HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2610

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                         Health Care

Title:  An act relating to prohibiting use of tobacco products.

Brief Description:  Prohibiting tobacco products on all school grounds.

Sponsors:  Representatives L. Johnson, Talcott, Valle, Brown, Dellwo, Cooke, Cothern, Van Luven, Linville, Jacobsen, G. Cole, Shin, Pruitt, Patterson, Campbell and Brough.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Health Care, February 3, 1994, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Dellwo, Chair; L. Johnson, Vice Chair; Appelwick; Conway; Cooke; Flemming; R. Johnson; Lemmon; Thibaudeau and Veloria.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 3 members:  Representatives Ballasiotes, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Backlund and Mastin.

Staff:  Bill Hagens (786-7131).

Background:  Presently, public school districts are required to have a written policy mandating a prohibition on the use of all tobacco products on public school property.  However, there are no similar policies for private schools, colleges universities, or vocational schools.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  To protect students and the public from exposure to cancer-causing agents in environmental tobacco smoke, by January 1, 1995, each college, university, and vocational school must adopt and enforce a written policy mandating a prohibition on the use of all tobacco products in facilities, buildings, and vehicles owned or leased by the institution.

The prohibition against the use of tobaccos on public school (K-12) property is extended to private schools effective September 1, 1994.  Schools may make available tobacco cessation information and referral to students in violation of this act, in coordination with local health departments and voluntary organizations.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The prohibition  in colleges, universities, and vocational schools is limited to facilities, buildings, and vehicles instead of all school property.  Smoking cessation information programs are made permissive.  Provisions that allow for exemptions from this prohibition with regard to alternative educational programs are maintained.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  These provisions are necessary to protect students and the public from exposure to cancer-causing agents in environmental tobacco smoke.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Jo Wadsworth, Department of Health (pro); Steve Albrecht, Washington Doctors Ought to Care (pro); Willa Fisher (pro); and Bill Van Horn and Dennis Biggs, Washington Tobacco Free Coalition (pro).