Jindal signs college smoking ban into law

Publication Date: 2013-06-18

• Author:Nick BeJeaux
• Publication:The Lion's Roar Newspaper

When governor Bobby Jindal signed Senate Bill 36 into law last Monday, he mandated that all Louisiana state institutions develop no smoking policies by the deadline of July 1, 2013.

The bill was championed by Sen. David Heitmeier, D-Algiers and chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, and will prohibit all smoking on the campus grounds of Louisiana State University, Southern University and all University of Louisiana System campuses, which includes Southeastern. Sen. Yvonne Dorsey-Colomb and 11 state representatives supported Heitmeier.

The bill was introduced into the State Senate on April 8, 2013 where it was referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare. The bill was then reviewed, revised and passed by the senate in an overwhelming 31-3 vote. On the first of May, the House of Representatives received and reviewed the bill again; this time it was unanimously approved, 97-0. The bill was signed by Jindal on June 10, 2013 and became Act No. 211.

An important distinction in the law is that it does not ban other forms of tobacco use, only smoking. The goal, according to Heitmeier, is to cut down on first and second hand smoke in order to help reduce healthcare costs in the state.

“There’s a wave to try to become healthier in the state,” Heitmeier said to nola.com. “Senate Bill 36 is an attempt to decrease smoking in the state, which would decrease health costs and make Louisiana a healthier place to live.”...