ASSEMBLY, No. 1398

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblywoman BUONO

An Act concerning the use of tobacco products in public schools and amending P.L.1981 c.320.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. Section 3 of P.L. 1981, c.320 (C.26:3D-17) is amended to read as follows:

    3. a. The appropriate governing body, board or individual responsible for or who has control of the administration of a school, college, university, or professional training school, either public or private, except the board of education of a school district, shall make and enforce suitable regulations controlling the smoking of tobacco on their premises, except in those areas within the premises wherein smoking is prohibited by municipal ordinance under authority of R.S.40:48-1 and 40:48-2 or by any other statute or regulation adopted pursuant to law for purposes of protecting life and property from fire. The governing body, board or individual may, but need not, designate certain areas within the premises as areas in which smoking is permitted. Smoking in classrooms, lecture halls and auditoriums shall be prohibited except as part of a classroom instruction or a theatrical production.

    b. The board of education of each school district shall make and enforce regulations to prohibit the smoking of tobacco or the use of any other tobacco product anywhere in its buildings or on school grounds except as part of a classroom instruction or a theatrical production. Each board of education shall also make and enforce regulations to prohibit the smoking of tobacco or the use of any other tobacco product by a student while the student is taking part in a school-sponsored function or activity.

(cf: P.L.1989, c.96, s.1)

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

                                    STATEMENT

    This bill provides that smoking or the use of any other tobacco product shall be prohibited anywhere in a public school building or on school grounds. Currently, smoking is prohibited within school buildings. The bill also provides that each board of education shall make and enforce regulations which prohibit the smoking of tobacco or the use of any other tobacco product by a student while the student is taking part in a school-sponsored function or activity.  

Prohibits the use of tobacco products on school grounds or at school-sponsored functions.