02 NCAC 57 .0101. POLICY

(a)  North Carolina's prosperity has historically been supported by its agricultural economy and particularly by the tobacco-related segment of its agricultural economy.

(b)  The tobacco-related segment of the State's economy is experiencing severe economic hardship as it confronts a national decline in the use and demand for tobacco products.

(c)  The Master Settlement Agreement between North Carolina and various cigarette manufacturers has contributed to the decline in the tobacco-related segment of the State's economy.  It is therefore appropriate for some of the money from the Master Settlement Agreement to be spent for the public purpose of alleviating or avoiding unemployment and fiscal distress in the tobacco-related segment of the State's economy, stabilizing local tobacco-dependent economies, stabilizing and maintaining local tax bases, and optimally using natural resources.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 143-715; 143-718;

Temporary Adoption Eff. May 15, 2002;

Eff. April 15, 2003.