State Status
No Preemption
Pending Legislation
News Summary
N.J. dorms become smoke-free, a U.S. first.
Publication Date: 2005-08-23
- Author:PAULA SAHA
- Publication:(Newark, NJ) Star-Ledger
Calling it the nation's toughest law on college smoking, acting Gov. Richard Codey signed legislation yesterday that prohibits smoking in dormitories at both public and private New Jersey colleges.
"Today we are creating a safer, healthier college campus," Codey said before signing the bill at Drew University's Madison campus.
Two states, Connecticut and Wisconsin, have banned dorm smoking at public colleges, said Karen Blumenfield of New Jersey GASP, an anti-smoking organization. But local and national anti- smoking organizations said no state had ever banned smoking in dorms at both public and private institutions...
"We believe it is the strongest smoke-free college law in the nation," said Annie Tegen of Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights, based in Seattle.