NEWS RELEASE 12/31/03

Governmental Accounting Standards Board Issues Proposed Technical Bulletin on Tobacco Settlement

Norwalk, CT, December 31, 2003—The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) has issued a proposed Technical Bulletin, Tobacco Settlement Recognition and Financial Reporting Entity Issues, which addresses accounting by state and local governments in connection with settlements made by U.S. tobacco companies. The comment period ends March 2, 2004. The document is available on the GASB’s website.

In 1998, the U.S. tobacco industry reached an agreement, known as the Master Settlement Agreement, with state governments releasing tobacco companies from present and future smoking-related claims that had been, or potentially could be, filed by the states. In exchange, the tobacco companies agreed to make annual payments in perpetuity to the states.

The GASB’s proposed Technical Bulletin clarifies accounting guidance on whether a Tobacco Settlement Authority that is created to obtain the rights to all or a portion of future tobacco settlement resources is a component unit of the government that created it. In addition, the proposed Technical Bulletin clarifies asset and revenue recognition guidance for these transactions for the settling governments and the Tobacco Settlement Authorities.

About the Governmental Accounting Standards Board

The GASB is the independent, not-for-profit organization formed in 1984 that establishes and improves financial accounting and reporting standards for state and local governments. Its seven members are drawn from the Board's diverse constituency, including preparers and auditors of government financial statements, users of those statements and members of the academic community. More information about the GASB can be found at its website www.gasb.org.

Governmental Accounting Standards Board

Improving governmental accountability through better financial reporting