(a) There is a Surveillance and Evaluation Component in the Program.
(b) The purposes of the Surveillance and Evaluation Component are to:
(1) Collect, analyze, and monitor data relating to tobacco use and tobacco use prevention and cessation in the State;
(2) Measure and evaluate the results of the Program, including the results of each component of the Program;
(3) Conduct a Baseline Tobacco Study, as provided under subsections (c) through (e) of this section; and
(4) Conduct a Tobacco Study, as provided under § 13–1004 of this subtitle.
(c) (1) To initiate the Surveillance and Evaluation Component, the Department shall conduct a comprehensive statewide Baseline Tobacco Study as provided under this section.
(2) The Baseline Tobacco Study shall measure:
(i) The number and percentage of individuals attending middle school or high school who smoke or otherwise use tobacco products, both statewide and in each county;
(ii) The number and percentage of minority individuals attending middle school or high school who smoke or otherwise use tobacco products, both statewide and in each county;
(iii) The number and percentage of individuals who smoke or otherwise use tobacco products, both statewide and in each county;
(iv) The number and percentage of minority individuals who smoke or otherwise use tobacco products, both statewide and in each county;
(v) The number and percentage of pregnant women who smoke or otherwise use tobacco products, both statewide and in each county;
(vi) The number and percentage of households with individuals attending middle school or high school in which at least one household member who is at least 18 years old smokes tobacco products, both statewide and in each county;
(vii) The number and percentage of individuals who, within an established amount of time before the start of the Baseline Tobacco Study, started to smoke or otherwise use tobacco products;
(viii) The number and percentage of individuals who smoke or otherwise use tobacco on a regular basis and who, within an established amount of time before the start of the Baseline Tobacco Study, voluntarily stopped smoking or otherwise using tobacco products for a significant amount of time, as determined by the Department, both statewide and in each county; and
(ix) Any other factor that the Department determines to be important for measuring tobacco use or evaluating whether the Program meets its objectives.
(d) (1) In conducting the Baseline Tobacco Study, the Department may consider any data collected after March 1, 2000, through the administration of the Maryland Adolescent Survey or the Youth Tobacco Survey.
(2) The Maryland State Department of Education, county boards of education, and each school selected to participate in the Maryland Adolescent Survey or the Youth Tobacco Survey shall cooperate with the Department in administering the surveys.
(3) (i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the Maryland State Department of Education may not discontinue administration of the Maryland Adolescent Survey until after it has submitted a report to the Governor and, subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly that states the reason for discontinuing the survey.
(ii) If the Maryland State Department of Education submits a report as provided under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, it may discontinue the Maryland Adolescent Survey in the first school year that begins after the report has been submitted.
(e) (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) through (4) of this subsection, the Department shall contract with a higher education institution or private entity to conduct the Baseline Tobacco Study.
(2) The Department shall issue a request for proposal to select the entity that will conduct the Baseline Tobacco Study.
(3) The request for proposal shall require that any methodology or model that is used by the entity to conduct the Baseline Tobacco Study, any data collected under the Study, and any electronic files, codes, and definitions relating to the Study be provided to the State for use in subsequent studies, regardless of whether the subsequent studies are conducted by the same entity.
(4) The Department may contract with an entity to conduct the Baseline Tobacco Study and one or more biennial tobacco studies as required under § 13–1004 of this subtitle.
(5) (i) The Department shall use the criteria established in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph as a guide in administering the request for proposal process for the Baseline Tobacco Study.
(ii) The Department shall give preference to an entity that:
1. Is a Maryland–based vendor;
2. Has previous work experience relating to tobacco or health activities;
3. Has previous work experience relating to youth and adolescents;
4. Demonstrates a capability for innovative activities and use of state–of–the–art technologies;
5. Has demonstrated the ability to provide culturally–specific and effective services to targeted minority populations;
6. Has previous work experience with the public sector;
7. Demonstrates performance in the specific content area for at least 3 years;
8. Has previous work experience with rural or urban communities;
9. Will maximize the use of State funds through the use of preexisting materials, funding partnerships, and resource matching; and
10. Has no history of working for the tobacco industry.