In 1999, the Arizona State Legislature passed a comprehensive school-tobacco law that prohibits tobacco products on school grounds, inside school buildings, in school parking lots or playing fields, in school buses or vehicles and at off-campus school-sponsored events. The law applies to any K-12 public, charter or private school. Violation of the law is a petty offense. To document the extent to which Arizona public schools are in compliance with this legislation, the Arizona Cancer Center conducted the Arizona School Policy Survey as a project of the Tobacco Education and Prevention Program of the Arizona Department of Health Services. This survey was a follow-up to a similar survey completed in 1998.

St. Luke's Health Initiatives and the Flinn Foundation strive to make Arizona a better place to live for all of its residents. Despite our state's assets, Arizona has many issues to address, with health and poverty among the most important. Our organizations have been pleased to sponsor the state capacity research that provided the background and impetus for "More Promises to Keep: Sustaining Arizona's Capacity for Welfare and Health Reform." St. Luke's Health Initiatives and the Flinn Foundation view the information and analysis provided in this report as a good way to stimulate discussion of health and welfare policy options and community actions. Research and dialogue are essential steps in the process of constructive change, as is communication with the public. We urge readers to consider the ideas presented in this paper and to continue to work together to improve the health and welfare of all Arizonans.