SB-0836: (Glazer): State Beaches Smoking Ban

Sep 26, 2018

Session: 2017-2018
Author: Glazer
Status: Vetoed
AAP-CA Position: Support
To view the status of this bill on the State Website, click here.

This bill would make it an infraction punishable by a fine of up to $25 for a person to smoke, as defined, on a state coastal beach or to dispose of used cigar or cigarette waste on a state coastal beach. The bill would establish a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime.

Veto Message:

To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning the following bills without my signature:

Assembly Bill 1097

Senate Bill 835

Senate Bill 836

I have vetoed similar measures in each of the last two years. Third time is not always a charm. My opinion on the matter has not changed. We have many rules telling us what we can’t do and these are wide open spaces.

Sincerely,

Edmund G. Brown Jr.

AAP Positional Letter

September 25, 2018

The Honorable Edmund G. Brown, Jr.
Governor of the State of California
California State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: SB 836 (Glazer): State Beaches: Smoking Ban
AAP-CA Position: Support

Dear Governor Brown,

The American Academy of Pediatrics, California (AAP-CA), representing over 5,000 California pediatricians, Respectfully urges your signature SB 836 (Glazer). This bill would ban smoking in state beaches, as specified, and prohibit disposal of cigarette waste on any state coastal beach.

Tobacco and secondhand tobacco smoke are highly hazardous to the health of anyone and especially to children. According to American Academy of Pediatrics policy, “There is no safe level of tobacco smoke exposure. The developing brains of children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the development of tobacco and nicotine dependence.”

SB 836 (Glazer) would make sure that children who frequent state beaches are not exposed to secondhand smoke or inadvertently encouraged to use tobacco by seeing adults doing the same.

Further, cigarette butts are the most commonly found item during beach and waterway cleanups, consistently ranking first. Data show that cigarette butts were the most collected item at beach clean ups in California. Cigarette filters are made of non-degradable plastic which remains in the environment for many years. Numerous local jurisdictions in the state have already adopted ordinances that ban smoking in parks or public beaches. These cigarette butts not only pose a choking or poison hazard to wildlife that may try to consume the litter, but the toxins that leach out from these butts are also detrimental to water quality and lead to human and wildlife health concerns. SB 836 would significantly reduce the cigarette litter that ends up in our parks, beaches, and waters.

Pediatrician members of AAP California Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4 statewide respectfully urge your signature on SB 836 (Glazer). Thank you for your public service and leadership on behalf of the health and wellbeing of children, youth, and families in California.

Sincerely,

Kris Calvin
Chief Executive Officer, American Academy of Pediatrics, California

cc: AAP-CA Leadership; Lobbyist Lydia Bourne; Senator Steven Glazer