The Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust is a

public trust The concept of public trust relates back to the origins of democratic government and its seminal idea that within the public lies the true power and future of a society; therefore, whatever ''trust'' citizens place in its officials must be respect ...

created by the

State of Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a state in the South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the north, Missouri on the northeast, Arkansas on the east, New M ...

to manage any money from settlements or lawsuits against any tobacco company. Its creation can be attributed to a decision by Oklahoma voters in November 2000 to constitutionally set aside and protect the majority of settlement funds as an endowment trust fund. The statewide ballot question ensured that only earnings on investments from the TSET were to be spent and then only for tobacco prevention, cancer research, and other health-related programs. 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 includ
Oklahoma Tobacco HelplineTobacco 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.

Funding Opportunities

TSET provides grants to improve health. Conference and training grants are available. Requests for proposals are issued for major grant awards.

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 The State Treasurer of Oklahoma is the chief custodian of Oklahoma’s cash deposits, monies from bond sales, and other securities and collateral and directs the investments of those assets. The treasurer provides for the safe and efficient operat ...

, who serves as chair, and the designees of the

Governor of Oklahoma The governor of Oklahoma is the head of government of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor serves as the head of the Oklahoma Executive (government), executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma. The gove ...

, the Oklahoma Speaker of the House, the

President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate The President ''pro tempore'' of the Oklahoma Senate is the second-highest-ranking official of the Oklahoma Senate and the highest-ranking state senator. The Oklahoma Constitution designates the Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma as the highest-r ...

, and the

Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector The Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector is an elected Constitutional officer for the U.S. State of Oklahoma. The State Auditor and Inspector is responsible for auditing and prescribing bookkeeping standards of all government agencies and county ...

. The State Treasurer serves on the Board as long while in office. Appointed members serve four-year terms. As of January 2020, the Board of Investors is composed of the following: *

Randy McDaniel Randy McDaniel (born August 8, 1967) is an American politician who served as the Oklahoma State Treasurer from 2019 to 2023. A Republican, he was a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, for the 83rd district, from 2007 through 2019. ...

–

State Treasurer In the state governments of the United States, 48 of the 50 states have the executive position of treasurer. New York abolished the position in 1926; duties were transferred to New York State Comptroller. Texas abolished the position of Texas ...

and Chair * Deborah Mueggenborg – appointed by the

and Vice-Chair * Brenda Bolander, CPA – appointed by the

* William Schonacher – appointed by the Oklahoma Speaker of the House * Tyson Goetz – appointed by the

----

Board of directors

The Trust is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors. The members are appointed by seven different elected officials: the

, the Oklahoma Speaker of the House, the

, the

Attorney General of Oklahoma The Attorney General of Oklahoma is the State Attorney General for the state of Oklahoma. The attorney general serves as the chief legal and law enforcement officer of the State of Oklahoma and head of the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General ...

, the

Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction The Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction, sometimes called the Oklahoma State School Superintendent, is the chief executive officer for the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the president of the Oklahoma State Board of Edu ...

and the

. 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. , the Board of Directors is composed of the following: *Bruce Benjamin, Chair appointed by Oklahoma Speaker of the House *Michelle Stephens, Vice Chair, appointed by the

*Marshall Snipes – appointed by the

(Congressional District 5) *Curtis Knoles, MD – appointed by the

(Congressional District 5) *Casey Killblane – appointed by the

(Congressional District 4) *Ken Rowe – appointed by the

(Congressional District 4) *Jack Allen, Jr., appointed by the

References

External links

Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust

Tobacco Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ...

2001 establishments in Oklahoma