The Office of the Attorney General makes these annual funds available to local law enforcement agencies through the California Department of Justice (DOJ) Tobacco Grant Program.
Donor Name: U.S. Department of Justice
State: California
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/28/2024
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
The California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016 (Proposition 56) funding helps promote a healthier California by reducing illegal retail sales and marketing of cigarettes and tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to minors.
Since its inception in 2017, the Tobacco Grant Program has distributed approximately $184.7 million in grant funding through a competitive process.
Funding Priorities
DOJ’s Tobacco Grant Program application process is highly competitive. In accordance with Proposition 56, funds will be awarded to applicants demonstrating strong capacity to support and/or hire enforcement officers for activities specifically aimed at reducing the illegal retail sales and/or marketing of tobacco products to minors and youth.
Priority Activities Considered
Priority activities include, but are not limited to:
- Enforcing state tobacco laws and local ordinances, including the statewide flavor ban (and similar local ordinances) through retailer inspections and enforcement operations (e.g. minor decoy, shoulder tap, undercover buys in stores and online)
- Consumer protection enforcement (investigations and prosecution)
- Compliance checks and inspections of tobacco retailers and online services that deliver tobacco products
- Task force coordination among local agencies
- Retailer education and diversion for retailers violating state tobacco laws
- Education for enforcement officers regarding state tobacco laws and local ordinances.
Funding Information
- An estimated $28.5 million in grant funding is available this year to support local enforcement efforts to reduce illegal retail sales and marketing of tobacco products to minors and youth.
- The Tobacco Grant Program is a reimbursement grant. DOJ will reimburse selected public agencies, in arrears, for approved expenditures upon receipt of invoices, quarterly progress reports, and other enforcement data required.
Project Period
Selected public agencies will be funded for 24 or 36 months. Projects are expected to begin on or about November 1, 2024 and must terminate on or before June 30, 2028.
Uses of funds
Grantees may use grant funds for activities including, but not limited to:
- Enforcement of flavor ban laws/ordinances
- Retailer compliance and licensing checks
- Consumer protection investigation and enforcement actions
- Illegal online sales and marketing, including use of door-to-door delivery services
- Development of task forces (regional working groups) for enforcement operations
- Retailer training and diversion programs.
Eligibility Criteria
Any local public agency within the State of California that has authority to enforce tobacco-related state laws or local ordinances related to retail tobacco sales and marketing is eligible to apply. This may include police and sheriffs’ departments, district and city attorneys and county counsels, public health departments, cities, counties, and public school/college districts.
For more information, visit DOJ.
