Each week we share some of the news that comes across our desk about upcoming legislation.. This week we have stories from California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Texas and the countries Canada, New Zealand and Norway.
California – A proposal by Senator Marty Block (D-San Diego) labeled as SB 1333 passed the senate and would make smoking or disposing of tobacco waste at parks and beaches illegal in the state, and those who violate the measure would be fined up to $250. If the measure passes it is estimated that it will cost $1.1 million dollars to install signs at the 280 state parks and beaches via LA Times https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-essential-politics-california-smoking-ban-beaches-parks-htmlstory.html
A bill passed the senate this week that would prohibit the sales of cigarettes everywhere with the exception of cigar shops that are 18 and over to enter. The move would remove the items from convenience stores via KCRA https://www.kcra.com/news/ca-bill-would-limit-cigarette-sells-to-cigar-shops/39879122
Illinois – The oldest tobacco store in the US, Iwan Ries is fighting a new tax instituted by the city of Chicago which would be in addition to a county tax and state tax. According to the lawsuit, the tax is illegal as it did not exist prior to 1993 and violates state law via Fox 32 Chicago https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/151590200-story
Massachusetts – The Worcester Board of Health unanimously approved raising the tobacco purchase age from 18 to 21. The new measure goes into effect September 1 via WCVB https://www.wcvb.com/news/minimum-age-for-buying-tobacco-in-worcester-raised-to-21/39860746
New York – In Cortland, the Cortland County Health Department proposed raising the tobacco purchase age to 21 to the County Health Committee. No timetable has been set for a hearing on the matter via WYXL – https://literock973.com/news/025520-cortland-county-considers-raising-smoking-age-21/
Rhode Island – In North Providence, Rhode Island the Town Council Ordinance Committee passed a measure that makes it illegal to smoke withing 25 feet of any park, playground or public events with a fine of $100 via Providence Journal https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20160602/north-providence-new-smoking-limits-in-parks-proposed
Texas – In April, the city of Port Arthur went smoke free. This week in a 7-3 vote an amendment was passed that will allong smoking in bars, private clubs, bingo halls and non-profit fraternal order to be exempt from the law via 12 News https://www.12newsnow.com/story/32108677/port-arthur-no-longer-a-comprehensive-smoke-free-cit
In Dallas the Parks and Recreation Board approved a smoking ban in all city parkland with a couple of exemptions. Those exemptions are municipal golf courses and shoot ranges via CBSDFW http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2016/06/03/park-board-recommends-smoking-ban-in-dallas-city-parks-with-some-exceptions/
International:
Canada – Canadian Health Minister Jane Philpott announced this week that the government will begin a 3 month public consultation period which could result in plain package on tobacco products via Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/articles/canada-looks-to-plain-packaging-for-cigarettes-1464773799
New Zealand – The country which aims to be smoke-free by 2025 is proposing plain packaging for all tobacco products with health warning taking up 75% of real estate on packaging via Bloomberg News https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-31/new-zealand-backs-plain-cigarette-packaging-in-smoking-clampdown
Norway – The Norwegian government is planning to send a bill to parliament in June that would strip tobacco product of its logos forcing them to be sold in dark green packaging via Bloomberg News https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-31/new-zealand-backs-plain-cigarette-packaging-in-smoking-clampdown
