HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                 HB 1081

Title:  An act relating to tobacco policies for schools.

Brief Description:  Strengthening school policies and prohibitions on the use of tobacco at schools.

Sponsors:  Representatives Koster, Mulliken, Dunn, Mielke, Thompson, McMorris, Boldt, Sterk, Sherstad, Bush and Smith.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Meeting Date:  January 23, 1997.

Bill Analysis Prepared by:  Joe Hauth (786-7111).

Background:  Since 1991, the Legislature has required schools to forbid smoking and the use of other tobacco products on school property.  School districts have the discretion to determine specific policies and sanctions.  School districts frequently delineate tobacco policies in the form of a school policy handbook that is distributed to staff and students.  Some school districts have smoking cessation programs, either singly or in conjunction with a general drug prevention program.   For students caught smoking, many school districts apply  a Agraduated@ sanction approach.  Typically, the school district issues the student a warning on the first offense.  The school district may sanction repeated offenses by suspending the student or requiring the student to enroll in a smoking cessation program.  Alternative schools within the school district may be exempt from smoking prohibitions.

Summary of Bill:  School district tobacco policy requirements are clarified.

School districts must have a written tobacco policy that prohibits the use of tobacco products on school property.  At a minimum, school districts must notify school personnel and students of the prohibition, post signs that prohibit the use of tobacco products, sanction school personnel and students who violate the policy, and require school district personnel to enforce the school district policy in addition to current public smoking prohibitions.  The exemption for alternative schools is removed.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill takes effect August 1, 1997.