NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5917A
SPONSOR: Pichardo (MS) TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law and the administrative code of the
city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the smoking of tobacco
products in or near after-school programs
PURPOSE:
Prohibits smoking tobacco products in and around after-school programs
while in operation.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the public health law by adding a new subdivision d to
section 1399-o: Smoking shall not be permitted and no person shall smoke
within one hundred feet of the entrances, exits or outdoor areas at any
after-school program.
Section 2 amends the public health law by adding a new subdivision 3 to
section 1399-p: The provisions of this section shall. apply to after-
school programs that are subject to the provisions of subdivision four
of section thirteen hundred ninety-nine-o of this article.
Section 3 amends the administrative code of the city of New York by
adding a new subdivision i: Smoking shall not be permitted and no person
shall smoke within one hundred feet of the entrances, exits or outdoor
areas of any after-school program.
JUSTIFICATION:
The Clean Indoor Air Act, enacted in 2003, banned smoking in all work-
places across the State. Since 2003, smokers have been forced to smoke
outside and it has been unfortunate to see many smokers consistently
light up within close proximity to after-school programs.
This bill would prohibit individuals from smoking outside the entrances
and exits of education institutions. This bill seeks to move smokers
away from the doorways in order to protect students wishing to enter and
exit educational institutions from unwanted exposure to secondhand
smoke.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, secondhand
smoke exposure causes acute lower respiratory infections such as bron-
chitis and pneumonia in young children.
Along with respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and breath-
lessness among school-aged children and young adults, even brief second-
hand smoke exposure can damage cells in ways that set the cancer process
in motion.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become a law.
