HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 875

BYRepresentatives Valle, L. Smith, Brough, Chandler, Sanders, Winsley, May, Betrozoff, Jacobsen, Padden, Baugher, Bumgarner, Fuhrman and Rasmussen

Prohibiting tobacco use in all public schools.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (11)

     Signed by Representatives Spanel, Vice Chair; Appelwick, Betrozoff, Fuhrman, Holland, Rasmussen, Rust, Schoon, L. Smith, Todd and Valle.

Minority Report:     Do not pass.  (7)

     Signed by Representatives Ebersole, Chair; Cole, Cooper, Holm, P. King, Rayburn and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION MARCH 4, 1987

BACKGROUND:

There has been an increased awareness of the risk of smoking to health.  This has resulted in a willingness to limit the circumstances where people may smoke.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  No school district board of directors shall allow students to smoke or use tobacco products on school grounds after September 1, 1988.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The prohibition applies to students but not staff of the schools.  The provision making it a misdemeanor to smoke on school grounds is stricken.

The effect of this bill is delayed until September 1, 1988 to allow students time to quit smoking or using other tobacco products.

Fiscal Note:    Not Requested.

Effective Date:The bill takes effect on September 1, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Myra Romans, Fresh Air for Nonsmokers; Rich Frazer, principal, Kalama School District; Rochelle Hughes, program manager, American Lung Association of Washington; Ray Woodside, self; Sonnia Bean, self; Dr. Gregory Camp, self.

House Committee - Testified Against: Marilee Hansen, principal, Renton High School, and President, Association of Washington School Principals, Bruce Phillips, Renton School District, Association of Washington School Principals; Bob Maier, Washington Education Association;  Bill Fritz, The Tobacco Institute; Susan Johnson, Service Employees International Union.

House Committee - Testimony For:     The hazards of smoking are great.  Schools should play an important part by providing good role models and encouraging students to develop good health habits.  By not allowing smoking, districts have eliminated one of the sources of discipline problems.

House Committee - Testimony Against: This is a decision which should be left up to the local board as it relates to students and to the collective bargaining process as it relates to employees.