The Florida Legislature recognizes that there is a State Constitutional amendment that requires the funding of a statewide tobacco education and use prevention program that focuses on tobacco use and youth. In order to effectively implement the many aspects of the tobacco program, in 2007, the legislature established the Tobacco Education and Use Prevention Advisory Council, according to section 381.84, Florida Statutes.
The council is comprised of 23 members, with the State Surgeon General serving as the chair, and meets virtually each quarter.
Meetings
2025
March 27, 2025
May 22, 2025
August 21, 2025
November 12, 2025
Advisory Council Responsibilities
The main duties of the council are to offer advice to the State Surgeon General on the direction and scope of the Comprehensive Statewide Tobacco Education and Use Prevention Program. These duties include, but are not limited to:
- Program priorities and emphases.
- Overall program budget.
- Advice on copyrighted material.
- Trademarks and future transactions as they pertain to the tobacco education and use prevention program.
- Review of broadcast material, periodic program evaluation.
- Assisting in the development of guidelines to ensure fairness, neutrality and adherence to the principles of merit and quality in the conduct of the program.
- Assisting in the development of administrative procedures, relating to solicitation, review and award of contracts and grants in order to ensure an impartial, high quality peer review system.
- Assisting in the development and review of peer review panels.
- Reviewing reports of peer review panels and making recommendations for contracts and grants.
- Reviewing the activities and evaluating the performance of the AHEC network to avoid duplicative efforts using state funds.
- Recommending meaningful outcomes measures through a regular review of tobacco-use prevention and education strategies and programs of other states and the federal government.
- Recommending policies to encourage a coordinated response to tobacco use in this state, focusing specifically on creating partnership within and between the public and private sectors.