If passed, House Bill 73 would establish an optional property-tax "mil" levy that individual counties and townships could enact by majority vote. The tax revenues would go toward funding statewide alcohol and other drug prevention programs. The thrust of these programs would focus on limiting drug use, especially among teens, by encouraging greater family and community involvement.

The plan, according to Jackie Jandt, planning outcome officer of the Addictive and Mental Disorders division of the state health department, is to encourage greater funding stability by limiting the use of federal grants -- which are often too short-term to be effective.