1. The Legislature hereby declares that its priorities in expending the proceeds to the State of Nevada from settlement agreements with and civil actions against manufacturers of tobacco products are:

(a) To increase the number of Nevada students who attend and graduate from Nevada institutions of higher education; and

(b) To assist Nevada residents in obtaining and maintaining good health.

2. To further these priorities, the Legislature hereby declares that it is in the best interest of the residents of this State that all money received by the State of Nevada pursuant to any settlement entered into by the State of Nevada and a manufacturer of tobacco products and all money recovered by the State of Nevada from a judgment in a civil action against a manufacturer of tobacco products be dedicated solely toward the achievement of the following goals:

(a) Increasing the number of Nevada residents who enroll in and attend a university, college or community college in the State of Nevada;

(b) Reducing and preventing the use of tobacco products, alcohol and illegal drugs, especially by children;

(c) Expanding the availability of health insurance and health care for children and adults in this State, especially for children and for adults with disabilities;

(d) Assisting senior citizens and persons with disabilities who have modest incomes in purchasing prescription drugs, pharmaceutical services and, to the extent money is available, other services, including, without limitation, dental and vision services, and hearing aids or other devices that enhance the ability to hear, and assisting those senior citizens and persons with disabilities in meeting their needs related to health care, home care, respite care and their ability to live independent of institutional care; and

(e) Promoting the general health of all residents of the State of Nevada.

(Added to NRS by 1999, 2755; A 2001, 1418; 2005, 1570; 2007, 2336)