Policy

Research

Does the introduction of comprehensive smokefree legislation lead to a decrease in population smoking prevalence?
New research published in the journal Addiction indicates that there are mixed results regarding whether smoke-free legislation leads to a reduction in smoking prevalence. Researchers analyzed population-level smoking data in 21 countries, American states, or Canadian provinces that have enacted comprehensive smoke-free legislation to determine trends in smoking prevalence before and after the laws went into effect. They found that in two places (Washington State and Ireland), smoke-free legislation was immediately followed by a decline in smoking prevalence, and in six U.S. states, smoking rates declined more steeply after the laws were enacted. However, there was no change in the smoking prevalence or trends in the remaining thirteen locations. This study shows that smokers’ behavior following the enactment of comprehensive smoke-free laws is not always consistent, and may depend on other contextual factors. Read more here.

top

State

Arizona Medicaid considers tax on smokers, obese (AZ)
Legislators in Arizona are considering a proposal that would charge Medicaid recipients a $50 fee if they smoke, have diabetes, or are overweight. Patients would be charged the fee if they did not follow a plan developed with their primary care physician to improve their health. The measure is intended to help reduce healthcare costs for the program by encouraging recipients to take steps to be healthy. Opponents of the proposal say it is unfair to penalize people with medical conditions that may be outside of their control. The plan would have to be approved by the state legislature and also be authorized by the federal government. Arizona’s legislature has been considering cutting $500 million from its Medicaid program to reduce a $1.5 billion budget deficit. Read more here.

Smoke Free Cars Law now helps more minors (AR)
A new law in Arkansas will forbid smoking in a vehicle in the presence of a child under the age of fourteen starting in July. The new policy extends an existing law, on the books since 2006, that prohibits smoking in a vehicle with a child under age six. The law is expected to protect more children from secondhand smoke exposure in vehicles; the existing law protects 37% of kids, while the new policy will protect 73%. Arkansas is one of four states that have such a law; California, Louisiana, and Maine are the others. Read more here, or click here to view the bill.

California bill takes aim at illegal tobacco sales to minors (CA)
A bill in California’s Assembly would tighten restrictions on selling tobacco products to minors if passed. The bill would allow the state to suspend retailers’ tobacco sales licenses if they incur three violations over the course of two years, and revoke the licenses if five violations were documented over the course of five years. This is stricter than the current law, which revokes a retailer’s license after eight violations over the course of two years. Click here for more information, or click here to view the current status of the bill, AB 1301.

Anti-smoking bill for very small businesses clears committee (CT)
A bill in Connecticut that would extend the state’s 2003 smoke-free workplace laws to small businesses has passed the Public Health Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly. The bill would require employers with fewer than five employees to create nonsmoking work areas with physical barriers and separate ventilation systems to protect workers from secondhand smoke. It would cover self-employed individuals working in a rented space, regardless of whether or not the space was shared with another person. Those opposed to the bill say it is too intrusive and difficult to enforce. The bill, SB 948, is now slated to be heard in the state Senate. Read more here, or click here to check the status of the bill.

Leaders: Don't cut smoking prevention funds (IA)
The Iowa House approved a budget in early April that eliminated all funding for the state’s smoking prevention programs. A Senate panel later voted to include $5 million in funding for smoking prevention programs, and the full Senate is expected to consider the measure in late April. Click here for more information. Related: Anti-tobacco group’s poll says Iowa voters support funding for quit-smoking programs A recent poll commissioned by the Iowa Tobacco Prevention Alliance shows that most Iowa voters want the government to fund tobacco prevention and cessation services. Five hundred registered voters in Iowa were surveyed about their attitudes toward the state Smoke-Free Air Act and the pending legislation related to tobacco prevention programs. The results indicate that 85% of respondents think the state government should play a role in discouraging youth from smoking, 68% felt that the state government should help smokers quit, and 68% thought that the state should continue funding for all addiction-related services. A majority of those surveyed also indicated they opposed eliminating funding for tobacco prevention and cessation services. Click here for more information.

Rolling back state smoking ban would be a first in U.S. (IL)
The Illinois House has voted in favor of legislation that would make casinos exempt from the Smoke Free Illinois Act. Proponents of weakening the law believe the state's 2008 smoke-free law has cost the state millions of dollars in taxes and dramatically decreased casino revenues. Health advocates believe the amount of healthcare dollars the law has saved through reductions in smoking have eclipsed any financial losses. If the bill survives a Senate vote and is signed by the governor, this will be the first time a statewide smoke-free law has been weakened in the U.S. The bill is expected to be heard in the Senate in May. Click here to read more, or click here to track the status of the bill.

Panel snuffs out state smoking ban (IN)
Indiana’s Senate Committee on Public Policy has voted to reject a bill (HB1018) that would have banned smoking in workplaces. The bill would have included restaurants, bowling alleys, hotels, and businesses, but exempted bars, casinos, nursing homes, and clubs. These exemptions caused anti-smoking advocates to turn against the bill, arguing that it was too weak and that a more comprehensive bill was needed to protect state residents. Similar bills have been considered in previous legislative sessions in Indiana; HB1018 got further in the Senate than any previous versions. Read more here. Related: Cutting anti-smoking efforts could reverse progress, experts say Following the demise of a smoke-free workplaces bill, a Senate bill is under consideration that would eliminate the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program (ITPC), cut state tobacco prevention funding to $5 million, and place tobacco prevention programs within the Indiana State Department of Health. Health advocates believe the state’s progress in tobacco control is in jeopardy, and are taking action to prevent the bill from passing before the end of the legislative session on April 29th. Click here for the full story.

Mo. anti-smoking group touts tobacco legislation (MO)
A bill is being considered in the Missouri House that would call for smaller tobacco companies that are not part of the Master Settlement Agreement to pay into a state trust fund. Supporters of the measure say that if small manufacturers are required to pay a share, they will be forced to increase their prices, which will discourage youth from smoking. Missouri’s youth smoking rate is currently one of the highest in the nation at 18.9%. Read more here or keep track of HB 491 here.

Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly signs executive order for commercial tobacco-free environments (Navajo Nation)
In a historic event, Navajo Nation president Ben Shelly has signed an executive order that will make all workplaces and public places on Navajo Nation property smoke-free, including casinos. The use of commercial tobacco products will be prohibited in indoor public places and workplaces, and within 25 feet of entrances. Advocates had worked for years to secure smoke-free protections for casino workers while respecting the tribe’s traditional practices that involve tobacco use. Team Navajo, as the smoke-free policy advocates were named, hopes that this policy will set a precedent for other tribes to follow. Click here for more details, or click here to read a press release from the Black Hills Center for American Indian Health.

Bismarck now officially bans smoking in bars, truck stops (ND)
In a special referendum election on April 19th, voters in Bismarck, North Dakota gave their approval to make all city bars, truck stops, and tobacco shops smoke-free. The city has traveled a long road to reach its smoke-free status; the City Commission passed the smoking ban in August 2010, but implementation was suspended after bar workers filed petitions to put the policy to a public vote. In the election, 60% of the public voted in favor of the smoke-free policy, and on a second ballot measure, 51% voted not to allow smoking huts. Although some opponents of the law complained that the wording was unclear on the ballot measure regarding smoking huts, there were no formal legal challenges before the new policy went into effect on April 27th. Read more here.

Smoking bill would establish smoking zones on college campuses (NV)
The Nevada Assembly is considering a bill (AB128) that would require colleges and universities in the state to implement smoke-free campus policies that permit smoking only in specific zones located away from walking paths and building doorways. The original bill sought to prohibit smoking on college campuses entirely, but some thought it might affect local businesses as smokers left campuses to smoke. The existing Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act prohibits smoking outside of buildings, and proponents of the amended bill believe the law has not totally eliminated secondhand smoke exposure on college campuses. Opponents of the new policy say it infringes on personal rights. Click here to read more.

East proposes roll back of indoor-smoking ban (NC)
At the urging of several unnamed tobacco companies, North Carolina Senator Don East has proposed legislation that would weaken the state’s smoke-free law to allow smoking in establishments where only adults are permitted. SB 469 would exempt age-restricted venues like bars and cigar bars from the smoke-free law, provided there is proper ventilation to prevent smoke from entering designated nonsmoking areas. The bill has been in the Senate Committee on Rules and Operations for over a month; East noted that there is not much support for repealing parts of the smoke-free law, as shown in a recent poll. Click here to read more. Related: 74% of North Carolina voters support state's smoke-free law (NC) The results of a new poll released by the North Carolina Alliance for Health shows that 74% of the state’s voters support the smoke-free air law, which went into effect last year. The poll surveyed 500 likely voters, finding that support for the law spanned party lines, with 78% of Democrats, 68% of Republicans, and 71% of Independent voters saying they favor the law. The poll also showed that 77% of those surveyed think secondhand smoke exposure is harmful to health, 82% think it is important for bars and restaurants to be smoke-free, and 55% were less likely to vote for candidates that want to weaken the current law. Click here to read more.

Does Pa.'s $300M diversion skirt the law? (PA)
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett has released a budget plan that would take money from the state’s dedicated Tobacco Settlement Fund and direct it through the state’s general fund. The Tobacco Settlement Fund was set up in 2001, and receives about $300 million per year to fund health and tobacco prevention programs. Corbett’s proposal would divert a large portion of these funds to the state’s Liberty Loan program until 2025, but would continue to fund all programs supported by the Tobacco Settlement Fund as required by law. Critics of the budget plan say that there is no guarantee that public health programs will continue to be funded under the new plan. They also argue that the funds cannot be diverted without changing the law that initially set up the Fund first. Click here to read more. Related: Auditor General Jack Wagner to hold public hearings on how tobacco settlement money should be used State auditor Jack Wagner is holding public hearings throughout the state in late April and early May to allow Pennsylvanians to weigh in on whether the tobacco settlement funds should be spent on health-related initiatives or other budget items. Read more here.

Smoking ban advocates try to win over lawmakers (TX)
Health advocates continue to work toward the passage of a comprehensive smoke-free policy in Texas. Proposals to prohibit smoking in workplaces have passed committee votes in both chambers of the state legislature, and the bills now await votes in the full House and Senate. Representatives from major nonprofit organizations visited legislators in April to make the case for a smoke-free policy. The Texas legislative session will continue through May 30. Click here to read more, or check the status of the House bill and Senate bill.

top

National

Selig wants smokeless tobacco ban in MLB
In response to several letters from public health officials, members of Congress, and anti-tobacco advocacy groups, Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Bud Selig has said that MLB will propose prohibiting the use of smokeless tobacco. MLB will recommend that restrictions be the same as those in place at the Minor League level, which have banned the use of smokeless tobacco in minor league ballparks since 1993. The proposed restrictions will need to be added to the current Collective Bargaining Agreement and approved by the Major League Baseball Players Association to become official; the current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires in December. Click here to learn more.

top

International

Australia unveils plans for tough anti-smoking law (Australia)
The Australian government has announced it will be proposing drafts of strict anti-tobacco laws in parliament. The laws would force tobacco companies to sell cigarettes in plain green packages and only use the brand and product name in a standard text and color to distinguish products. Additionally, health warnings on the packages would be updated and enlarged considerably to cover more of the package’s surface. Those supporting the proposals say it would make cigarettes unattractive, reducing smoking rates and therefore deaths and healthcare costs associated with smoking. Tobacco companies oppose the laws, saying their international trademark and intellectual property rights would be violated by restricting their use of logos, brand imagery, colors, and promotional text. If passed, the restrictions would take effect in early 2012. Read more here.

Implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in mainland China (China)
Despite making efforts to improve its tobacco control program, China has fallen behind on fulfilling the requirements of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), researchers say. By ratifying the FCTC, China was to implement packaging and labeling measures, ban tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, and ensure all indoor public places and workplaces are smoke-free. Documentation of the current status of FCTC implementation shows that there is a gap between the requirement and actual efforts being made and that the Chinese government’s involvement in the tobacco industry is proving to be a significant barrier to meeting the FCTC requirements. Click here to read the abstract of the article, which is available online in Tobacco Control.

Sri Lanka to ban public smoking completely (Sri Lanka)
The government of Sri Lanka has announced plans to enact laws that will further reduce tobacco-related hazards in the country in accordance with the guidelines of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). One law will completely prohibit smoking in workplaces and other public spaces to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke. Another will require graphic warnings to be displayed on tobacco product packaging. Recent declines in tobacco use in Sri Lanka have been attributed to strong government efforts to prevent tobacco use under President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Read more here.

top

Back to Table of Contents