Tobacco use programs.

Existing law establishes the Tobacco Education and Research Oversight Committee to provide advice to the State Department of Public Health and the State Department of Education with respect to policy development, integration, and evaluation of tobacco education programs. Existing law requires the State Department of Education to allocate funds to county offices of education for tobacco use prevention, intervention, and cessation activities. Existing law also requires that all school districts and county offices of education that receive funding, as specified, adopt and enforce a tobacco-free campus policy, no later than July of each fiscal year, prohibiting the use of tobacco products, any time, in district-owned or leased buildings, on district property and in district vehicles. This bill would expand eligibility for funding for the tobacco use prevention program to include charter schools. The bill would require the State Department of Education to require that all school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education receiving funding under the program adopt and enforce a tobacco-free campus policy prohibiting the use of products containing tobacco and nicotine, as specified, in and on the properties described above and would, in addition, prohibit the use of tobacco and nicotine products in a county office of education, charter school or school district-owned or leased building, on school or district property, and in school or district vehicles without regard to whether those entities receive funding. The bill would also require school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education to prominently display signs at all entrances to school property stating "Tobacco use is prohibited." The bill would make other technical and clarifying changes. By imposing new duties on school districts and county offices of education, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.