State oversight of TRDRP and other programs funded by the Health Education and Research Account of the Tobacco Tax and Health Protection Act of 1988 (Proposition 99) is carried out by the Tobacco Education and Research Oversight Committee (TEROC). The members of TEROC are appointed by the Governor, the Legislature, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction. TEROC is mandated to produce a three-year Master Plan with defined objectives and strategies for the state’s tobacco control program.

The 2003-2005 Master Plan “Toward a Tobacco-Free California” has six recommended research strategies associated with five of the plan’s objectives. Each funding cycle, TRDRP reports to TEROC which of its funded grants are pertinent to these strategies. TRDRP encourages researchers in the relevant disciplines to consider developing proposals that address these issues important to California.

Objectives

Increase the price of tobacco products

Recommended strategy: Support research on the effect of increasing the price of tobacco products on use patterns of California’s diverse populations.

Work toward eliminating disparities and achieving parity in all aspects of tobacco control

Recommended strategy: Increase research funding for priority populations, including studies on effective outreach and cessation strategies that are culturally tailored and community specific, and that focus on subgroup variability and the diversity within these populations.

Decrease exposure to secondhand smoke

Recommended strategy: Conduct research on indoor and outdoor secondhand smoke exposure, including attitudes, beliefs, enforcement, and health effects.

Increase availability of cessation assistance

Recommended strategy: Support research on cessation strategies for priority populations, including teens and low-income individuals.

Recommended strategy: Support research on the barriers to providing cessation counseling and services by health care professionals and in the workplace.

Initiate efforts to regulate the tobacco industry and its influence

Recommended strategy: Support research on point-of-sale tobacco advertising and promotions such as buy-downs and use of a product as a form of advertisement.