Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust
Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust | |
Agency overview | |
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Formed | July 1, 2001 |
Headquarters |
3800 N. Lincoln Blvd. Suite 200 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
Employees | 23 |
Annual budget | $44.6 million |
Ministers responsible |
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Agency executive |
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Website | www.ok.gov/tset |
The Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust is a public trust created by the State of Oklahoma to manage any money from settlements or lawsuits against any tobacco company. The Trust uses the money, through grants and programs, to improve the health and quality of life of all Oklahomans by funding programs and services that address, prevent and reduce tobacco use and obesity - health behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death in Oklahoma, cancer and cardiovascular disease. TSET has statewide grants, local community-based grants and public health education interventions that include Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline, Tobacco Stops With Me and Shape Your Future.
Grants
TSET is a state grant-making trust. TSET's grants focus on preventing tobacco use, reducing tobacco use and preventing obesity. TSET's Healthy Living Program grants cover 94% of Oklahoma's population.
Funding Opportunities
TSET accepts applications for emerging opportunities, Healthy Communities Incentive Grants and Healthy Schools Incentive Grants as funding is available.
Leadership
Board of Investors
The assets of the Trust are invested at the direction of a five-member Board of Investors. The Board consists of the State Treasurer of Oklahoma, who serves as chair, and the designees of the Governor of Oklahoma, the President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate, and the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector. The State Treasurer serves on the Board as long as he or she maintains the office. Appointed members serve four year terms.
As of 2016, the Board of Investors is composed of the following:
- Ken Miller - State Treasurer and Chair
- Donald A. Pape - appointed by the Senate President pro tempore and Vice-Chair
- Brenda Bolander, CPA - appointed by the State Auditor and Inspector
- R. Scott Vaughn, CPA - appointed by the Speaker of House
- Todd Dodson, CPA - appointed by the Governor
Board of Directors
The Trust is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors. The members are appointed by seven different elected officials: the Governor of Oklahoma, the President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate, the Attorney General of Oklahoma, the State Treasurer, the Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector. All members serve seven-year terms.
The Board of Directors is responsible for directing the earnings from the Trust to fund programs to improve the health and well-being of all Oklahomans, especially children and senior adults. As specified in the Constitution, at least one appointee must be appointed from each Congressional district, and not more than two appointees may be appointed from any single Congressional district. In addition, not more than four appointees may be from any one political party. All appointees must have demonstrated expertise in public or private health care or programs related to or for the benefit of children or senior adults.
The executive director is hired by the board.
As of 2016, the Board of Directors is composed of the following:
- Jim Gebhart, Chair - appointed by the Attorney General (Congressional District 5)
- Don Millican, Vice-Chair - appointed by the State Treasurer (Congressional District 1)
- Bruce Benjamin, PhD - appointed by the Speaker of the House (Congressional District 2)
- Curtis Knoles, MD - appointed by the State Auditor and Inspector (Congressional District 5)
- Casey Killblane - appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (Congressional District 4)
- Ken Rowe - appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate (Congressional District 4)
- L. Michelle Stephens - appointed by the Governor (Congressional District 3)