SDCL § 10-50B-2 — Legislative intent

In enacting §§ 10-50B-1 to 10-50B-10 , inclusive, it is the intention of the Legislature that:
(1) It is the policy of the state that financial burdens imposed on the state by cigarette smoking be borne by tobacco product manufacturers rather than by the State of South Dakota to the extent that such manufacturers either determine to enter into a settlement with the state or are found culpable by the courts; and
(2) It would be contrary to this policy of the State of South Dakota if tobacco product manufacturers who determine not to enter into such a settlement could use a resulting cost advantage to derive large, short - term profits in the years before liability may arise without ensuring that the state will have an eventual source of recovery from them if they are proven to have acted culpably. It is thus in the interest of the state to require that such manufacturers establish a reserve fund to guarantee a source of compensation and to prevent such manufacturers from deriving large, short - term profits and then becoming judgment - proof before liability may arise.