For Immediate Release:
April 28, 2004
Senate Sends Bill Restricting Youth Access
To Tobacco to Governor Henry’s Desk
Oklahoma Senators Wednesday sent legislation
strengthening Oklahoma’s laws prohibiting the sale
of tobacco products to minors to the desk of Governor Brad
Henry.
State leaders estimate that Senate Bill 1256, if signed
into law by the governor, will protect $7 million in federal
funding the state receives for substance abuse programs
managed by the Department of Mental Health, said Senator
Ben
Robinson, author of the bill.
For two of the last three years, Oklahoma narrowly avoided
being out of compliance with federal regulations aimed at
limiting tobacco sales to minors. As a result our state
nearly lost those federal funds.
“But this is about something far more important than
money. It’s about saving the lives of our state’s
young people and future generations. Passage of this legislation
is an important victory for the health of our state,”
Robinson said.
He said statistics indicate that every day, an average of
26 Oklahoma children become regular smokers. Roughly one
out of three of them will die as a direct result.
“If we can stop our children from starting to smoke,
we can save lives. It really is just that simple,”
Robinson said.
Senate Bill 1256 prohibits the use of self-serve tobacco
displays often used to sell smokeless tobacco products and
restricts the placement of tobacco product vending machines
away from areas that are open to minors.
The legislation closes loopholes to ensure that to buy tobacco
products, Oklahomans have to ask a clerk for the product.
By making sure that everyone who buys cigarettes or smokeless
tobacco products has to ask for them, the clerk is given
a clear opportunity to check the age of the potential customer.
If that person is under 18, the clerk is then required not
to sell them cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products.
“This bill should embolden the clerks and make minors
more timid about breaking the law,” said Senate President
Pro Tempore Cal
Hobson.
In addition, Senate Bill 1256 stiffens the penalties for
those who sell tobacco to minors and extends the tougher
penalties beyond the clerks to the store owners who could
temporarily lose their license to sell tobacco products,
Robinson said.
For
more information contact:
President Pro Tempore's Office -
(405) 521-5605
