What's happening
This bill prohibits advertising tobacco products and herbal cigarettes within 1,000 feet of schools and sets penalties for violations.
Why it matters
Targets youth exposure. By banning tobacco and herbal cigarette ads within 1,000 feet of schools, the bill aims to reduce marketing that could influence children and teenagers at a vulnerable age.
Broad definition of "advertising". The restrictions apply not just to traditional billboards, but also to marketing, promotion, and even ads placed on vehicles and in publicly accessible spaces like stores, restaurants, and sidewalks—potentially affecting a wide range of business practices.
Includes herbal cigarettes. The bill doesn’t only cover tobacco but also herbal cigarettes, which are sometimes marketed as "safer" alternatives, thus closing a loophole that could otherwise let companies target youth with non-tobacco smoking products.
Significant financial penalties. With escalating fines starting at $250 and reaching over $1,000 for repeat offenses, the bill creates strong financial deterrents for businesses, signaling the seriousness with which the state treats violations.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Tobacco Ads Near Schools
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1939
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 17, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PRETLOW -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to prohibiting the advertisement of tobacco products and herbal cigarettes near schools
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new article 13-I to read as follows:
ARTICLE 13-I
ADVERTISING TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND
HERBAL CIGARETTES PROHIBITED NEAR SCHOOLS
Section 1399-aaa. Definitions.
1399-bbb. Advertising prohibited near schools.
1399-ccc. Hearings; penalties.
§ 1399-aaa. Definitions. As used in this article:
1. "Person" means a person, firm, company, corporation, partnership, sole proprietor, limited partnership, association, limited liability company or limited liability partnership.
2. "Tobacco products" means one or more cigarettes, cigars, bidis, chewing tobacco, powdered tobacco, nicotine water or any other tobacco products.
3. "Herbal cigarette" means any product made primarily of an herb or combination of herbs, and intended to be smoked in any of the methods that tobacco is smoked, including but not limited to, as a cigarette, cigar or pipe filter.
4. "School grounds" means (a) in, on or within any building, structure, athletic playing field, playground or land contained within the real property boundary line of a public or private elementary, parochial, intermediate, junior high, vocational, or high school, or (b) any area accessible to the public located within one thousand feet of the real property boundary line comprising any such school or any parked
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02012-01-7
A. 1939 2
automobile or other parked vehicle located within one thousand feet of the real property boundary line comprising any such school. For the purposes of this section an "area accessible to the public" shall mean sidewalks, streets, parking lots, parks, playgrounds, stores and restaurants.
§ 1399-bbb. Advertising prohibited near schools. No person engaged in the business of manufacturing, selling, advertising, marketing or otherwise distributing tobacco products or herbal cigarettes, or any agent or employee of such person, shall advertise, market or promote tobacco products or herbal cigarettes or the purchase or use thereof upon school grounds.
§ 1399-ccc. Hearings; penalties. 1. Hearings with respect to violation of this article shall be conducted in the same manner as hearings conducted under article thirteen-E of this chapter.
2. If the enforcement officer determines after a hearing that a violation of this article has occurred, he or she shall impose a civil penalty of a minimum of two hundred fifty dollars, but not to exceed one thousand dollars for a first violation, a minimum of five hundred dollars, but not to exceed two thousand dollars for a second violation, and a minimum of one thousand dollars for each subsequent violation.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of September next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.