Joined by elected leaders & advocates Legislator Jacobs says ‘this isn’t a political issue, it’s a public health issue’ while calling for immediate passage of Smoking 21 Bill that would make Nassau County not the odd county out any longer.
Flanked by leaders of the Long Island health community, anti-smoking advocates and a Suffolk County Legislator & Health Committee Chair; Legislator Judy Jacobs calls upon Nassau Lawmakers to bring the ‘Smoking 21 Bill’ to the floor so it can be passed by years end. “This is not a political issue, it’s a public health issue – which is why I have been reaching out across party lines to gain support for this most important bill.” says Judy Jacobs
While the ‘Smoking 21 Bill’ has been signed into law in Suffolk County and will begin being implemented on January 1, 2015 and is already law in New York City, Nassau County soon will be the ‘odd county out’, shares Legislator Jacobs. “Who wants to be known as the County where kids under 21years of age can get cigarettes? Nassau County is better than that and Nassau residents and Nassau’s young people deserve better than that.” exclaimed Jacobs who has been the chief legislative advocate for this bill since early 2014.
Months ago, Legislator Jacobs filed a ‘Smoking 21 Bill’ that mirrored the one passed by Suffolk County that was sponsored by Legislator Dr. William (Doc) Spencer, who was also in attendance today. Since being filed the bill here in Nassau has not been put on a Legislative Agenda (a.k.a. brought to the floor). As the Republicans have the majority in Nassau County and Norma Gonsalves is Presiding Officer, the bill would need to be added to a legislative agenda by her in the next few weeks to be voted on by years end. As stated earlier, if the ‘Smoking 21 Bill’ is not passed by years end, on January 1, 2015 Nassau County will be the odd county out – sandwiched between two counties who restrict the sale of cigarettes to anyone under the age of 21.