Bill > S1218

This bill aims to protect youth from the health risks of tobacco and nicotine addiction. The key provisions include: 1. Prohibiting the use of tobacco products within school buildings, facilities, grounds, and buses, as well as at school-sponsored events. Schools are required to establish policies for violations, including potential mandatory education classes. 2. Expanding the definition of "tobacco products" to include electronic cigarettes and vaping devices. 3. Establishing regulations to prevent the sale or delivery of tobacco products to individuals under 21 years of age. 4. Prohibiting the sale of tobacco products within healthcare institutions and their grounds. 5. Requiring child-resistant packaging for liquid nicotine containers and nicotine-containing products. 6. Allowing the Commissioner of Public Health to promulgate regulations to restrict the sale of nicotine-containing products to individuals under 21. 7. Providing a grace period for individuals who were 18 or older before January 1, 2017, to purchase tobacco products. The bill also includes provisions for reviewing tobacco cessation benefits in health insurance plans and reviving a special commission to provide recommendations on tobacco-related policies.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S1218