Law Against Tobacco Use On Public School Properties To Go Into Effect Thursday

Oklahoma's newest law against tobacco products is set to go into effect in two days.

The law prohibits the use of all tobacco at any time on all public school properties. Oklahoma law already requires that public schools be smoke-free during the school day.

But Oklahoma lawmakers wanted to take that a step further.

Many districts, including Oklahoma City Public Schools, already adopted a 24/7 ban of tobacco products on school grounds, but starting Thursday, the rest of the state will be forced to do the same.

The bill's authors, state Rep. Lee Denney and state Sen. Jim Halligan, pushed for this bill to make it on Gov. Mary Fallin's desk. They believe the ban was needed for two reasons: to set a better example for students and for the health of our children.

“It's been shown that second hand smoke is detrimental to our kids and I think we owe it to kids to give them as much chance as possible for a healthy upbringing,” said Denney who represents District 33.

The new statewide tobacco ban includes school grounds and during any school sponsored functions held off-campus  such as football games.

Oklahoma's state universities are also included in this ban. Oklahoma State University already implemented a campus-wide tobacco ban and took it a step further to include electronic cigarettes.

“We did it to just exemplify good healthy behaviors for our kids and a good healthy environment for our kids as they grow up through our public school systems,” Denney said.

Anyone caught breaking this new law can be fined up to $100.