SACRAMENTO –Today, the California State Assembly passed a number of bills related to the use and sale of tobacco products in California.Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Silicon Valley) issued the following statement after the vote:
“I’m proud that the State Assembly voted to pass the most comprehensive and progressive package of tobacco related legislation in the country. Tobacco remains the number one cause of preventable death in the United States and with the passage of these bills, we have an opportunity to improve the health and livelihood of all Californians,” Low said. “I want to thank Speaker Toni Atkins, Speaker-elect Anthony Rendon and Assemblymember Jim Wood in particular for their leadership on this issue and thank my colleagues in the Assembly for being a part of this morning’s historic vote,” the Assemblymember added.
The bills taken up this morning included:
ABx2 7, authored by Assemblymember Mark Stone (D-Monterey Bay) expands the prohibition against smoking in places of employment.
ABx2 9, authored by Assemblymember Tony Thurmond (D-Richmond) prohibits the use of tobacco or nicotine products in a county office of education, charter school, or school district building, on school property, or in a school or district vehicle.
ABx2 10, authored by Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) authorizes a county of board of supervisors to impose a tax, subject to voter approval, in the privilege of distributing cigarettes and tobacco products in the county.
ABx2 11, authored by Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (D-Sherman Oaks) increases licensing, distributor, and wholesaler fees related to the sale of tobacco.
SB x2 5, authored by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) expands the definition of a tobacco product to include electronic cigarettes and extends current restriction and prohibitions against the use of tobacco products to electronic cigarettes.
SBx2 7, authored by Senator Ed Hernández (D-West Covina) increases the minimum legal smoking age from 18 to 21, and would apply to all current state restrictions regarding the use, sale and distribution of tobacco products.
