GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2007

H                                                                                                                                                   D

HOUSE DRH10364-LN-377  (5/16)

Short Title:     Tobacco-Free Schools/Discretionary.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representative Allred.
Referred to:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT allowing LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS to ADOPT POLICIES PROHIBITING THE USE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS, FACILITIES, CAMPUSES, AND SCHOOL‑SPONSORED EVENTS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑407 reads as rewritten:

"§ 115C‑407.  Policy prohibiting tobacco use in school buildings, grounds, and at school‑sponsored events.

(a)       Not later than August 1, 2008, local Local boards of education shall may adopt, implement, and enforce a written policy prohibiting at all times the use of any tobacco product by any person in school buildings, in school facilities, on school campuses, and in or on any other school property owned or operated by the local school administrative unit. The policy shall may further prohibit the use of all tobacco products by persons attending a school‑sponsored event at a location not listed in this subsection when in the presence of students or school personnel or in an area where smoking is otherwise prohibited by law.

(b)       The policy shall include at least all of may include the following elements:

(1)       Adequate notice to students, parents, the public, and school personnel of the policy.

(2)       Posting of signs prohibiting at all times the use of tobacco products by any person in and on school property.

(3)       Requirements that school personnel enforce the policy.

(c)       The policy may permit tobacco products to be included in instructional or research activities in public school buildings if the activity is conducted or supervised by the faculty member overseeing the instruction or research and the activity does not include smoking, chewing, or otherwise ingesting the tobacco product.

(d)       The North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission shall work with local boards of education to provide assistance with the implementation of this policy including providing information regarding smoking cessation and prevention resources. Nothing in this section, G.S. 143‑595 through G.S. 143‑601, or any other section prohibits a local board of education from adopting and enforcing a more restrictive policy on the use of tobacco in school buildings, in school facilities, on school campuses, or at school‑related or school‑sponsored events, and in or on other school property."

SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Board of Education the sum of $ for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year.  These funds shall be used to assist local boards of education in implementing policy changes pertaining to tobacco use in school buildings and facilities, on school campuses, and at school‑related or school‑sponsored events.

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.