What's happening
This bill prohibits the use and sale of tobacco on all SUNY campuses and in university-owned vehicles.
Why it matters
Creates a uniform tobacco-free policy. across all SUNY state-operated campuses, ensuring that no campus may independently allow tobacco use or sales, which may impact campus culture and student/faculty behavior.
Includes all university-controlled spaces. not just classrooms, but every indoor and outdoor area, as well as vehicles owned, rented, or leased by SUNY or its affiliates—closing loopholes that might have previously permitted designated smoking zones or tobacco sales at campus events.
Extends prohibition to university-affiliated entities. like foundations, auxiliary services, and alumni associations, meaning tobacco cannot be used or sold at events or venues associated with these groups, potentially affecting fundraising and social activities.
Signals a strong public health stance. by the state and SUNY, aligning the university system with broader efforts to reduce tobacco use, which may have long-term health cost implications and influence how other state institutions or private colleges approach tobacco policy.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Tobacco on SUNY Campuses
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1790
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 16, 2019
Introduced by Sen. RIVERA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the use and sale of tobacco at state-operated institutions of the state university of New York
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature finds and declares that it shall be the policy of the state university of New York (SUNY) to ensure that all state-operated campuses embrace a tobacco-free environment. Tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of death in the United States and accounts for more annual deaths than suicide, murder, HIV/AIDS, alcohol use, illegal drug use and motor vehicle injuries combined. Using tobacco is a personal choice, a tobacco-free policy does not take away an individual's right to choose to use tobacco, it does limit where a person may use tobacco. SUNY respects an individual's right to choose to use tobacco off campus, in places where it is acceptable to do so. SUNY is first and foremost an educational institution.
§ 2. Section 355 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 20 to read as follows:
20. The following are prohibited at state-operated institutions of the state university of New York:
a. the use or sale of tobacco on all grounds and facilities owned, leased or controlled by the state university or its related entities, including indoor and outdoor locations; and
b. the use of tobacco in vehicles owned, rented or leased by the state university or its affiliated entities. For purposes of this subdivision, the "affiliated entities" of the state-operated institutions of the state university are the foundations, auxiliary services corporations, and alumni associations and subsidiaries thereof.
§ 3. This act shall take effect September 1, 2021.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07749-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to the use and sale of tobacco at state-operated institutions of the state university of New York
Purpose
Relates to the use and sale of tobacco at state-operated institutions of the state university of New York.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 adds legislative intent.
Section 2 amends Section 355 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 20. The bill prohibits the use and sale of tobacco on all grounds and facilities owned, leased or controlled by the state university or its affiliated entities, including indoor and outdoor locations.
It also prohibits the use of tobacco in vehicles owned or leased by the state university or its affiliated entities. For purposes of this subdi- vision, the "affiliated entities" of the state-operated institutions of the state university are the foundations, auxiliary services corpo- rations, and alumni associations and subsidiaries thereof.
Section 3 provides an effective date.
Justification
The Board of Trustees of the State University of New York supports the efforts of the Chancellor's Task Force for a Tobacco-Free SUNY, which includes broad representation of SUNY's students, faculty, staff, campus administration, along with other partners from the community, in an effort to lead a collaborative implementation process of a Tobacco-Free SUNY policy. This is the corresponding legislation that is needed to enact that policy.
Legislative history
2015-2016: S.4322
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect September 1, 2021.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.