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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 7, 2014 03:00 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Mark Painter |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Legislation Prohibiting Student Smoking at School Bus Stops |
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that would prohibit students from smoking cigarettes at school bus stops. Just as smoking is prohibited in schools, it should be prohibited in the place students gather to be transported to school. Among adults who smoke, 68 percent began smoking regularly at age 18 or younger. Every day, almost 3,900 children under 18 years of age try their first cigarette, and more than 950 of them will become new, regular daily smokers. People who begin smoking at an early age are more likely to develop a severe addiction to nicotine than those who start at a later age. In light of these facts, my legislation would prohibit students from smoking within 25 feet of a school bus stop for 30 minutes before the bus pick-up time and ten minutes after the bus drop-off time. Schools would be given the power to enforce this legislation through disciplinary action and/or an appropriate fine. It is my hope that this will not only curb the use of cigarettes by school-age children, but also prevent the exposure of tobacco use to those who have not had experience with it yet. Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation to help ensure the health of our Commonwealth’s students. |
Introduced as HB2127