revenues for such sales to New Hampshire residents.

5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2020.

6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the impact of taxes on tobacco use and their role in tobacco and nicotine cessation programs.

2 Membership and Compensation.

I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:

(a) Four members of the house of representatives, with at least one each from the majority and minority parties, 2 of whom shall be members of the ways and means committee, one of whom shall be a member of the health, human services, and elderly affairs committee, and one of whom shall be a member of the commerce and consumer affairs committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.

III. The committee may seek input and advice from experts as the committee deems relevant to its study, including state and national level anti-smoking organizations, vaping and tobacco retailers, the New Hampshire Retail Association, the New Hampshire Hospital Association, the department of justice, and the department of revenue administration.

3 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Three members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

4 Duties. The committee shall study:

I. The tax rate for tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, for the delivery of nicotine, as compared to our regional competitors and the nation as a whole.

II. The role of taxes on tobacco and nicotine as a prevention and cessation tool for tobacco and nicotine use.

III. The effectiveness of New Hampshire's prevention and cessation programs.

IV. The purposes and performance of the tobacco settlement fund.

V. Coverage and access to services to help residents quit tobacco through cessation programs.

VI. The income losses to New Hampshire businesses due to online tobacco and nicotine sales to New Hampshire residents, and any potential for recovery of tobacco tax revenues for such sales to New Hampshire residents.

5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2020.

6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.