New York Assemblyman Ivan C. Lafayette (34th District - Queens) has introduced ground-breaking legislation to protect New York children from the hazards of secondhand smoke. Assembly Bill 00056 seeks to add a new category to the list of places where it is illegal to smoke in New York State – private automobiles when children under 16 are present. Here is the justification, taken directly from the bill. The bill has been referred to the Committee on CODES, which Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol chairs.

It has been well documented as to the harmful effects second-hand smoke can have on people, especially children. Smoking is prohibited in many public places such as airplanes, shopping malls, and some restaurants. The dangers second-hand smoke can have on a child in such an enclosed area like a private passenger vehicle are severe. We currently provide protections for both children and drivers by mandating the use of car seats, seatbelts and padded dashboards in their private automobile. This bill is an extension of those protections by providing clean air that children can breathe.

In the face of offensive and health-threatening secondhand smoke, adults have choices that children often lack. It has been well-established that government has a duty to protect children, even from the behavior of their parents or other caregivers. The State of Maine has recognized the importance of protecting minors from secondhand smoke in automobiles and other enclosed places. Earlier this year, Governor Baldacci signed a new law prohibiting foster parents from smoking in their cars or homes, or allowing others to do so. Click here to view the Maine Bill.

TAKE ACTION!

What you can do to help:

New York State Residents

Non-New York Residents

PLEASE send an email to the New York State Code Committee Members in support of Assembly Bill 00056. Please mention that you are a citizen of New York and that you support this Bill. Please share your stories of children that you know that have been affected by Second Hand Smoke in Automobiles. EMAIL a specific Assembly Code Committee member (names and email addresses printed in chart below) OR send an email to ALL of the New York Assembly Code Committee Members. Unsure of your District's Assemblyman? Look up by zip code and contact YOUR State of New York Assemblymember at www.assembly.state.ny.us

PLEASE send an email to the New York State Code Committee Members in support of Assembly Bill 00056. Please mention that although you are not a citizen of New York, you support this Bill and would like to have it set a precedent for your state. Please share your stories of children that you know that have been affected by Second Hand Smoke in Automobiles. Ask them what you can do to start similar legislation in your own state. Click here to send an email to ALL of the New York Assembly Code Committee Members.

List of New York Assembly Code Committee Members and Email Addresses.

Code Committee Members

Email

Joseph R. Lentol* Robin Schimminger Helene E. Weinstein Clarence Norman, Jr. James F. Brennan Keith L.T. Wright Mark Weprin Jeffrey Klein J. Gary Pretlow Aurelia Greene Vivian E. Cook Steven Cymbrowitz Michele R. Titus Daniel J. O'donnell Tom Alfano David R. Townsend, Jr. Sandra Lee Wirth Dede Scozzafava

lentolj@assembly.state.ny.us schimmr@assembly.state.ny.us weinsth@assembly.state.ny.us normanc@assembly.state.ny.us brennaj@assembly.state.ny.us wrightk@assembly.state.ny.us weprinm@assembly.state.ny.us kleinj@assembly.state.ny.us pretloj@assembly.state.ny.us greenea@assembly.state.ny.us no email listed cymbros@assembly.state.ny.us titusm@assembly.state.ny.us odonned@assembly.state.ny.us no email listed townsed@assembly.state.ny.us wirths@assembly.state.ny.us scozzad@assembly.sate.ny.us

Click here to send an email to ALL of the New York Assembly Code Committee Members.


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