Bill Text: NJ AJR153 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates May of each year as "Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-27 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health Committee [AJR153 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-AJR153-Introduced.html
No. 153
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 27, 2024
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman BENJIE E. WIMBERLY
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Designates May of each year as "Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating May of each year as "Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month" in New Jersey.
Whereas, Nearly a quarter of the State's middle school students and nearly one half of its high school students have used cigarettes or other tobacco products at least once; and
Whereas, Adolescents who smoke are at risk of more frequent respiratory problems and are generally less healthy than their peers who do not smoke; and
Whereas, Research has shown smoking to have long-term deleterious effects on the health of individuals; smoking related diseases include: lung, mouth, kidney, and other cancers; heart disease and stroke; and respiratory problems such as chronic obstructive lung disorders; and
Whereas, There is a significant human cost resulting from the use of tobacco products; an estimated 480,000 people die in the United States each year as a result of diseases associated with smoking, and an additional 16 million people live with smoking-related illnesses; in New Jersey smoking claims more than 11,000 lives each year; and
Whereas, There are also considerable financial costs from lost productivity and medical expenses that result from smoking; nationally, the estimated cost is nearly $300 billion per year and in New Jersey, $2.6 billion; and
Whereas, Because nearly all smokers begin smoking before age 18, middle and high school years may be a particularly important time to address smoking prevention and cessation; and
Whereas, The State currently supports measures to educate vendors about, and to enforce laws regarding, restrictions on the sale of tobacco products to minors; and
Whereas, Because first-time experimentation with tobacco products most often occurs during the summer months, it is appropriate to designate the month of May as "Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month" to promote awareness of the dangers and costs of smoking; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The month of May of each year is designated as "Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month" in New Jersey in order to increase public awareness about the dangers of smoking among youth and to encourage efforts supporting smoking prevention and cessation among middle and high school students.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation designating May as "Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month" in New Jersey and calling upon public officials and citizens of this State to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates May of each year as "Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month" in New Jersey in order to increase public awareness about the dangers of smoking among youth, including the short-term and long-term health consequences associated with tobacco use, and to encourage efforts supporting smoking prevention and cessation among middle and high school students.
The joint resolution requests the Governor to issue a proclamation designating May of each year as "Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month" in New Jersey and calling upon public officials and the citizens of the State to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.
