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

Jan 25, 2018

Session: 2017-2018
Author: Glazer
Status: Alive
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.

AAP Positional Letter

May 21, 2018

Honorable Ricardo Lara
Chair, Senate Committee on Appropriations
State Capitol, Room 5050
Sacramento, CA 95814

Honorable Patricia Bates
Vice Chair, Senate Committee on Appropriations
State Capitol, Room 305
Sacramento, CA 95814

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

Dear Chair Lara and Vice Chair Bates,

The American Academy of Pediatrics, California (AAP-CA), representing over 5,000 California pediatricians, strongly supports the proposed legislation SB 836 (Glazer). This bill would ban smoking in state beaches, except in certain areas designated by the director of the beach.

Tobacco and secondhand tobacco smoke are highly hazardous to the health of anyone and especially to children. As stated in 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.

Pediatrician members of AAP California Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4 statewide urge you to vote AYE 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,

Lauren Gambill, M.D., Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics
State Government Affairs Committee, American Academy of Pediatrics, California

cc: Senate Appropriation Committee Members
Narisha Bonakdar, Senate Committee on Appropriations Consultant
Office of Honorable Steve Glazer, California State Senate (Author)
Kris Calvin, CEO; AAP-CA Leadership; Lydia Bourne