Learn About The Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
The department has the following powers and duties:
(1) To administer the program in a manner which provides Statewide and local services to Commonwealth residents.
(2) To annually establish program priorities for the Commonwealth.
(3) On a Statewide basis, to award grants and enter into contracts to implement the priorities established under paragraph (2). The department shall set specific goals with measurable objectives to monitor the reduction of tobacco consumption under related programs developed by Statewide grant recipients.
(4) To divide this Commonwealth into no more than 67 service areas in order to provide for the effective and geographically dispersed delivery of the program. The department shall foster collaboration among geographic regions of this Commonwealth.
(5) To enter into contracts under section 708 1 with at least one and no more than two primary contractors in each service area.
(6) To approve plans submitted by primary contractors, which shall include specific goals with measurable objectives to be met by the primary contractors for each service area.
(7) To coordinate, monitor and evaluate the program funded under this chapter to ensure compliance with priorities and goals and to ensure delivery of program services in all geographic areas of this Commonwealth. The program shall be coordinated with other efforts to prevent and reduce exposure to and consumption of tobacco.
(8) To determine the level of tobacco use in this Commonwealth and each of the service areas and monitor changes in the level of tobacco use in this Commonwealth and each of the service areas based on available information.
(9) To pursue grants for tobacco use prevention and cessation as provided in section VI(g) of the Master Settlement Agreement. All money awarded to the department under this paragraph shall be listed in the report under paragraph (10).
(10) To prepare and submit a report no later than November 30, 2002, and annually thereafter to the chair and minority chair of the Public Health and Welfare Committee of the Senate and the chair and minority chair of the Health and Human Services Committee of the House of Representatives. The annual report shall be made available for public inspection and posted on the department's publicly accessible World Wide Web site. The report shall include the activities of the department in implementing this chapter, including:
(i) Identification of Statewide grant recipients and the grant amount awarded to each recipient.
(ii) Identification of the primary contractor and all service providers in each service area and the grant amounts awarded to each contractor and each provider.
(iii) Identification of program priorities under paragraph (2).
(iv) The goals of each primary contractor and whether its goals have been met.
(v) The information and methodology derived from the implementation of paragraph (8), along with any recommendations for further reductions in the level of tobacco use.
(vi) Applications made and grants received under paragraph (9).
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Pennsylvania Statutes Title 35 P.S. Health and Safety § 5701.704. Powers and duties of department - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-35-ps-health-and-safety/pa-st-sect-35-5701-704/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)