PUHI — Everybody knows that smokin’ ain’t allowed in school. Now, the custodian’s closet is off limits, too. Gov. Linda Lingle signed a bill into law yesterday prohibiting employees of public schools to use tobacco in public schools or at
PUHI — Everybody knows that smokin’ ain’t allowed in school. Now, the custodian’s closet is off limits, too.
Gov. Linda Lingle signed a bill into law yesterday prohibiting employees of public schools to use tobacco in public schools or at public-school functions.
Also, Act 87 stipulates that affected public employees must be provided smoking breaks at off-campus locations and, if they want, cessation treatment.
“I have no trouble with it, and I think it’s great,” said Terry Okumo, a custodian — and smoker — at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School in Puhi.
“Kids are so vulnerable, and I don’t want to see them get in trouble with tobacco.”
The law, which is effective immediately, marks another move to eradicate tobacco use in public schools per the federal Pro-Children Act.
This is the first time, however, that school employees will not be allowed to smoke during public-school functions, potentially opening the door to complaints of “civil-liberty” violations.
Also, it’s the first time a law did away with designated on-campus smoking areas. Today, smokers will have to go off campus, but will be given “smoking” breaks.
The ban comes as no surprise to Okumo and the other employees of Kamakahelei, who got word nearly a month ago that the smoking ban was coming down, he said.
“We got letters in our boxes, so we knew it was coming,” he said.
For Okumo, the law will have a positive affect. Indeed, he has cut back on his smoking ever since joining the crew at Kamakahelei. Now he’s got a good excuse to quit altogether.
“I didn’t know that they had a program to help people stop smoking,” he said. “Tobacco is so hard to stop. I tried so many times. I might get involved in that.”
For others, the law will mean hiking off campus for a smoke, or risking breaking the law.
Some of the other bills signed into law yesterday by Lingle include Act 85, which prevents someone guilty of causing “substantial bodily harm” from using the deferred plea or nolo contendre plea.
Also, Act 88, which allows the Nursing Board to require nurses who have not actively been practicing nursing for five years to pass a licensing exam. It also requires graduates of foreign nursing programs to prove proficiency in English.
Business Editor Phil Hayworth may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or phayworth@pulitzer.net.
