Tobacco.org

Betel nut waste and cigarette butts among targets of anti-littering bill  

Betel nut chewers and smokers caught throwing their betel nut waste or cigarette butts indiscriminately could be fined $25 to $1,000, plus the possibility of picking up trash from public places under police supervision, if a bill amending the CNMI's anti-littering act becomes law.

House Bill 17-171 also cuts the minimum littering penalty from $200 to $25, but increases the maximum fine from $500 to $1,000.

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• House debates public land leases with IBB, Mobil, Shell 

Smoking bill

During Friday's session, the House did not act on a Senate bill that seeks to amend the CNMI's anti-smoking law.

The deferral of action was not because it would ironically fall on World Cancer Day-a global movement to raise awareness about cancers-but because the House has yet to address concerns on the bill, S.B. 17-37, Senate Substitute 1, Senate Draft 1.

Acting Speaker Felicidad Ogumoro (Cov-Saipan) referred the bill to the Committee on Commerce and Tourism for further review and to correct the technical errors in the bill that the Senate transmitted to the House. . . .

"We have also been there to witness the Legislature's deliberations and actions on this bill, given the comments and information that have been submitted on the hazards of tobacco smoke exposure, the toll that tobacco-related illness has had on our community, and the benefits of smoke-free laws, and also given the lack of data to show any negative economic impacts of the CNMI's smoke-free law since its enactment over a year ago," Sablan said.

An expert at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wrote a Jan. 27 letter to Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez, describing the scientific evidence on health risks of tobacco smoke exposure, and the effects of comprehensive smoke-free laws on population health.

The letter of Dr. Tim A. McAfee, director of the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, has been submitted as expert testimony to the Legislature.

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BILL WOULD EASE SMOKING BAN IN CNMI HOTELS 

In the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), the bill to amend the Smoke-Free Act of 2008 is a "step backward," according to former Rep. Tina Sablan.

Speaker Eli D. Cabrera, R-Saipan, disagrees and believes it is a step forward toward a stronger tourism industry.

In an interview following the Senate's passage of what Senate President Paul A. Manglona described as the "compromise version" of Senate Bill 17-37, Sablan said it could have been better if the Legislature held public hearings before acting on the measure.

Sablan, who is now with the Commonwealth Cancer Association, said "it is so sad to see that the government is saving the hotel and tourism industry so desperately that it has to take a step backward from an effort to promote a healthier environment for everybody."

Introduced by Sen. Luis P. Crisostimo, Ind.-Saipan, S.B. 17-37 allows hotels to designate 30 percent of their rooms, including attached balconies, as smoking zones.

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Senate expands to 30 percent hotel rooms, balconies where smoking may be allowed  

By a vote of 9-0, the Senate passed on Friday its own bill expanding from 20 percent to 30 percent the number of rooms at each hotel that can be designated as smoking areas.

Sen. Luis Crisostimo's (D-Saipan) bill also allows smoking in the attached balconies of these hotel rooms.

The Senate, however, did not act on a House bill introduced by Rep. Froilan Tenorio (Cov-Saipan) that expands the number of hotel smoking rooms to 80 percent.

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• No safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke 

Indeed, public smoking bans have become a common trend, and have been implemented across the nation and around the world. As of 2010, as many as 36 states, plus the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the CNMI, and many other cities and municipalities in countries around the world, including Japan, China, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines, have enacted smoke-free laws to protect public health

Bills to expand smoking in hotels, professional offices, and bars now pending in the CNMI Legislature

Here in the CNMI, several bills have been introduced that would amend the Smoke-Free Air Act of 2010 in order to expand smoking in public places. One of the main objectives of these bills is to increase the percentage of smoking-designated rooms in hotels in response to requests made by the hospitality industry and the Saipan Chamber of Commerce. Currently, CNMI hotels are allowed to designate up to 20% of their rooms as smoking rooms. . . .

The Senate is scheduled to act on the proposed amendments to the CNMI's smoke-free law this Friday, Jan. 28, 2011 at 1:30pm at the Senate Chamber. No public hearings have been held by either chamber on either of the bills pending in the legislature. Written or oral testimonies will be accepted, however, at the Senate session on Friday during the public comments period. Interested persons who would like to review the bills or submit comments may contact Sen. Ralph Torres, chairman of the Senate Health & Welfare Committee, at senatortorres@gmail.com or 664-8874.

Meanwhile, the Community Guidance Center at the Department of Public Health is planning to conduct surveys of CNMI tourists regarding their views of the CNMI's smoke-free law

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Regulations for anti-smoking law take effect Dec. 1 

The proposed regulations, published at the Commonwealth Register, are intended to clarify and implement the provisions of Public Law 16-46, or Smoke-Free Air Act of 2008.

The regulation states that smoking is prohibited in government facilities. It banned smoking in all enclosed areas and outdoor areas with 25 feet of any doorway entrance or exit to a government facility.

The smoking prohibition was also extended to all enclosed areas of public places including but not limited to areas available to and customarily used by the general public and other common-use areas.

Among these common areas are sports arenas and hotels and motels' lobby except in designated smoking spaces in an outdoor area 25 feet or father from entrances and exits.

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Cigarette tax increase on Dec. 13  

Smokers will find it costlier to puff cigarettes when the cigarette excise tax increases from $1.75 to $2 a pack effective Dec. 13, 2010.

The cigarette tax increase is one of the provisions of a 2002 law that requires a 25-cent increase eight years later, to help fund tobacco control programs.

Public Law 13-38 aims to restrict cigarette smoking in the CNMI where more than $2 million is spent annually to treat diseases related to tobacco and alcohol use.

Division of Customs Service Director Jesus C. Muna and Finance Secretary Robert A. Schrack jointly issued a public notice about the cigarette tax increase.

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Nine schools join Kick Butts Day celebration  

Hundreds of students from nine schools on island joined in the festive celebration of the 5th Annual Kick Butts Day yesterday-an event intended to combat youth tobacco use in the Commonwealth.

An estimated 500-plus schoolchildren, along with parents and community members, were seen enjoying the chants during a parade that started at San Antonio basketball court through the Hopwood Junior campus at 2pm yesterday.

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Fernandez: NMC campus is now a smoke-free zone  

More than a month since the passage of a law that bans smoking in public places, the Northern Marianas College assured the public yesterday that the campus is now a smoke-free zone and is drafting policy that would address student violators.

College president Dr. Carmen Fernandez said the institution is compliant with Public Law 16-46, and that smoking is no longer allowed anywhere on NMC property.

Fernandez said that, soon after the enactment of the anti-smoking law, she issued a memorandum to all employees to inform them of the law's application on campus. She said she expects all students, faculty, and staff to comply with the measure.

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Fernandez: NMC campus is now a smoke-free zone  

More than a month since the passage of a law that bans smoking in public places, the Northern Marianas College assured the public yesterday that the campus is now a smoke-free zone and is drafting policy that would address student violators.

College president Dr. Carmen Fernandez said the institution is compliant with Public Law 16-46, and that smoking is no longer allowed anywhere on NMC property.

Fernandez said that, soon after the enactment of the anti-smoking law, she issued a memorandum to all employees to inform them of the law's application on campus. She said she expects all students, faculty, and staff to comply with the measure.

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Anti-smoking law major accomplishment of Youth Congress  

One of the major accomplishments of the 11th Youth Congress is the recent enactment of the anti-smoking law in the Commonwealth, according to Speaker Alana May Leon Guerrero.

The measure was adopted by the Youth Congress and was recognized by the House members and eventually was crafted into legislation.

During Leon Guerrero's term, Saipan Tribune learned that a total of 17 resolutions and four bills were passed by members.

Their bills and resolutions serve as strong suggestion for the island's lawmakers.

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• No-smoking bill now a law  

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial signed into law yesterday a measure that bans smoking in virtually all areas in the CNMI, except in private residences, most private bars, casinos, and departure terminal of airports.

With the governor's enactment of the Smoke-Free Air Act of 2008, smoking is now prohibited in government facilities, schools, places of employment and public places-a development that was hailed by health advocates, non-smokers, and even smokers who want to quit.

House Bill 16-47, HD2, SD1, CCS1 is now Public Law 16-46.

The sweeping smoking ban law means if any member of the Legislature, for example, wants to smoke cigarettes outside, he or she needs to be at least 26 feet away from the legislative building's doorway entrance or exit on Capital Hill. At least 13 of 29 lawmakers smoke cigarettes or cigars.

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Senate OKs no-smoking bill  

On a 7-0 vote, the Senate passed yesterday a bill banning smoking in all workplaces and public places, a move welcomed by some 40 representatives of health and anti-smoking advocacy groups who waited patiently for almost two hours for the Senate session to start.

Many of the health advocacy groups' members and supporters led by the CNMI Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition and the Commonwealth Diabetes Coalition held or posted anti-smoking placards and posters on the Senate chamber's walls to get their message across. . . .

The House of Representatives has to adopt the same conference committee report on the bill and pass it, before the measure could reach the governor's desk for action.

The Fitial administration has yet to issue a statement whether to support or junk the bill if it passes the House.

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Law allocates $1.4M for tobacco programs 

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial on Wednesday signed into law a bill appropriating over $1.4 million of tobacco control funds for fiscal year 2009.

House Bill 16-129, introduced by Rep. Joseph Deleon Guerrero and eight other House members, is now Public Law 16-39.

Fitial said while the measure appropriates money to worthwhile causes from the Tobacco Control Fund, it passed the House of Representatives on Oct. 31, 2008 and the Senate on April 15, 2009, six months into FY 2009. . . .

The bill provides $900,000 to the Department of Public Health's six programs: the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program ($535,000); the Community Guidance Center's Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services ($250,000); mammogram film reading and interpretation ($39,000); the purchase of a network-attached storage for the Cancer Registry ($1,000); the Commonwea . . .

The bill also gives $75,000 each to Rota and Tinian's Tobacco and Substance Abuse prevention programs.

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Stricter penalties for selling tobacco to minors eyed  

Two local lawmakers want to increase the penalties establishments face for selling tobacco products to minors.

Rep. Ralph DLG Torres and Rep. Raymond D. Palacios authored House Bill 16-238, which increases the fines for each offense.

Under the proposed legislation, if a retailer is found to give, sell or permits to give or sell any tobacco product to someone under the age of 18, the establishment will be assessed a fine of $1,000; imprisonment of not more than one year; and not more than 250 hours of community service for the first offense. Previously, businesses received a warning letter for the first offense.

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