Teen Tobacco Use Ban Passes Senate

The Senate passed Wednesday a bill that would ban minors from possessing tobacco.

SB 88, which its sponsor calls the "Teen Tobacco Use Prevention Act," does not criminalize the possession or use of tobacco by children under the age of 18. Instead, the bill authorizes law enforcement officers to confiscate cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco or any other tobacco product found in a minor's possession.

The bill also forbids tobacco retailers and others from selling or otherwise providing minors with cigarettes or other tobacco products. Violation of those provisions is made a petty offense subject to a fine for each violation. The bill would require tobacco merchants to ask for identification before selling tobacco products.

SB 88 also preserves the right of Colorado municipalities to enact criminal prohibitions against possession of tobacco products by minors.

Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, sponsored the bill in the Senate, while the House sponsor is Rep. Tom Massey, R-Poncha Springs.

The bill now moves to the House of Representatives.

Youth Smoking Ban Heads to Senate Floor

A Senate committee approved Monday a bill that would ban minors from possessing cigarettes and other tobacco products throughout the state.

SB 88 would make Colorado the 36th state to forbid minors from possessing tobacco. The bill would not subject youth to criminal penalties; it merely authorizes law enforcement officers to take the contraband.

Supporters of the bill, including several high school students, told the Senate's State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee that creating a stigma around cigarette and chewing tobacco use could reduce the temptation for teenagers to use tobacco.

Four counties and 47 cities and towns in the state currently ban minors from possessing tobacco products.

The bill is sponsored by Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder.

Bill Banning Possession of Tobacco by Minors To Get Committee Hearing

A bill that would ban minors from possessing tobacco in Colorado will get a hearing before a Senate committee Monday.

SB 88, sponsored by Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, and Rep. Tom Massey, R-Poncha Springs, would also forbid the distribution of free tobacco products at public events.

The proposed "Teen Tobacco Use Prevention Act" also has two Republican co-sponsors in the Senate - Sens. Greg Brophy, R-Wray and Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins - as well as the backing of the Senate president and president pro-tempore.