Governor Cuomo Signs Two Bills To Protect Children From Smoking

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed two bills today that will help to protect children and teenagers from the harmful effects of cigarette smoking.  Cuomo says the new laws will strengthen the state’s protections to help New York’s young people to avoid nicotine addiction as well as the negative impacts of cigarette smoke.

The first of the new laws, which takes effect immediately, expands the ban on smoking on school grounds and now stipulates that no one may smoke within 100 feet of any public or private school entrance, exit, or outdoor area.

The second law prohibits the sale of electronic cigarettes, or E-Cigs, to anyone under the age of 18. Sponsors of this bill say that electronic cigarettes are unregulated and that minors are free to purchase these devices which contain addictive chemicals.

E-Cig retailers must stop selling their products to minors by January 1, 2013 when the new law takes effect.